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The world finally has an R-rated version of Wolverine that does everything right.
If you love Wolverine, then you should run out to see Hugh Jackman’s final turn with the character in Logan. It’s a smart film that doesn’t skimp on action, it’s filled with heart, and the performances by Mr. Jackman and Patrick Stewart as Professor X are top notch.
There is much to say about this movie, but instead of doing up two different reviews I think I’ll just share a portion of what I wrote for Conservative Book Club and then ask you to kindly check them out for the full version.
I wrote shortly after the film’s release:
The world has seen Hugh Jackman play the Marvel superhero Wolverine for 17 years, but it appears as though the actor saved his best performance for last. Director James Mangold’s R-rated Logan hauled in $247.3 globally its opening weekend, and for good reason — it’s a superhero movie that transcends the genre.
What is perhaps the most fascinating about Logan is that while it is chalk full violent deaths, underneath the blood and gore is a film that promotes selfless sacrifice, unconditional love, loyalty, family, and the possibility of redemption for all men — no matter how fallible they may be. Bad characters die, but the film’s message on many levels can be considered “pro-life.” Good samaritans risk everything for children who are treated as expendable tools, while the life an elderly and infirm man is fiercely protected by the protagonist.
Logan (story by Mangold, screenplay by Scott Frank) takes place in a future where all of the X-Men in the 20th Century Fox franchise are dead — wiped out in large part due to the decaying mind of Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). Wolverine and an ally named Caliban (Stephen Merchant) have been driven underground along the U.S. border with Mexico, although the hero is able make enough cash to get Charles seizure medication by working nights as a limo driver.
Everything changes for the trio when a nurse smuggles a genetically engineered child known as X-23 (Dafne Keen) out of captivity before she can be killed by the villain Pierce (Boyd Holbrook). Her goal is to transport the girl a rally point in North Dakota where children with similar capabilities will attempt to cross the border into Canada. Logan, with his failing immune system and broken body, is coerced into the quest by Charles and the surviving shards of virtue buried deep within his own adamantium bones.
“You know, Logan, this is what life looks like: a home, people who love each other, a safe place. You should take a moment and feel it,” Xavier says when they are eventually given food and shelter by a family of farmers.
“Yeah, it’s great,” the reluctant hero sarcastically replies.
“Logan! You still have time,” Xavier implores.
Check out the rest over at CBC.
Douglas Ernst Blog 
What fun! I am a big Wolverine fan and I have a feeling this movie will not disappoint.
Something I find a bit funny, Hugh Jackman is an Australian guy who everyone believes is an American and yet he actually plays a Canadian…mutant, whose name is really James but we call him Logan, AKA Wolverine. Lot’s of diversity going on there. 🙂
“What fun! I am a big Wolverine fan and I have a feeling this movie will not disappoint.”
The only real “warning” (if you want to call it that) I have for some viewers is that it is pretty graphic at times. His claws never really produced blood in the previous movies. He sort of just stabbed people and kept going…but this one earns its “R” rating. Regardless, the writing is great.
I just saw it for a second time earlier today. It’s easily one of the best comic book movies ever made, and I hope that movie studios take its success to heart. I certainly don’t envy whoever takes on the role in the future, because that person will have a lot to live up to.
I also think we’ll be seeing much more of Dafne Keen in the future. She was outstanding, and she did not have any of the usual “child actor” traits, which is a big plus for me. It can be tough to make a kid work well in a movie, but this film did so with flying colors.
Definitely plan on seeing this one!
“Definitely plan on seeing this one!”
It’s a solid flick. I’m interested in hearing your feedback.
It might be awhile, as I have to watch adult shows around two young boys.
J.R. Handley, I understand. Most of the movies I watch are kids shows, I very rarely get time to watch an adult movie.
Saw it. Did not like it. I am not sure why yet, still pondering. I think that the state of Logan and Xavier bothered me. That these once great heroes had become husks of men. I did not much like the violence either.
This image was super cool when I was 16 and about as far as it needs to go:
Of course, I thought Superman V Batman was a masterpiece.
I can see where the violence might turn some people off. Fair enough. In terms of these “super” men having to deal with their own mortality, I thought that was great. It showed that no matter how strong, smart, tough or invincible we think we are, eventually we all must face death in the end.
I heard the Superman vs. Batman director’s cut was pretty good, but I haven’t had a chance to check it out.
I agree with you Doug, that the idea of “super” men dealing with their own mortality is a good one. But the way Logan was written, as a drunk driving a for-rent limo, nullifies all the work he went through as a man dealing with his inner demons to become a superhero. And Xavier – a bumbling old fool? Come on! I know plenty of old people who deal with their mortality and keep their dignity. Pope John Paul the Great comes to mind. No, the more I think about it this movie is part of the continued attack on western culture and ideals. Subtle and well done but an attack none-the-less.
“And Xavier – a bumbling old fool? Come on!”
But he wasn’t a bumbling fool. Those were the effects of the drugs that Logan made him take to hold off the seizures. He didn’t want to take the drugs, but the alternative (at least in a heavily populated area), was the equivalent of a giant psychic earthquake.
We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. I loved it.