Logan

RATING: A-

Unlike most people, I was a bit nervous when they first brought up the idea of an R-rated Wolverine film. Regardless of whether it would be more realistic, I was concerned that they would just make it a gorefest without much concern for story or human elements. And yet, here we are. And pretty much everyone got what they wanted.

Just to make it clear, Logan is not a good movie simply because it finally shows all the more realistic bloody slicing and dicing that rabid comic book fans were denied in previous movies. It's a good movie because it's a good movie, plain and simple; it tells a good story and gives us a whole lot more emotion than some of us might have expected.

This movie takes place in yet another bad future for mutants in 2029; although it's not a Sentinel apocalypse this time (thus the rest of the world is prospering), no new mutants have been born in years. All that's left now is a weary Wolverine, a decrepit Professor X... and Caliban (who?). The Wolverine has definitely seen better days, as he's not healing up as well as he used to. He seems pretty content to live out the last of his days with Charles. Until this woman shows up requesting him to transport this young girl named Laura... who seems fairly normal at first, until Logan's place is attacked by goons after her. And metal claws start coming out of her hands. Just like Wolverine's.

Probably the biggest problem with this movie, in a sense, is the timeline. The timelines in the X-Men franchise have been unbelievably confusing ever since Days of Future Past happened, and this movie doesn't help. As a matter of fact, there have been conflicting reports regarding its place; either it's in the new timeline after Days of Future Past--which is awfully depressing when you think about it since mutantkind fell apart again despite everyone's efforts--or it's in a new timeline of its own, which just opens up another ugly can of worms. Once again, you kind of just have to enjoy the movie on its own merits and not try to think about the timelines too much. Otherwise it gets ugly.

And it is quite a great movie. And it's a very different kind of superhero film, which was likely a relief for many. It's not the typical superhero flick at all; in fact, it actually carries a post-apocalyptic western element to it, of all things. And it focuses more on the characters themselves than the actual conflict, which only leads to them punching you in the emotions all the more as the movie goes on, eventually culminating in an ending that fans won't forget anytime soon.

It's also unlike other films of its caliber lately in that it is pretty bleak and hopeless throughout, so much so that it's almost stunning that there is a shred of hope in the air at all by the film's end. It's not as dark as The Dark Knight, per se, but this isn't one of your normal fairly lighthearted Marvel movies by any stretch of the imagination.

Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart all do great in their final performances; although Dafne Keen (Laura) is definitely of worthy note as well. She doesn't even speak for most of the movie, but does great with her facial expressions and what not. I hope she sticks around in cinema, because she is great at it. Boyd Holbrook isn't bad either in his antagonistic role as an actor, which is a good thing since the villains themselves are actually quite forgettable. (Again though, this mostly works because of the bigger focus on the protagonists.)

For the most part, the film hits all the right notes. The only other issue for some might be some of the violence; not necessarily the fact that there is violence per se, but just how much of it is carried out on and *by* children, which may disturb some. There is also one other rather gratuitous scene of deaths that could've still had the necessary impact if it'd been done mostly off-screen instead.

The movie may not be quite for everyone; some fans might be too horrified by what goes on screen at times. For everyone else, though, it's quite a triumph and a strong finish for Hugh Jackman as Wolverine; and it would be a great place for them to finish the franchise in general (especially considering that the whole franchise has basically been the story of Wolverine). That may not happen, but aside from *maybe* future movies featuring Laura/X-23, are any more movies really necessary? Especially after the ending of this one? I don't think so.

One final note (with maybe a vague SPOILER warning): The ending itself is quite tragic, and even though it was somewhat to be expected, it's still quite a punch to the gut. The final few minutes in general are quite emotional. They are also arguably some of the best few minutes of cinema you will see all year.