The word that
best describes the movie Logan is beautiful.
It’s sad to see
Hugh Jackman say goodbye to a character he’s been playing for seventeen years—a
character that’s become ingrained in our minds. Actors often need to break free
from the curse of playing the same role for too long, and Jackman’s decision to
move on is understandable. Interestingly, he reached this decision with the
indirect help of Jerry Seinfeld.
One thing that
made this movie stand out for me is its R-rating. It was thrilling to see blood
splatter everywhere and hear words thrown around carelessly, with no restraint
on showcasing Wolverine’s abilities—and those of his counterparts, X-23 and
X-24.
The movie is as much a dramatic ending as it is a fine introduction. We get a glimpse into a future where being a mutant is rare, almost every mutant has been wiped out, and no new mutants have been born in twenty-five years. The story is inspired by the Old Man Logan comic arc, written by Mark Millar and Steven McNiven, which explores Wolverine’s life in a post-apocalyptic mutant future.
Both the comic
and the movie show us a Logan who’s old, past his prime, and struggling. In the
film, you see him graying, slowing down, and dying. Director James Mangold
masterfully weaves sentiment into the story without bogging it down with
excessive exposition about the characters’ present situation.
Dafne Keen’s
portrayal of the silent X-23 is so compelling that I wouldn’t be surprised if
she takes on a future role as the new Wolverine, just as the character does in
the comics.
From the old X-Men movies, we also have Patrick Stewart reprising his role as Professor X, now retired and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Charles Xavier’s Alzheimer’s causes seizures that send his powers into overdrive, potentially killing those nearby.
The movie’s plot
follows Logan as he cares for Xavier, working as a limo driver to make ends
meet. They hide out with Caliban, surviving on what little Logan earns. In this
2029 future, the world is far from alright. Experiments are being conducted to
breed children using DNA samples from previous mutants, including Logan
himself. These children are designed to be controllable mutants.
Things go awry
at the facility, and some of the children escape. One of them, X-23, finds her
way into Logan’s path. Along with her caregiver, she offers Logan a large sum
of money to take them to North Dakota, a place the caregiver calls “Eden.”
Logan is a
movie you shouldn’t miss, especially if you’re a huge fan of the X-Men franchise.
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