Going to see it again tomorrow, in IMAX and with family this time.
My review, cross-posting from MYSR thread:
This is what life looks like...You should take a moment. Feel it, Logan. You still have time.
Logan
For such a stacked sub-genre that is superhero films,
Logan still doesn't have many equals. Superhero films that are more character studies and thematically focused are either not particularly well liked (Ang Lee's
Hulk), don't follow through (
Hancock,
Iron Man films) or rare but flawed (Nolan's Batman films). Here, the focus is squarely on fatherhood and importance of family in trying times. It's like a sci-fi
Lone Wolf and Cub. It's 2029, and mutants are nearly extinct. A company called Transigen is about making new mutants as their own weapons. Logan (Hugh Jackman) has to take care of Charles (an unhinged Patrick Stewart) in a tipped over water tower, who's essentially his father, albeit one with a neurodegenerative disease whose seizures can cause people in the surrounding area to freeze (there's an inventive setpiece in a casino hotel during one of them). He also has to start acting as a father of a new mutant kid, Laura (Dafne Keen), who sports a similar rebellious personality. In a mostly post-mutant world, the few mutants are on the run which turns the film into a very effective and beautifully shot (DP John Mathieson) neo-western. This is not surprising coming from the director James Mangold who previously did
3:10 To Yuma. In fact, there's a key western film (
Shane) in the background that ties to the two main characters, Logan and Laura, who have killed but whether it was for "right or wrong, it's a brand, a brand that sticks". The destination is North Dakota, so it's time for a perilous road trip.
Due partially to the R rating, the film can go into showing the true emotions of characters, especially their frustrations. Logan is at the end of his rope, drinking and suicidal ideation hand in hand. Logan's character arc is believable even if saddening, to go from shunning everyone to avoid getting them hurt to eventually trusting in others but there being a big risk. Charles is not afraid of swearing, but these moments can show these characters to be at their most raw and real. Laura (X23-23) is mostly mute, but her playful nature shines through in moments like riding a mechanical horse and getting angry when the ride is out of coins, wearing sunglasses, or riding Charles' wheelchair. Elsewhere the more adult rating shines is in the action being visceral through dismemberment, decapitations, and impaling. While the opening bout with groggy Logan outside of his Chrysler is not the most interestingly shot, it gets better in the later setpieces and especially near the end when tag-teaming is a strategy. Laura's action is as good as Wolverine at his very best. The action choreography with even the cars is memorable, like when Logan reverses his car with a barbed wire stuck to the bumper and uses that to knock out other enemies. There is a glorious one-shot of Logan in the forest just chewing through a gallery of enemies. The villains are formidable even if predictable, with one who can be on equal proving grounds with Logan, making for quite the SNIKT SNIKT battles.
However, when the action dies down, it's when the quietest and most intimate moments happen that give the film real weight (like a family dinner), incomparable to most other superhero films. When Laura finally talks and delivers some powerful lines: ("You are dying. You want to die. Charles told me", to which Logan responds with, "What else did he tell you?" and Laura closes, "To not let you"), it lands like a hammer. The film isn't self-serious all the time and has rare but appreciable comedic scenes such as Logan's beard being cut by kids to give his trademark mutton chops. All of these moments are when you realise you're watching humans interact and bond with each other, and not costumed heroes set to save the world.
Early days, but one of the best superhero films ever with one of the most emotional and poignant final shots.
