Year: 2017
Genre: Comic Book
There's large contingent who honestly feel that 2016's 'Deadpool' was the Marvel's Studios answer to the hoards of fans growing tired of films aimed at the younger generation. In the media, 'Deadpool' is widely regarded as Marvel's attempt to appeal to the older members of the audience, those tired of the endless CGI skyscraper smashing squeaky clean superheroes that serve no other purpose other than to fill the already bulging bank account coffers of studio executives and alike. Granted, the character of Deadpool swears a lot, but Marvel still played it safe and CGI was still a big part of the third act of the film. Before Logan, and when compared to Christopher Nolan's vision in 'The Dark Knight' trilogy, Marvel had yet to release a film that wasn't a generic crowd pleasing fairground ride, and do something a little different.
Then along came Logan.
It's been seventeen years since Bryan Singer's original 'X-Men' graced our screens, a film that is generally accepted as the seed that planted the tree which became the Marvel Studios behemoth of modern cinema. As time has passed, pretty much all the actors from the original trilogy have been replaced with the exception of one - Hugh Jackman's incarnation of Wolverine. In very much the same way Christopher Reeve was born to play the lead role in Donner's original 'Superman', Jackman has made the character of Wolverine his own. Forever the anti hero, Jackman's Wolverine shuns the conventional stereotype and is perhaps the only Marvel character of recent times to have any sort of depth of personality. The fact he hasn't been asked to play the role head to toe in lycra gives the character an element of humanity that isn't seen in any characters Marvel have churned out in recent years.
'Logan' is set several years after the most recent 'X Men Apocalypse' against a backdrop filmed in the American Deep South. The only surviving members of Xavier's school for gifted youngsters are Xavier himself, and Wolverine. They are holed up in a remote area of Nevada, hidden away from authorities who believe that Xavier, now showing signs of suffering from Alzheimer's, is a weapon of mass destruction and must be brought into custody. Patrick Stewart returns to the role, and his Shakespearean roots really begin to flower with a convincing performance of someone suffering from dementia. Once their hideout is discovered, a chase ensues across several states right up to Canadian Border in North Dakota where the final epic battle between Wolverine and the authorities takes place.
Right from the outset, the first thing that strikes you about 'Logan', is the sheer brutality of the fight scenes. Make no mistake, this is in no way targeted at a younger audience and if anything, should be kept away from one. Claws impale skulls, enemies are beheaded, limbs are severed, and all within ten minutes of the opening scene. The violence has been ramped up several notches, feels bone crunchingly real, and is on a level never seen seen in any Marvel film since the studios inception in the late 1990's. This is Marvel listening to it's critics, and this is Marvel stepping outside of it's comfort zone. Somewhat ironically, it's main critics were the fans of DC Comics who said Marvel didn't know how to do melancholy and always played it safe. 'Logan', is exactly what older comic book fans have been asking for, it's hit the bulls eye, and gives a huge sucker punch to an already out for the count DC Comics following their 2016 critical mauling by cinema audiences.
Is there anything to find fault with it? Well if I'm being brutally honest, I felt the middle section of the film quietened things down for a tiny bit longer than they needed to be, and could have done with being a bit shorter. Initially, I felt Stephen Merchant was an odd choice, but he turned out to be a likable character. My main gripe was with Marco Beltrami's score, which I personally felt was very weak and didn't benefit the film in any way whatsoever. It's an area Marvel need to improve on going forward and really look at how Hans Zimmer's scoring of Nolan's 'Dark Knight' trilogy and perhaps go back to Danny Elfmans 'Batman' aswell. I know Marvel Studios aren't really famous for their choice of composer, but they need to appreciate that a good score can elevate the audience's emotional investment in a film tenfold. Food for thought.
Overall, I give 'Logan' four and half stars. Hugh Jackman gives the performance of his career, and it's a more than sufficient send off for a character audiences have grown up with and will miss dearly.
Then along came Logan.
It's been seventeen years since Bryan Singer's original 'X-Men' graced our screens, a film that is generally accepted as the seed that planted the tree which became the Marvel Studios behemoth of modern cinema. As time has passed, pretty much all the actors from the original trilogy have been replaced with the exception of one - Hugh Jackman's incarnation of Wolverine. In very much the same way Christopher Reeve was born to play the lead role in Donner's original 'Superman', Jackman has made the character of Wolverine his own. Forever the anti hero, Jackman's Wolverine shuns the conventional stereotype and is perhaps the only Marvel character of recent times to have any sort of depth of personality. The fact he hasn't been asked to play the role head to toe in lycra gives the character an element of humanity that isn't seen in any characters Marvel have churned out in recent years.
'Logan' is set several years after the most recent 'X Men Apocalypse' against a backdrop filmed in the American Deep South. The only surviving members of Xavier's school for gifted youngsters are Xavier himself, and Wolverine. They are holed up in a remote area of Nevada, hidden away from authorities who believe that Xavier, now showing signs of suffering from Alzheimer's, is a weapon of mass destruction and must be brought into custody. Patrick Stewart returns to the role, and his Shakespearean roots really begin to flower with a convincing performance of someone suffering from dementia. Once their hideout is discovered, a chase ensues across several states right up to Canadian Border in North Dakota where the final epic battle between Wolverine and the authorities takes place.
Right from the outset, the first thing that strikes you about 'Logan', is the sheer brutality of the fight scenes. Make no mistake, this is in no way targeted at a younger audience and if anything, should be kept away from one. Claws impale skulls, enemies are beheaded, limbs are severed, and all within ten minutes of the opening scene. The violence has been ramped up several notches, feels bone crunchingly real, and is on a level never seen seen in any Marvel film since the studios inception in the late 1990's. This is Marvel listening to it's critics, and this is Marvel stepping outside of it's comfort zone. Somewhat ironically, it's main critics were the fans of DC Comics who said Marvel didn't know how to do melancholy and always played it safe. 'Logan', is exactly what older comic book fans have been asking for, it's hit the bulls eye, and gives a huge sucker punch to an already out for the count DC Comics following their 2016 critical mauling by cinema audiences.
Is there anything to find fault with it? Well if I'm being brutally honest, I felt the middle section of the film quietened things down for a tiny bit longer than they needed to be, and could have done with being a bit shorter. Initially, I felt Stephen Merchant was an odd choice, but he turned out to be a likable character. My main gripe was with Marco Beltrami's score, which I personally felt was very weak and didn't benefit the film in any way whatsoever. It's an area Marvel need to improve on going forward and really look at how Hans Zimmer's scoring of Nolan's 'Dark Knight' trilogy and perhaps go back to Danny Elfmans 'Batman' aswell. I know Marvel Studios aren't really famous for their choice of composer, but they need to appreciate that a good score can elevate the audience's emotional investment in a film tenfold. Food for thought.
Overall, I give 'Logan' four and half stars. Hugh Jackman gives the performance of his career, and it's a more than sufficient send off for a character audiences have grown up with and will miss dearly.
