James Mangold directs the cinematic chapter “Logan” and it feels like an apology for his earlier film “The Wolverine.” However, there is a major factor that sets this film apart from its predecessor, and that’s the rating. We are seeing Marvel becoming more and more open to creating R-rated films–and creating good rated-R films at that.
Sometimes R-rated films use the F-bomb just because they can and they don’t spend a lot of time writing the dialogue to make the characters sound like real people. They just throw in different versions of the F-word and call it a day. Thankfully, “Logan” is an exception to this rule. The characters, who we have grown to love over the last 17 years, feel more realistic because of the freedom of language that comes with an R rating.
There is also a freedom with the violence and gore that comes with this rating as well. The attacks and hits in this film connect and feel real as opposed to films that cut on every hit. We see just how brutal these hits are and how realistic they look. Adding to that, the CGI in this film looks fantastic. Everything fit into the frame as it was supposed to.
The cinematography in this film also grabs you straight from the beginning. Part of the film takes place in Mexico. However, we don’t see the typical sepia tone that directors tend to use in a Mexican setting. The colors were warmer but not oversaturated in these scenes. It was pleasing to the eye and was an interesting take on the desert look.
The storyline of the film is what steals the show. The film is set in the year 2029, where we see the aftermath of a wide mutant genocide. Logan, or Wolverine, spends his time hiding Charles, or Professor Xavier, in Mexico. Hysteria ensues when a little girl with an interesting past comes into Logan’s life.
The acting blew me away. Hugh Jackman’s (as Logan) role in this film was the most fitting out of all of the other Wolverine movies that we have seen in the past. It felt as if Jackman had the necessary freedom to really dive into the Logan character and be authentic in it.
What was even more impressive was Dafen Keen’s (as Laura) performance. She held up with the rest of the action and in a lot of places drove the action of the scene. This little girl packed a large punch and at times stole the show.
All in all, “Logan” was a great final chapter to this version of the X-Men. However, this didn’t feel like a final chapter. No, this felt like a start to a new franchise with the Laura character. I’m very excited to see where Twentieth Century Fox takes the story from here.
