Review: Logan - A Pitch-Perfect Sendoff That'll Tug At Your Heartstrings.

For years, comic book fans have demanded that this genre be taken seriously. Well, Logan is very serious, and people should know going in, that this isn’t like any of the other X-Men movies we’ve seen so far. If you thought Deadpool deserved a best film nomination, then Logan is about to get a lifetime achievement.

2017 has started with a bang in terms of Action movies, with John Wick 2 and Logan. Consider me hyped!

⏩ Genre :- Superhero Fiction/ Action Adventure.

⏩ Run-time :- 2 hrs 18 mins.

⏩ Cast :- Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Stephen Merchant, Boyd Holbrook, Elizabeth Rodriguez and
Richard E. Grant.

⏩ Director :- James Mangold.

⏩ Plot –

The story is set in the near future, 2029, mutants are thinning out. They've either died or been hunted down. After losing everything/body, all that is left for Logan now, is a dusty hideout in Mexico where he and Caliban (Stephen Merchant) take care of and keep Charles Xavier, now in his 90s and suffering from dementia and memory loss. Logan tries to keep a low profile, but violence finds him all the same. A young mutant Laura comes into his life. A chain of unfortunate events make him go on a mission to save Laura from the antagonist who wants to seize her away. But considering the fact that he has grown all old, will he succeed? What price will he have to pay to save Laura? Well, you got to watch it to know it.

⏩ Direction and Screenplay :-

The film checks off all the elements the genre requires: Big action setpieces, chases, supervillains and fan shout-outs (An old “X-Men” comic book plays a cameo in the plot. No kidding!). But the makers have toned down the volume to give it a feeling that it takes place in the real world.
What I find most admirable about what James Mangold along with the screenplay by Michael Green, and Scott Frank have done is that everyone managed to steer away from sentimentality to find something more raw and heartfelt. When the action setpieces occur, they are directed for maximum raw and emotional effect instead of rowdy, fist-pumping moments. It is amazing how Mangold has shot the action scenes, with a minimum of shaky camerawork and a maximum of intensity. While the violence is abundant, it is never unjustified. He has refrained from shooting the action with mindless objective or mere thrills. The violence is as graphic and fully exposed as you can imagine it to be. (I am glad this has not been given a PG-13 rating). Which opens the window for the fans to see Wolverine at his full potential - lethal when angry. The writing is solid for a superhero film, it really digs deep into these beloved characters, how vulnerable they are, how they long for a world where people would just leave them be. The plot is blatant, it is the detailing that makes it great.

⏩ Editing and Cinematography :-

Editing by Michael McCusker and Dirk Westervelt is crisp. Even at 138 minutes, the movie doesn't seem dull or long. None of the elements seem irrelevant or out of sync.

John Matheison has been roped in as the director of photography, and he handled the frames with finesse, blending in accurate color palletes depending on the mood of the movie. He has managed to cast a spell on the oh-so-simple locations and made them extra-ordinary.

⏩ Music :-

The background score by Marco Beltrami is subdued and low-key. It is perfect. It’s grave, serious and sometimes pensive, but never over the top, which fits in with the overall tone of this grim, surprisingly downbeat movie.

⏩ The Highs -

▶ The movie feels like a breath of fresh air since it comes across as natural and simple, treating the characters with such care and embarking on an emotional and satisfying conclusion to Jackman's Wolverine.

▶ Logan is unlike the typical comic-book movies' script. There is no saving the world from the doomsday, no bad guys intending to destroy the human race and take over, no giant beams of light/bomb/machines which should be stopped before they explode. The stakes are low but critical, which is a plus point. There is an old man, living with another old man and together they just plan on saving their own ass as well as a little ninja-mutant's. Pretty straightforward, eh?

▶ You truly feel for Xavier and Logan in a way that you never did in the previous X-Men movies, not only because they're now in their twilight years but there's also that father-son type of relationship that's tough love and endearing.

▶ This movie has everything, yes there is gore and f-bombs, but also a story. James Mangold has taken elements of the acclaimed "Old Man Logan", and had created a masterpiece. I'm not going to spoil anything here, but suffice it to say that Logan is now THE definitive comic book movie, in my mind, unseating Zack Snyder's Watchmen.

▶ Mangold maintains the balance by allowing threads moments of genuine humour – from casual shoplifting and runaway horses, tantrums of a little kid, to an ordinary old man who refuses to take his pills.

▶ Action and CGI. The action sequences are precisely choreographed. The CGI and VFX are top-notch, so are the performances of Dafne and Jackman.

▶ This is true Wolverine unleashed. He is not short on head stabbing, limb severing, blood spurting mayhem, allowing fans to finally see Wolverine work his claws in combat right through to the end of each grisly death, without the camera cutting away. However, it’s the staging of the action scenes that’s arguably more impressive than the graphic depictions.

⏩ The Lows -

▶ 17 years of wait has paved way, and we got the best Wolverine movie. The only thing that flawed here, is the ending. If only they would've ended it in any better way as a last farewell to the fans and his signature role.

▶ The sequence before the big end, seems a little stretched, approximately 10 minutes. But hey! this is the last time we are going to see Jackman in his signature role. And after setting a legacy - Six movies and 2 cameos, you can't just restrict the actor from getting a protracted farewell. So chill. (She is confusing us by passing such statements.
Is she praising or criticizing it? Damn.) Go figure by watching it yourself. *Chuckles*

⏩ Performances :-

▶ Hugh Jackman used Logan as an opportunity to do, basically, everything he’s ever wanted, with this character. And trust me, he has never been better as Logan. This is the culmination of everything he’s built with this role up until now. He is a miserable and weak old man, but Jackman does it with such precision and attachment, that if he gets hurt, we get hurt. If he's mad, we're mad. If he is sad, we are sad. It is a true testament to Jackman as an actor to make his audience feel this connected to a character, who is completely unrelateable. (Technically). While many of us are very sad to see Jackman retire, if we look at the brighter side - He couldn't have picked a better or more satisfying film to end his 17 year cinematic legacy with.

▶ This is the best Patrick Stewart's ever been as Charles Xavier. He gives the character - poignancy, dignity, humor and much needed vulnerability. Also, the relationship that Prof Xavier and Logan share, both as reel and real characters will make you smile an cry because of their Dad-Son like portrayal. They are terrific together.

▶ Dafne Keen, in her very first film role, carries all the weight of being a mutant, seemingly effortlessly. The girl is so good with her moves, she could give Ninja Hattori a run for his money. With very few lines, she depicts ferocity with her body language and eyes. There's something magnetic about her that you can't take your eyes off. Also, the gradual manifestation of a bittersweet father-daughter relationship between Laura and Logan, will fill you with awe. Dafne saying "DADDY" broke my heart, ripped me apart.

▶ Stephen Merchant as Caliban is amazing. He plays an albino mutant who fries in direct sunlight like a vampire. Although he doesn't have much screen time, he makes sure to amaze us with his striking and glaring eyes and perfect delivery, everytime he is in the frame. Also, his performance is times better than what the way he performed in the Lip-Sync Battle, people. So, Yayy! 

▶ Boyd Holbrook brings a not so sinister, but fine performance to this installment and continues to build a very impressive resume. He is someone who'd make you go, "I hate you, like I love you."

▶ Elizabeth Rodriguez as Gabriela, gives a super fine performance.

▶ Richard E. Grant as Dr. Zander Rice, is the head of the project Transigen, whose father was killed by Logan during his appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse, does proper justice to the conniving character he is playing.

⏩ Watch o Not ? Defi-effin-lately! What? You think only Logan is allowed to use F-bombs? Haha. I recommend you all, to go and pay for your ticket to see this instead of watching a cam version online. It's a movie that slaps you in the first half and holds you while you cry in the last.

⏩ Verdict : To all the naysayers who complain about superhero movies being the same - all colorful rainbows and sunshine; Logan is tragic yet refreshing. And that isn't a bad thing. Heavens no. It is a perfect farewell to the actor, cast and crew and a beautiful love-letter for all the fans. I would rate this movie as the second best movie ever in its genre with almost no negatives. So go people, do yourself a favor and watch LOGAN, ONE LAST TIME!

PS - Don't forget to get tissues alongwith you. And yes. I am saying that especially to all you men out there. This large and physically imposing gentleman sitting next to me was crying. I'll be shocked if you don't shed a tear.

PPS - Young children should not be allowed anywhere near this movie, no matter how many X-Men action figures/comic-books they own.

Lastly,
This is how you make an R Rated movie,
This is how you make a serious super hero movie.
THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE A GREAT MOVIE. PERIOD.

 Ratings - 4.8/5

Logan proves that sometimes, comic-book movies work best when they keep it simple and small-scale, keeping all the jazz at bay.