Logan is one of those films that does a character justice. It understands how a character operates and what their role in the world is. Logan serves the character well as Hugh Jackman's role of Wolverine. After 17 years of playing the mutton-chop-mutant, Jackman decided to retire the healing factor and claws after giving the movie the fans have been wanting since his first appearance in 2000's X-Men. Despite all of the odds, he pulled it off.
To describe Logan is not easy. Yes, it is a superhero movie, but it is also a neo-western, a road movie, an emotional journey, and a drama at its heart. Some things that come to mind when thinking of this movie are a mix of George Miller, Cormac McCarthy, and True Grit. I have heard many people say that Logan is the Last of Us adaptation that fans have been hoping for. Despite supporting their claims, I found a video game that shows both properties are cut from the same cloth. In many ways, Logan felt more like "Red Dead Redemption" to me, in the way that both protagonists are doing their best to survive in an ever-changing world while leaving their past behind. However, both Logan and John Marston must return to their previous lives for one last job, in which it does not end well (for the both of them).
If The Dark Knight is considered to be one of the pinnacles of superhero movies, then Logan must also be in the ranks. The tone and story of Logan are quite different than X-Men: Apocalypse or even the similarly R-rated Deadpool. This is not me saying to make all superhero movies R but to tailor each story to each character instead of writing the generic formula we have been seeing for a while.
I've forgotten the last time when each action hurt. Let alone when Logan's claws did actually damage or hurt an enemy. Even in the beginning with a drunk Logan against a group of thugs, it's refreshing to see him having trouble against them or the effect of a shotgun to his chest. It ain't pretty like the previous films at all.
Logan had some of the best acting, ever, for an X-Men film. Jackman's performance as an aged Logan had the fire and aggressiveness we have been craving. It's rare to see a superhero last an entire film in a depressed and alcoholic state. Sir Patrick Stewart's farewell performance as Charles Xavier added to the beauty and emotion of the film. It was great to see these two heavyweights finally express their characters' chemistry after all of these years. You usually do not have this paternalistic bond, or the son figure caring for the father. Even Dafne Keen, a relative newcomer to film, was a solid actress to cast as Laura. Her ability to act without speaking or acting similar to Jackman will help her stay in the future of the X-Men franchise--hopefully, she will pick up his claws soon. Like I said before, it's a movie about death, life, fathers and their children.
Overall, Logan is different than most superhero movies. You have the heart, you have the soul, the action, the charisma, etc. Also, it is unique to have a farewell to a group of actors who have spent their lives playing these characters. You have not had one for the Batman actors or the Spider-Man actors. Logan serves as the legacy of the men and women who brought up not only one of my favorite comic book characters, but to the fans who held him up high as well. Excuse me while I remember Jackman and his fantastic performance.
