The Perfect Send-Off to a Legendary Run as Wolverine

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2017)

The main issue with the first two Wolverine films were that they weren't Logan's stories. Stories that just happened to star Hugh Jackman with claws and healing ability. Luckily, James Mangold rights the ship with 'Logan'. Deservingly brutal and heartbreaking, 'Logan' is the perfect send-off for Hugh Jackman's 17-year tenure playing the character.
'Logan' accomplished one of the hardest things the third in a trilogy can do, get better with every outing. But 'Logan' isn't just better than the previous two Wolverine films, it's one of the greatest comic-book films of all time. Ironically, besides a few references and the appearance of an actual X-Men comic, it's far from your usual run of the mill comic-book adventure. 'Logan' sees a man just waiting for his time to come while taking care of the man who once took care of him, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). It's beautiful symmetry that way, as is the appearance of the clone, X- 23/Laura. Laura, equipped with the same healing ability and adamantium clones as Wolverine, makes for a nice counterpart to Logan. And really, all 3 main characters have great chemistry as some of the few mutants left in the world.
Neither Jackman or Stewart has ever been better as their respected mutants. Giving these characters their own mortality is the best thing the script could have done. It's one of the reasons people have given up on most superhero-related films, they tend to be predictable and without consequence. Yes, it's always been fun to watch Wolverine rip through dozens of bad guys without a second glance, but it's about time we see his body struggle as much as his mind has through the years. Losing all the people he has through nine films doesn't exactly put his mind in the best place.
Which is why having Laura be in this film is so integral. Logan needed to see someone with similar abilities, but at a time where she needs guidance and a father-figure. Which again, mirrors Logan's first trip to the X-mansion back in 2000's X-Men. Which brings me to the next brilliant thing about 'Logan'. It's uniqueness make seeing all of the previous X-Men films only recommended viewing. It's connected in a way, but you don't need to see the other films in order to feel the weight of every moment. With that said, knowing everything that this character has gone through certainly enhances the experience. Without spoiling the 3rd act, I don't think there will ever be anything quite like 'Logan'. Perhaps not since the ending of The Dark Knight Trilogy have I felt this kind of emotion.
It's been well documented just how ultra-violent 'Logan' is, but I never felt the violence over took the characters and story. For once, we got a Wolverine story that was actually his own story, and it paid off. I don't need to see any more of Wolverine in the X-Men universe, at least for a long time. I got the violence and emotional payoff that I wanted from this character. Words cannot describe this experience, and only time will tell just how well this film holds up.
+Perfect send-off
+Separated from the universe but honors what came before
+Laura/X-23
+Ultra-violent
+Mortal Wolverine and Professor X
10/10