Brutal, Unrestrained, and Brilliant!

Rating: 9/10 (4 March 2017)

Holy Hell! My recurring thought while watching Marvel's latest outing- the unrelenting 'Logan.' I gasped, laughed, shook my head, and gritted my teeth constantly throughout the movie that will go down as one of Marvel's best ever. This is the standalone movie Wolverine has always deserved and boy does it deliver.
Imagine a limping, bearded, and farsighted Wolverine as a driver for hire in true Uber fashion. The year is 2029 and mutants are no longer around save Logan aka Wolverine and an old and ailing Charles Xavier whose mind isn't quite what it used to be. They hide out far from society on the American-Mexican border where Logan frequently crosses over for work (I wonder what Trump would say to that. Though a wall wouldn't stop the clawed superhero in either case. I'm sure.) Here, Logan encounters an unusual little girl who he's told needs his help leading them on a bloody and unforgettable journey.
"What the f***?" are the first words Logan utters in the film rightfully setting the tone for the next 2.15 hours. This is uncensored greatness. It is brutal, unabashedly violent, and generously sprinkled with expletives. It's only Marvel's second R-rated movie after 'Deadpool' and let's just say this isn't the X-Men you remember from your childhood. The movie begins with a clip from Deadpool II but does a complete 180 when the title appears on screen. Unlike Deadpool, Logan isn't trying to make you laugh. It's trying to shock you. In one of the film's finest sequences, I was teetering on the edge of my seat as blood and bones engulfed a rural family home. The shock value and brilliant execution instantly took the movie to new heights. The entire theater audibly gasped.
Hugh Jackman is and always will be Logan/Wolverine. He started the journey 17 years ago in 'X- Men' and recently announced that he will hang up the claws after 'Logan'. Having played the character in 8 movies (including a special appearance), Mr Jackman is as good as it gets. His performance especially in this film is sharply nuanced. He grumbles when he has to wear glasses to read and when the claws come out you're in for a real treat. He even hides a hint of a smile when an inebriated bride flashes him from his limo's backseat. Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Dafne Keen as the young Laura are perfect in their parts. But it's undoubtedly Mr. Jackman who walks away with all the glory. Being unrestrained in this movie gives him the opportunity to show us Logan's true character and he doesn't hold back. It's a hell of a ride!
James Mangold has written and directed a superhero film unlike any other. You haven't seen anything like it by Marvel. The closest in terms of tone would be DC's 'The Dark Knight' but it's still an uncharacteristically original story. The only downside is it feels a little longer than it should. And it won't appeal to the fainthearted as moments of relief are few are far between. But these aren't real problems. This was a welcome watch and one that any cinema lover will relish. I haven't decided if I liked it more than 'X-Men: Days of Future Past', that might require a re-watch, but it's damn near close.
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