Hoping this wins Best Picture in the next Oscars

Rating: 10/10 (14 March 2017)

March 3, 2017. Girl's Day in Japan. My girlfriend, Japanese, asked to watch Logan to celebrate. It was opening night and it wasn't sold out. We went to the second showing. She loves Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and saw all the X-Men and Wolverine movies to this point. I read comics in the Halcyon era of comics, the mid-80's to mid 90's. I was used to great storytelling and eccentric artwork (Cerebus The Aardvark, Mage - The Hero Discovered, Moonshadow, Nexus), and to this point, I loved watching the X-Men movies just to see characters like Nightcrawler come to life. I didn't think much of the stories in the movies - they're very much aimed at teenage audiences. I think Watchmen was the closest thing to a great comic adaption, but that didn't go over well for movie audiences. I digress.
I didn't know James Mangold directed Logan until the movie started. I saw the trailers but thought Logan looked ho-hum. When Mangold's name appeared on the screen, I told my girlfriend wow! He did Girl, Interrupted and 3:10 To Yuma! I was ready for a great movie. The couple sitting next to us were obviously wanting to see another exciting X-Men movie. They were howling during the Deadpool trailer that lead into the feature movie.
Once Logan got through the initial action scene and went home to see Professor Xavier, things became somber and set the tone for the rest of the movie. The couple next to us leaned forward through most of the movie, totally absorbed and obviously blown away by the unexpected storytelling angle. Logan is a major detour from every Marvel and DC superhero movie adaption to date. Some compare this to the Dark Knight saga. If you thought Heath Ledger was a great Joker, or that Christian Bale was great as Batman... well, I would say that Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Daphne Keen's acting are much more elevated. Logan is a world-class A-list film. Easily Mangold's best work.
There is a scene in a hotel that makes you hold your breath. The couple next to us were white-knuckled, clutching the arms on their chairs and squirming in their seats. When the scene ended, they slumped down and signed from exhaustion. The whole theater was basically breathless.
Somehwere near the middle of the film, there's a scene where Logan, Xavier and Laura are introduced to a farming family and spend a night with them. My girlfriend cried from that point until the end of the movie.
Logan, Xavier, Laura and Kaliban - the 4 main characters - are all lovable and likable. The movie trots along at a leisurely pace, letting you enjoy all the little things they encounter on their journey.
If you've seen any of Mangold's previous films, this is his best. If you've seen Hugh Jackman's previous films, this is his best. If you've seen anything of Patrick Stewart's, this is his best. If you've seen any Marvel or DC movies, this is the best. What's not to love about Logan? There is a word that's become pretty synonymous with the name James Mangold. Satisfying. Logan is supremely, supremely satisfying.
I felt honored to watch Logan on opening night. It was better than seeing the original Star Wars movie in the theater back in 1977.
Logan is THAT good.