By Cynthia Ayala

“In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X somewhere on the Mexican border. However, Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces.”

—IMDB

There’s simply no limit to the beauty this film has wrapped in all the swearing and gritty glory that defines Wolverine’s character and this film. Wolverine has not had an easy life, he has gone through so much and the writers knew just how to capitalize on the character, the Wolverine, and evolve the story for him. They took a risk, and they ended the story properly, they ended it in such a way that they gave closure to the character and his legacy in the X-Men.

Logan has such power within it, but there’s this broken aspect that haunts the characters, and it’s so touching because there is this father-son, father-daughter, dynamic going on here. The story has evolved, it has taken the relationship between Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Logan (Hugh Jackman) and given it more depth. They have a strong powerful bond with one another that has new depth to in within this film. Logan is doing everything in his power to keep the ailing professor, the man who has sort of become his father, safe from the world. And that dynamic, the depth and emotion between the characters that transcends the film and the genre of the film itself. It was emotional, it was powerful, and it was amazing how the actors, writers, and directors, took a focus on that to bring out such a strong realism to the film.

What also worked for the film was the way the film decided to pass on the torch to Laura (Dafne Keen), aka X-23. Her character was so well thought out in the film, the way she functions as a mute, a weapon, and ruthless girl who only wants to survive the enemies that would see her dead. The actress’s performance was amazing and her connection to Logan was so profound and powerful. My personal opinion is that the studios wait a little while, let the girl grow up just a bit, then bring her back as Laura because her performance, her understanding of the role given to her, it was just phenomenal for a girl her age. She’s a perfect Laura, and given time, she would also be an amazing teenager/adult Laura, taking on the mantle of Wolverine.

All in all, this was just a phenomenal film. There was so much depth and emotion within the film that, like critics have already said, transcends the superhero genre. This film proves that superhero movies can have depth to them, that they don’t just have to be about saving the world, about explosions or massive special effects. This film proves that even a small story about saving one little girl can make a profound impression on audience. (★★★★| A)

—Film Credits—

Directed by James Mangold

Screenplay by Scott Frank, James Mangold & Michael Green

Story by James Mangold

Based on Wolverine by Roy Thomas, Len Wein, & John Romita Sr.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, Stephen Merchant, Richard E. Grant & Dafne Keen

Rating | Length | Genre: R | 2h 21min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

Distributed by Marvel Entertainment