Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Richard E. Grant, Boyd Holbrook and Stephen Merchant. Written by Scott Ffrank, James Mangold and Michael Green from a story from James Mangold. Directed by James Mangold. Budget $97 million. Running time 137 minutes. 15 certificate.
It's the year 2029, mutant kind is almost gone, proven to be nothing more than a genetic aberration, rather than the next stage of human evolution. Hunted to near extinction by homo-sapians like Richard E. Grant's Zander Rice, the few mutants who survive, like Logan (Hugh Jackman) hide in the shadows. Logan, now battered, heavily scarred and slowly dying from Adamantian poisoning and a weakened healing factor fights the pain with alcohol, while he nurses Professor X (Patrick Stewart), who is slowly succumbing to senility with the help of Caliban (Stephen Merchant). Into their world comes an 11-year old, seemingly mute, mutant girl, Laura (Dafne Keen). She's got severe anger management issues, a murderous rage and some oddly familiar claws, plus she's being hunted by a squad of cybernetically enhanced solider called Reavers lead by Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook). Logan is forced to go on the run with Xavier and Laura after he uncovers a sinister plot to create an army of young mutant warriors created by Zander Rice. What follows is a murderous road trip to a place called Eden that might just offer salvation to young mutants like Laura.
After seven movies playing the titular hero, this is, declared Hugh Jackman, his last outing as everyone's favourite claw welding homicidal superhero and if that declaration is true then this is one hell of a movie to bow out in. Sure it might just be his Wolverine's last movie, but there's no way we're never going to see him again, it's just it's going to be someone else wearing his shoes and popping his claws and boy are they going to have a hell of a lot to live up to!
This is, hands down, the best superhero film I've seen in ages, indeed it may very well be the best one of this modern era, and possibly one of the best one I've ever seen! It's certainly the best of the X-Men movies. The performances are exceptional from all the leads, Patrick Stewart is superb, bringing subtly to his fight with senility in one breathe then dropping the F bomb in the next, boy I don't think I've ever heard so much swearing in an action film. But it's not just Jackman and Stewart who've brought their 'A' game, everyone has including Stephen Merchant acting utterly against type as the albino mutant Caliban. But this isn't a long talky drama, this is also a brilliant action film that doesn't skim on action and doesn't skimp on the fact that its hero has three-foot long, razor sharp claws that he ain't afraid to use! The action is constant, breathless and relentless, but never boring. Indeed, if this film has a flaw it's that it's perhaps a tad too long and it does lose some of its momentum as we move into the third act.
However, that said. I bloody loved this film! I was captivated and hooked from beginning to the very end. Touching, emotional and exciting. What a send off. Please, sir can I have some more like this?
9/10
SECOND VIEWING
This really holds up, just as satisfying second time round. A very intense and satisfying movie.
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