Welcome Bub!

Let me start by admitting that I not a huge X-men fan. I didn’t grow up with the comics or the tv series so although I like them, they have never really felt like family to me. Unlike others on our team (Ruben) who loved them as he was growing up and was so much more invested in the characters and the storylines. But this film, had me mesmerised. For the first time, I felt like the characters could be their R rated selves – by all accounts Wolverine is a much darker and scarier character than had previously been depicted in the cinematic Marvel Universe so when Deadpool got an R rated film and then proceeded to clean up at the box office, we guess film executives felt confident enough to give the green light for Wolverine to do the same. 

​The film is set in the not too distant future of 2029 and again has a realism to it as it doesn’t stray too far into the realm of science fiction but even mentions some current issues from our time that have simply escalated and technology hasn’t run too far ahead of itself either – not like Bladerunner - dystopian, but quite plausible.

​This film sees a far more realistic portrayal of our heroes. And by realistic we don’t necessarily mean true to the X-men universe of comics, graphic novels and TV shows, but more true to actual human life – which is probably why I was able to connect so much more deeply with the film. Now some fans might actually hate this. To see the heroes you have loved become frail and fallible can be unsettling to say the least. But we found the relationship between Professor X and Wolverine so beautiful. As Hugh Jackman describes it, as actors they were allowed to really “run in the paddock” and show off their exceptional talent as they created this doomed road trip Thelma and Louise type relationship that had you wishing and hoping but deep down knowing that a happy ending might just be unattainable.

​Please note from this point on there will be spoilers – so if you haven’t seen it yet,  go watch the film and then come back and read the rest of this review and let us know if you agree…
From the trailers it was obvious that Logan was going to be old but what we didn’t realise was that he wasn’t just old but sick too. He is a broken reflection of the un-killable hero he once was as he struggles to make ends meet as a limo driver while trying to care for Professor X whose incomprehensibly powerful mind has now been classified as a weapon of mass destruction. There is even a subtle reminder of the depressed suicidal character of Martin Riggs from Lethal Weapon as Wolverine too keeps a bullet with him (adamantium in Wolverine’s case) as he contemplates ending it all. In a world where mutants are all but gone, the few that remain are in hiding and Logan and Professor X have a dream of buying a Yacht and living out the rest of their days on the open seas.

​It is heart wrenching to see Logan’s once powerful physique so vulnerable and no longer able to heal as quickly. But he is all heart and courage and raw determination. There are plenty of scenes that will make you want to reach out and comfort these broken characters and a few that will make you want to slap some sense into them.
Overall, a riveting rollercoaster of emotions and action, well balanced and beautifully executed. The cinematography is excellently understated and supports the telling of the story without being flashy. This is, in my opinion, a beautiful way to end the franchise and once our hearts have healed, we will be ready for a re-boot.
On that note, we are hoping that the new Wolverine (Laura) will get her own movie and are also equal parts intrigued to see who will now be cast as the new hairy angry man in what is the obviously, the next move for the X-Men franchise, The Reboot. Who do you think would be a perfect for the role of Logan? 

Thanks for reading.

Kirstin & Ruben Shaw

​Cue the arrival of Laura to mess up Logan’s plans. Created in a test tube and born in a lab, Laura’s story is tragic and slightly horrifying. But as Professor X says it, “Does she remind you of someone?” Crazy strong, agile and oh so very violent, Laura is like a mini young Logan full of fire and rage. She is convinced that a place mentioned in an X-men comic book called “Eden” – a safe haven for all mutants – actually exists and will pay Logan $20,000 to get her there. And of course Logan needs the money but has the moral dilemma of believing that “Eden” is nothing more than a fiction from a comic book. And so the story continues with the bad guys chasing the girl and Logan and the Professor trying to protect her.