Nine films across seventeen years have really embedded Huge Jackman as the one and only Wolverine for many people across the world, so it would only be right to give him a fitting send off from the role. 2017’s 'Logan' marks his retirement; he really deserves an Oscar for this one. Starting more seriously than its predecessors, this film leads down a dark and gritty path hence its mature rating, but with just the right mix of comedy and comic book Easter eggs to remind you that this is, after all, a Marvel movie. Set in the not-so-distant future, mutant kind have become almost extinct since not one has been born for a generation. On the Mexican boarder we find Logan far from his days fighting for the X-men. We see a desperate old man surrendering himself to alcohol to deal with the harsh truth that his powers are slowly betraying him. Trying to make ends meet as a chauffeur to provide for whats left of his family, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), after the former professor has ironically developed a degenerative brain disease. After the scene has been set on what has become of the once infamous X-men, we are introduced to a young girl named Laura and her mother pursued by sinister forces. After a flight sequence that leaves Laura’s mother dead and more than earns this film its rating, Logan is then pressured into helping the young, alone Laura by Charles. After realising the young girl is in many ways like the old man Logan the two men set off to the Canadian bored in the search of 'Eden', a safe place for mutants as depicted by the legendary X-men artist Dan Panosian in vintage X-men comics. Still followed by the mysterious Transigen company who so desperately want Laura back due to her DNA, Charles and Logan first stop off in the busy Oklahoma City. Here Logan leaves Laura in the care of the once professor so he can get new clothes, a car and some well-needed rest from the parenting he never thought he would have endure. After no more than an hour has passed Logan returns to find armed forces suspended in time breaking down the door and entering the room he left Charles and Laura within. We now learn the true extend of what Charles' condition is. Violent mental fits that cause agonising pain for anyone in close proximity as well as being temporarily paralysed. If these outbreaks are not contained they will eventually lead to death within the victims. Logan, who has built up a slight immunity to the attacks, kills the soldiers and calms Charles enough to stop the attack before any lasting damage can be inflicted. The three then continue on towards Eden, after an intensely emotional sense that shows Charles coming to terms with what he has just done and how many people he has hurt. A truly harrowing scene that is breathtaking and a showcase of pure emotion. Continuing their journey, we see a highway of completely automated futuristic trucks, a small road accident occurs forcing Logan to step in. Three horses bolt across the road risking further collisions, unable to be of much use Logan turns to Charles to see that he is already trying to reach out and calm the horses minds as his friend did for him not so long before. The farmers can’t thank them enough for their help and invite the three wary travellers into their home for the night. After a lovely home cooked meal and endless stories shared it is almost time for some rest when the water fails. Offering his help once more Logan and the farmer head into the night to fix the problem. Once the water has been fixed, a small gang descends on the Wolverine and his new found friend, nothing however a quick “piss off” and a show of the six deadly claws in his possession can’t fix. The two men then set off back to the homestead. The room is dark where Charles and Laura are sleeping, Logan returns which awakens Charles who asks that Laura sleeps for just awhile longer. Tears in his eyes, Charles still troubled by what happened in Oklahoma City asks his friend if this is the first attack he has had. Logan remains deadly silent as Charles recalls a previous attack that happened in Westchester, New York, home of the X-men. Upon realising that Charles had killed the X-men and caused Logan an endless amount of pain you can’t help but feel so sorry for what has become of this once proud man, portrayed perfectly by Patrick Stewart it really pains me to think we will not see this amazing chemistry that works so well between him and Hugh Jackman for some time. More light now enters the room to show that after all this time and many heartbreaking stories, it was not Logan he was talking too. Instead, a clone of Logan, shaved head and more animalistic in design controlled by the Transigen company. Leaning his closed fist down on Charles' chest he extends his claws thought his heart, killing the ninety year old who simply looks confused as he stares into the eyes of the man who shares the face of his beloved friend. The real Logan returns to the homestead only too late, with everyone dead and X-24 (Logan’s clone) carrying Laura, kicking and screaming, back to the van to complete his mission. The two Logans fight and the real Logan only just comes out on top, Logan runs upstairs to see his dead mentor and breaks down instantly. Logan and Laura flee the scene with the dead professor to a calm little forest with a small lake in the centre. Here they give Charles a small funeral, Logan attempts to utter some words but is too emotional to muster anything. A emotional end for yet another character who will be missed on the big screen. Moving on, the third act is swiftly upon us, after arriving at Eden and seeing more of Laura’s kind have also found their way there. The new mutants who are all massive Wolverine fans can’t believe their eyes when they see him. In a very funny scene Logan is sleeping when the children cut his hair and bread to resemble his younger more iconic superhero look. After some much needed comedy we are reminded that Transigen isn’t far behind once again, the children flee towards the Canadian boarder where they believe they will be safe as Transigen can’t follow them there. Transigen captures most of the children and unleash the healed and now stronger X-24 to deal with Logan. The final battle is long, bloody and brutal. With Logan’s healing factor failing he struggles to keep up with the X-24 and eventually loses the battle which ends with Logan being impaled thought a tree. Laura finishes the job and ensures that Transigen and X-24 will never hurt anyone again. A final and fitting send off is given to Logan and he is removed from the tree, buried on the Canadian boarder by the children that he helped save and who he meant so much too. Too Laura though he was her father, a female genetic clone of Logan with matching claws and personality. The torch is passed down to the young X-23 who utters a sad line from a movie she watched with Professor X “now there is no more guns in the valley.” Before moving off to her new, safe life with the new mutants she moves the cross, that has become wolverines grave stone, on its side to resemble an X. Logan will always be an X-men. Just as Hugh Jackman will always be Wolverine! An amazing movie that is a must watch in my opinion for die hard comic book fans or even if you just fancy a gritty tale of pain and sacrifice! I would give this movie 94% an almost perfect score and I can’t wait to watch it again. I could have only wished for a shared movie between Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and the Wolverine but Logan was a fitting end to this chapter of Hugh Jackman’s life.
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