Why 'Logan' Hit So Hard

Post date: Apr 21, 2017 10:0:45 AM

The hype behind Logan was unreal, but not undeserved. When it hit theaters, people lauded it almost instantly. It was as huge a box-office hit as any R-rated movie could be, and the film swayed critics everywhere to its side. And it was a great superhero movie for so many reasons.

Image source: fandango.com

First off, it was the last time Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart would play the beloved Wolverine and Charles Xavier characters, respectively. This gave the film gravitas that previous Wolverine and X-Men movies did not have. And boy, Jackman and Stewart really saved their best for last. Both thespians, they gave their respective characters grizzled, tired, world-weary auras in tour-de-force performances rarely seen in superhero movies.

Secondly, the new character, Laura, was as innocent, tender and touching as she was vicious. Dafne Keen provided the surprise performance of the movie. As the “daughter” of Wolverine, the departure of Logan meant Laura would be an orphan from then on end.

Image source: vanityfair.com

Over the past two decades, so many people have gotten so used to Jackman playing Wolverine, and James Mangold, the director, knew that and put it to good use. By the end of the movie, there is a sense of disbelief, an unwillingness to accept that such an iconic comic book and Hollywood superhero has finally gone into the dark, to sleep forever.

Joe Cianciotto here, San Francisco-based architect. During my free time, I love watching all sorts of movies. Subscribe to this Twitter page for more on film.