Logan: A Bittersweet Goodbye

5 stars

There is no other way to describe Logan than bittersweet. It's heart-wrenching and brutal, yet still manages to remain funny and have moments of levity. It's the end of an era but it's also the beginning of a new one.

Hugh Jackman's last time playing Wolverine is a daunting and bewildering idea - especially when you remember that he's been part of the X-Men for seventeen years now, starring in nearly all of the films - but it's not one to be feared. The cast and crew behind Logan put their all into the film in order for Wolverine's last stand to be a grand one.

There's a real sense of angst and loss throughout the film. Not just for Logan's fading powers or the aging Professor X, but because there are just... No mutants left. No hope. No point to keep up the fight. Logan has resigned himself to living out the rest of his days alone and in pain, gruffly caring for his oldest friend and perhaps wishing that he didn't have to. It's almost peaceful, except it's anything but. It pulls on your heartstrings, whether you're a long time fan or just like films with plenty of blood.

Because believe me: there's a lot of blood. Logan is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. The fights are brutal and offer no respite from the outset. No one is free from the violence that follows Wolverine when Laura becomes a part of his life. Not even Laura herself, having been raised in a locked down facility to be a weapon. It's funny, how she doesn't know how to interact with the real world, but at the same time it's heartbreaking to see a little girl who likes horses have to physically fight grown men for her life.

Saying goodbye to Wolverine wasn't easy, but saying hello to X-23 was. There is no denying that Laura is a fantastic character; she's adorable but totally badass, strong, loyal, independent, brave. Life has been nothing but bad to her yet she somehow manages to go on. Her ending is left somewhat open, so perhaps we'll get to see more of her and how she copes in the future. Or maybe not, given the hopeless situation of mutants.

I find it highly unlikely that the end of Wolverine will also spell the end of X-Men. There are still comics out there that haven't made it to the big screen, mutants we haven't met yet, and stories to be told. I just wish I didn't have to say goodbye to my favourite.