Logan

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Logan, aka Wolverine - played by Hugh Jackman for the 9th time in the X-Men Universe (if you count all the cameos). The year is 2029 and Logan is old, has a drinking problem, is a chauffeur and not healing very well, so already in the first few minutes of the film, this is a completely different depiction of the adamantium legend we are used to. He is doing all this in order to pay for medication for Charles Xavier, played by Patrick Stewart in such a vulnerable and tender role. The medication is for his dementia and to control his seizures, which for a mutant who can control people's minds, is detrimental to all when he has them. Another character is Caliban, an albino mutant that is sensitive to sunlight, he used to track/help hunt mutants but has now reformed and is nurse to Charles. Caliban is played by Stephen Merchant surprisingly well, I did not expect the lanky comedian to be in this type of film, but he does a good job.

As it is 2029 both Charles and Logan are old and have been through many ordeals and different timelines, technically Logan is well over 100 in this film. [Here is a youtube clip that tries to explain his age: https://youtu.be/8YGHDTIUt0s.] He has out lived everyone from the X-Men universe we know and love, e.g Jean Grey, Cyclops and Beast, Logan is very bitter, angry and scarred physically and emotionally - you really get the sense that he's been through an awful lot, he's almost given up. That is until Charles Xavier communicates with a young girl, Laura who is a lot like Logan; full of rage, heals quickly and has baby adamantium claws. But she was born in a lab and bred for the main purpose of becoming a mutant solider. With the help of a nurse, she rescues Laura and the other experimented on children. She then tries get Logan's support to take Laura away, which then ensues a fugitive type story where Logan and Laura are being hunted by evil Richard E Grant and his enhanced cronies.

I loved this version of Logan, it felt more like a western and reminded me of the Clint Eastwood film, Unforgiven. This is a much more grown up film, not least because the violence is so brutal and bloody. This is exactly what a stand alone Wolverine film should be. Apart from the extreme violent which is oddly satisfying (especially when Logan and Laura both go into full-on beast mode). You do feel for all the main characters, it's all really well acted, Hugh Jackman is acting his claws-off and I don't mean to sound glib but you don't tend to expect that in a blockbuster movie franchise.

This film is easily 5 stars and is by far the best X-Men film to date.