Tag: x-men

LOGAN (2017) movie review

1 Comment

logan-trailer2-first-look-1024x538I trust James Mangold with stories. I loved his remake of the western 3:10 to Yuma, and now he brings the X-Men franchise and specifically Wolverine’s story to a colossal finale allowing a curtain call for the Mercutio of the mutant clan. 514f36bdc61a23c0_logan-dom-df-13002_rgbWolverine, the classic loner with adamantium claws and a zeal for personal justice becomes Logan, a limo driver for hire in 2029 who also cares for the aging and unwell Professor X.logan-movie-review-3

logan2Charles Xavier is not finished finding and training young mutants, however, and the two must venture back out into the world to rescue a small girl with striking similarities to our hero, Logan.logan-header-pic

Mangold wrote the screenplay then directed the film. Taking this film through Gladiator rounds, he begins lopping heads and slicing limbs to appease the masses of film-goers. It easily earns the R-rating with both language and violence in the first five minutes, setting the stage for a gritty and brutal film. logan_donald_trump_immigrantsSomehow, however, this film flows like a western, the sheriff admonishing the ruthless with cruel justice. Somehow Logan becomes a Christ-figure. mv5bywyyntg5yzutyjlkzc00zwmxltgxnmqtogjkogqymwu3nzlixkeyxkfqcgdeqxvynjyxmte1otm-_v1_-e1477592440464And, somehow this film overwhelms with significance as it builds relational depth between characters and as it proclaims the truths that brutality is not without consequence and a life lived selfishly is lived without purpose.cuaiczwueaaid_w-jpg-large

WOLVERINE (2013) movie review

4 Comments

wolverine_ver6I am sad to report that this film was a shameful contribution to an already too slobbery Wolverine franchise.  I usually respect director James Mangold for his visual decisions. I loved his 3:10 to Yuma, and Night and Day was just plain fun. Though not all great decisions, I did recognize some of his signature camera angles in this, his stunt tricks like killing off the same guys more than once, and his forced Christ-pose via tethered arrows. I was surprised at his choice to spare audiences the sight of blood, perhaps keeping it PG-13. The Wolverine’s 3-prong approach is usually a bloody business. Not here.
Hugh-Jackman-in-The-Wolverine-2013-Movie-Image2-e1359755497637

Perhaps we blame the cuts made on the editing floor – or rather the cuts that should have been made. The Venomous skin-peeler could have made fewer appearances, said almost no lines and still perfected her 80’s snake dance move at the end. THE WOLVERINEEvery scene took a mini-series pace. This movie made an episode of Downton seem rushed.  Hugh Jackman, though I’m a great fan of his body…of work, could have left his one liners at the door and sung this. There’s an idea! Wolverine the musical!

The WolverineThis tale follows our hero from Japan at the end of the Second World War to animal activism in Alaska, through too many Inceptionesque visits with nightie-clad ghost Jean Grey, and back to Japan.

Upon re-entry into Tokyo, it feels like a remake of The Karate Kid Part 2. kkRemember when Mr. Miyagi takes Danielson back to Okinawa? Ralph Macchio fights the angry cast off son, wins the girl who falls in love with him over a tea ceremony, and finally fights in the great battle at the end to the sound of spinning drums. It’s all here in this film. But I really missed that Peter Cetera song in this one.  So, here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgRw3m4h13c&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Wolverine-2013-ED-10