"Don't be what they made you."
I vaguely remember X-Men's release back in 2000. I think I was seven. I remember the introductory scene with Rogue and feeling confused by what was happening (they later sort of explain it), and wondering when I'd see the iconic 90s costumes that were so popular from the Animated Series. Pretty much directly after that, The Wolverine was introduced in a crazy cage fight that I felt like I was getting away with watching because I was so young. I was entranced. I'd never really watched the shows or read comics at that point, my first comic being The Death of Superman trade and maybe some Space Ghost/Cartoon Network comics, so all I knew was that he had claws and was angry. CUT TO: The swift-but-memorable fight with Sabertooth.
"When they come out... does it hurt?"
"Every time."
This character snarled and popped his iconic claws and I was goddamn hooked.
From X2: X-Men United all the way to X-Men: Apocalypse, I ate it up. I didn't care how cheesy the movies became (and they did get rough) or how the competition was making them look bad, all I wanted was more Wolverine. More Hugh Jackman, really.
Years after first seeing X-Men, I'd find myself more acquainted with the Wolverine. I'd get my first job at a comic book store and ultimately devour anything I could find on various favorites, but I'd always come back to two characters: Superman and Wolverine.
Any time I'd see him on the screen, I was seven and enthralled again, without fail. This animal of a character had been through everything and would come out the other side pissed that he had to deal with it at all, healing all the while. He was a mentor, a friend, and loner all at the same time. I desperately wanted to know more and the more I tried to find out (it's very hard, especially before they delved into Logan in recent years) the more I realized the scope of the story.
Logan conjures a magnificent swan song for the character I was introduced to almost 17 years ago. It's brutally painful and so, so bittersweet. You're presented with the end of the line for this wonderful incarnation and all you're left with in the end is wanting one more story. There's the expected nods to fans and to past appearances, but ultimately, this movie exists on it's own feet. There's no need to know much more than basic X-Men lore, but I so recommend starting with X-Men and trudging through, if only to know Hugh Jackman's stellar performance. In hindsight, I'm sure this final act won't be as impactful as I'll remember for my first viewing (nitpicking catches up to everything) but man... what a perfect experience. Please watch it. Hugh Jackman -is- The Wolverine.
5/5 because I actually teared up in the theater and forgot I bought a drink because I was so invested in the screen.
