The Wolverine trilogy concludes with wonderful poignancy led by the series drivers: a failing Wolverine (Jackman) and a Professor X (Stewart) with pre-Alzheimer's. Hugh Jackman was given much input in the final portrayal of Wolverine, and he said he wanted the first R rating of his role for plenty of graphic violence. He resurges with a bang alright, returning middle-aged but with the same bursting veined muscles. Not to outshine his mentor, Professor X makes an encore of dignified vulnerability, hiding in a shipping container, and reminiscing about their past glory is heart-wrenching. Patrick Stewart, found another way to never disappoint.
Marvel's X-Men universe's 10th movie is one of the best. Confusing in their order and losing their air of expectancy, James Mangold creates a memorable one. Wolverine has a daughter, Laura (Dafne Keen, see above), and a new breed of manipulated lab-modified mutants want her back. Yes, the government has finally taken control of mutants for its own devises. Laura is a mute for half of the movie, raised in Mexico with retractable claws and all. Logan is half the man he was, barely healing himself, as he takes on the responsibility once more of protecting the hope of keeping the remnant Mutant children free. They are persecuted as they race to a haven called Eden.
Plenty of great themes feed the crescendo. Such as: dad heart-wrenching protection over daughter against overwhelming odds, a child mutant lacking muscle but with the fury of Wolverine at his prime, the last great stand of Mutants vs. masters, leaders being led, newbies taking over, and even a battle of the wolverines. Kind of hard to end this right...?
The finale is one of those inconclusive scenarios that in this case, I don't mind. The last of the Mutants fight for their lives in the lonely but majestic woods of New Mexico. It was definitely appropriate to end with a Johnny Cash score from his last dark album The Man Comes Around with a black background for the credits. The tragic ending is open to future possibilities. Thus, I stop short at 10 & Goal.
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