Superhero movies continue to get bigger and more expansive, but they're also getting more repetitive. That's why we're so very, very excited for Logan. Unlike its Marvel and DC counterparts, Hugh Jackman's final outing as Wolverine will go in the opposite direction by crafting a gritty and emotional story on a small, intimate scale. And now that the first footage from the upcoming James Mangold-directed X-Men movie has screened, we're more excited than ever.
20th Century Fox is holding a special 2017 preview event in New York this afternoon, and in addition to showcasing the first footage from Ridley Scott's Alien: Covenant, it also offered the first chance to watch the first act - a.k.a. the first 40 minutes - of Logan. Cinema Blend's own Sean O'Connell got the chance to see the material from the upcoming X-Men adventure for himself, and was totally floored. Here's what he had to say:
Sean took to Twitter after seeing the first act of Logan, and I think it's definitely safe to say that he enjoyed himself while watching the footage from the upcoming film. It seems that, after so many solid performances, Logan represents the first time that a Wolverine story has lived up to Hugh Jackman's portrayal of the character. It's violent, visceral, and everything fans of the character want to see.
In fact, the footage was so good, and so hard-hitting, that it's going to make us wish Hugh Jackman would stick around a bit longer. Sean elaborated:
That being said, it's worth noting that the franchise may actually be able to survive without Hugh Jackman's Wolverine at the forefront of the action. Sean's final words about the footage specifically mention X-23, and it seems that 20th Century Fox will definitely be able to sustain this new character's popularity for the foreseeable future.
Sean doesn't appear to be alone in his assessment of X-23; she made a serious impression on other critics in attendance of the Logan footage as well. As a matter of fact, SlashFilm's Angie Han took to Twitter after the screening and asserted that X-23 (also known as Laura in the film) outshines every other character in the film whenever she's on screen.
Building off of that collective enthusiasm, JoBlo's Paul Shirley echoes Sean's opinions regarding the film's gritty content. We have waited years to see this type of Wolverine on the silver screen, and it's infinitely cooler than anything we have seen before. Here's what he specifically had to say:
Finally, Wilson Morales from BlackFilm rounds out the reactions to Logan with one of the most enticing opinions of the bunch. Without a hint of comedy, Logan still apparently manages to create the same sense of awe established by 20th Century Fox's last R-rated mutant adventure.
So you're saying this will invoke the same amount of enthusiasm as Deadpool? Okay, James Mangold; you can have my money right now.
Considering the above opinions, I think it's safe to say that Logan has easily become one of the most tantalizing superhero films of the coming year. We will bring you more information concerning Hugh Jackman's final outing as the clawed hero as more details become available. Logan will slash its way into theaters on March 3, 2017.
