Superhero movies are everywhere. What used to be a rare cinematic venture has become common practice, as comic book characters are brought to life through brilliant CGI and serialized storytelling. But since we're so used to this practice, the superhero genre can sometimes become a bit predictable; the audience is simply too familiar with the formula. Luckily for us, some movies still surprise us like Deadpool or Guardians of the Galaxy. Now it appears the latest installment in the X-Men franchise intending to do just the same, and set itself apart by unique visuals. Logan is getting real.
Director James Mangold is bringing Logan to life, which will be Hugh Jackman's final performance as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise. He recently spoke to Empire Magazine, where he revealed how he intended to bring something unique to the film's action sequences.
The goal was to make something human. We made an effort to scale back on the gloss and greenscreen.
Well this certainly seems promising. It appears that Logan won't contain quite as much CGI work as recent superhero movies- something that is sure to make film purists giddy with excitement about the spinoff.
Superhero movies are known for using gorgeous visual affects. The best artists in the business help to make each out of this world punch or laser beam feel like they're realistic. However, using these affects can sometimes make visuals appear simply too perfect, and green screen work can often be challenging for actors trying to keep their performances rooted in realism.
The use of practical effects have seen a bit of a rebirth recently. J.J. Abrams famously used a ton of practical and special affects when filming Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which succeeded in making the galaxy far, far away seem just a bit closer. Additionally, this was applauded because The Force Awakens felt similar to the original trilogy, bridging the gap between generations of Star Wars fans.
It should be interesting to see how Logan differs from other X-Men movies. The last installment in the universe was the somewhat disappointing X-Men: Apocalypse. It seems like James Mangold is almost going for the complete opposite feel with Logan. While Apocalypse was a CGI spectacle that saw Oscar Isaac's villain and his forces seemingly destroy an entire city, Logan will be a more intimate affair. We'll see how each cut and wound affects Wolverine, and watch as he kills his enemies up close.
Overall, Logan feels like uncharted territory for the X-Men movies. From the trailer, it looks like Logan will be the most focused and somber installment in the franchise. We'll have to say goodbye to the franchise mascot, and see how Wolverine and Professor X ended up in a bleak future without any of the other characters.
Logan will be released in theaters March 3rd, 2016.
