"Logan" Review (Spoilers)
Also reviews for the latest episodes of Big Hero 6: The Series, Elena Of Avalor, The Rocketeer, Muppet Babies, Harley Quinn, Transformers: Cyberverse, Power Rangers: Beast Morphers, and The Blacklist.
Logan
I heard nothing but good things going in, but I have to say I'm not a fan. It was a good movie in and of itself, but what a bummer of a place to leave off the X-Men movie canon. I have yet to see Dark Phoenix (although I have heard it sucked) but the fact that it sucked doesn't actually matter because this movie says everyone winds up dead by the end of things anyways, so what's the point? It's a powerful movie, granted, and an audacious way to end things, but it's not what I wanted, and I certainly don't think it was needed.
It took some time getting used to a potty-mouthed Charles Xavier. And you realize that the greatest and most powerful mind in the world going senile is what makes him dangerous. He had some nice scenes with Logan, but I don't feel his death landed as well as Wolverine's did. At least Logan's was a sacrifice. Charles' death was a random waste. What bugs me especially about it is that that's why everybody was mad at how he went out in The Last Stand in the first place. They cannot do right by a death for that character.
And of course the kindly black family Charles befriends and instantly cherishes are all brutally murdered for their kindness. I don't believe all genre movies and shows have no value. But stuff like that is one of the reasons I tend to value them very little to begin with. I'm actually angry at Charles for putting them in danger in the first place. They knew dangerous people were after them, and Charles refuses to leave at both opportunities it would have been okay to. Not only are their deaths on him, so is his own.
Still you can't help but feel for him when he says that was the most perfect night he's had in a long time, and that he doesn't deserve it after what he did. Getting stabbed seconds later by Fauxgan is not putting too fine a point on that.
It's interesting that Logan is so upset over Charles' death that he can't even say last words.
I like Logan saying that bad things happen to people he cares about, and Laura saying that meant she would be fine. That summed up the movie perfectly in a couple of lines.
What's interesting about that moment is that it means he actually cared about Caliban. That's interesting because he never treated him like he did.
I love how outraged Jackman continues to be at her. Like when he learns she can talk, and then when it seems she can only speak in Spanish, and then when she punches him in the face twice. "Stop hitting me!" His frustration over his inability to do anything is palpable. Thugs with guns Logan can kill. Not so much a preteen daughter.
I like that she says Charles told her Logan wanted to die and for her not to let him. That part didn't work out.
Logan going by James Howlett must mean he got his memories back at some point.
I love how Laura and Logan can suck and / or push bullets out of their bodies.
The kid who plays Laura is great. The "Shane" clip was very instructive to me about child actors. Back then, they all sucked. That kid in the clip is absolutely awful. But Laura's actress gets across so much with her eyes without ever saying much until near the end of the movie.
Based on the look on Logan's face, I like that he mistook the farmer asking about his daughter being "mute" for something else. That was a very subtle thing I appreciated.
I like Charles correcting that he's a nonagenarian.
That footage from the facility was disturbing. Rice insisting the children be thought of as things was appalling on every level you can think of.
It seems very out of character that Charles is okay with the number of people Logan and Laura kill.
Logan HAS 20 thousand dollars on him. I don't quite see why he feels the NEED to steal from the convenience store. And of course he steals cigars. Why not?
I like Charles saying Laura does not need to be reminded of life's impermanence. That was smart.
I like Patrick Stewart sticking out his tongue to show he swallowed the pills. "Laaaaah!" There is a real lack of vanity in Stewart's performance here, which has always been one of his selling points. He is willing to do things that make him look weak and vulnerable, that most actors of his stature are unwilling to do. That's the precise reason they can get him to say all of that crazy stuff on American Dad. Patrick Stewart cares more about a realistic performance than a performance that makes him look good, which is a mark of a great, mature actor. You don't get that from the sticking out of the tongue, but it's the fact that he did that which is why that's true.
It's very chilling that Laura's nightmares all involve people hurting her, and Logan's involve him hurting other people.
I think Logan missed the point of Charles saying that he believed Laura could be better than Logan. I think Logan saw that as a wry insult at his expense. In reality, parents WANT their kids to be better off than they are. It's another insightful thing that sort of blows by Logan.
The Mutant kids enveloping Pierce in the grass at the end are totally the Children of the Corn. He's also Saddam in the spiderhole, and finally willing to negotiate.
Laura's fight with Fauxgan at the end was brutal. She did great and totally shredded him.
It's weird that Fauxgan's haircut and beard are identical to Liev Schrieber's Sabertooth.
I found Logan's death scene with Laura moving when she's calls him daddy, and he tells her not to be what they made her, and bemusedly finally understands what death feels like after shelling out so much of it himself. Unfortunately, the problem when you kill off the focal point character is that you need a good supporting cast to send off the movie with. I think Laura is a good character. But she and the rest of the other kids are not enough, and we don't even get any sort of real resolution about how they are going to survive if people come after them again. That's the problem of killing off all of the major characters but one. When the lead is dead, the movie is simply over, and if there is unfinished business, you won't necessarily leave satisfied.
I have a very hard time believing Laura memorized "Shane" after seeing it only once. Heresy, but I don't even think that's THAT great of a monologue anyways.
Turning the cross into an X however worked like gangbusters.
Loved the Johnny Cash song in the end credits.
People have been raving about this movie, and I just don't get the appeal. As a standalone movie unrelated to X-Men, it would be fine. As the last place in the timeline for nearly a dozen movies? It's a bad way to leave things off. ***.
Logan Noir:
A black and white version of the film. While the gore is easier to take, the brief nudity is less cool. The classic black and white 20th Century Fox Cinescope logo at the beginning was a nice touch though. ***.
Deleted Scenes:
I think all of these scenes were wise cuts, although some of them are interesting. Overall: **1/2.
Logan Gets A Ticket:
It's a nice scene, but as far as complications go, it's mundane, and eats up too much screen time. ***1/2.
Alternate Dinner Scene:
This affirms that Jean IS dead, but Charles claims Logan killed her, which seems to be news to him. Also, it's revealed that she and Logan were married when she died. I think the scene reveals too much. ***.
Caliban Death:
I liked the way he died in the movie better. **.
Bobby's Action Figures:
Sabertooth is mentioned. ****.
Medical Tent - Connect The Dots:
Gabriella didn't die in this version? Confusing. ***.
Mutant Kid Puppet Master:
A little TOO horrific. *1/2.
Trailers:
Some decent trailers: Overall: ****.
Theatrical Trailer 1: Excellent trailer. Doesn't reveal too much and plays up the pathos. Bonus points for rocking the Johnny Cash. ****1/2.
Theatrical Trailer 2: Not as good as the first trailer. ****.
Red Band Trailer 2: The R rated stuff added nothing. ***1/2.
Big Hero 6: The Series "The Present"
The cool thing about this show's villains is that I don't think most of them are evil. They're just naughty at worst. And because of that, I can enjoy them being a part of the Christmas card at the end.
I thought that was a very clever way for the show to have the episode title at the beginning to get around Disney's new mandate of "No title cards". Very clever.
Does Santa actually exist in this continuity, or is Krei just super dumb? It's possible Santa exists because this show is more Disney than it is Marvel. But never count out Krei being super dumb.
I liked Tadashi's last present, but I feel like even if it tied into the beginning, it didn't quite live up to the hype. On the other hand, it's not like Tadishi knew it was going to be the last present he ever gave him. The show kind of wrote itself into a no-win scenario there.
The stuff with Globby says this was aired out of order. Both Globby and Big Hero 6 are currently outlaws as of the last hiatus, but they aren't here.
Good Christmas special. ****.
Elena Of Avalor "Festival Of Lights"
That was cute, but I was wondering why they didn't just get Mateo to fix the thing using magic. But it was a sweet Hanukkah special. ***.
The Rocketeer "Downhill Derby / Flight Class Heroes"
Downhill Derby:
This Dr. Doodlebug kid has a serious lack of imagination. Instead of creating a snow machine to make it snow so that his go-kart can win the race, maybe he should have, you know, used all of those inventing skills to make a faster go-kart. Dumb kid is dumb. **1/2.
Flight Class Heroes:
The plot related stupidity is less egregious here because it involves little kids, but it's still annoying. **1/2.
Episode Overall: **1/2.
Muppet Babies "The Karate Cub / Don't Over Duet"
The Karate Cub:
Fozzie is so annoying in this.
Is this the first time Baby Fozzie has been referred to as a cub? I think it might be.
That homage to Punch-Out!! in the training montage was so random.
Fozzie was working my last nerve. **1/2.
Don't Over Duet:
Here Piggy was working my last nerve. It was nice to see Rowlf, Bunsen, and Beaker though. **1/2.
Episode Overall: **1/2.
Harley Quinn "A High Bar"
I'm still a little bit shocked I didn't laugh once. Two weeks in a row. This is a comedy, right?
This episode fell into a similar problem that Justice League's otherwise flawless "Maid Of Honor" fell into. Trying to do the slow-motion entrance / montage with no budget. Slow motion animation is freaking HARD, and should only be attempted by shows that have the budget or the patience for them. This was clearly a throwaway moment that didn't work because the producers didn't put in the needed effort. Say what you will about Family Guy (and I have) that show's slow-motion effects are amazing.
The fingerbanging stuff was icky. It's like seriously, DC. Grow up. If that's your idea of "adult humor" you are doing it wrong.
It's interesting the kids being poisoned is something Ivy is willing to use the antidote for. Even if it means kissing them. It's good to know that when we see villains from their own perspective, rather than the heroes, that they may have moral lines that the heroes and the viewers didn't know about. Here's a shocker: I liked that aspect to the episode. I wish the show did that more, and if it's solid, it will.
But I'm not sold on it YET. But that wasn't as appalling as last week. **.
Transformers: Cyberverse "Party Down"
It's bad enough that Optimus sucks at speeches. That's a new facet to the character I didn't like, but thought was potentially interesting. But they shouldn't have him be breaking machines to solve problems, or freaking polka dancing. What is this show thinking exactly? *1/2.
Power Rangers Beast Morphers "Evox: Upgraded"
I thougt Devon's scene of reconciling with his father was nice. I like nice scenes. Television should do more of them. This show DOES try them (for the record) but most of them come off as phony and insincere. This was genuinely nice.
What was up with the Mayor's hand at the end? Whatever it was, it was a cool bit of foreshadowing.
Shocker: The episode was great. ****1/2.
The Blacklist "Orion Relocation Services"
It was probably not in Red's best criminal interest to rescue the owl, but I love that he did.
I love the woman escaping at the end and killing the villain before the heroes got there. She TOLD them how armed and on-edge she was. Orion should have factored that in.
The hypnotism sessions confused me. I have no idea who anybody is at this point.
Park continues to be a drag but at least her role was small this episode.
That was pretty good. ***1/2.
Logan
I heard nothing but good things going in, but I have to say I'm not a fan. It was a good movie in and of itself, but what a bummer of a place to leave off the X-Men movie canon. I have yet to see Dark Phoenix (although I have heard it sucked) but the fact that it sucked doesn't actually matter because this movie says everyone winds up dead by the end of things anyways, so what's the point? It's a powerful movie, granted, and an audacious way to end things, but it's not what I wanted, and I certainly don't think it was needed.
It took some time getting used to a potty-mouthed Charles Xavier. And you realize that the greatest and most powerful mind in the world going senile is what makes him dangerous. He had some nice scenes with Logan, but I don't feel his death landed as well as Wolverine's did. At least Logan's was a sacrifice. Charles' death was a random waste. What bugs me especially about it is that that's why everybody was mad at how he went out in The Last Stand in the first place. They cannot do right by a death for that character.
And of course the kindly black family Charles befriends and instantly cherishes are all brutally murdered for their kindness. I don't believe all genre movies and shows have no value. But stuff like that is one of the reasons I tend to value them very little to begin with. I'm actually angry at Charles for putting them in danger in the first place. They knew dangerous people were after them, and Charles refuses to leave at both opportunities it would have been okay to. Not only are their deaths on him, so is his own.
Still you can't help but feel for him when he says that was the most perfect night he's had in a long time, and that he doesn't deserve it after what he did. Getting stabbed seconds later by Fauxgan is not putting too fine a point on that.
It's interesting that Logan is so upset over Charles' death that he can't even say last words.
I like Logan saying that bad things happen to people he cares about, and Laura saying that meant she would be fine. That summed up the movie perfectly in a couple of lines.
What's interesting about that moment is that it means he actually cared about Caliban. That's interesting because he never treated him like he did.
I love how outraged Jackman continues to be at her. Like when he learns she can talk, and then when it seems she can only speak in Spanish, and then when she punches him in the face twice. "Stop hitting me!" His frustration over his inability to do anything is palpable. Thugs with guns Logan can kill. Not so much a preteen daughter.
I like that she says Charles told her Logan wanted to die and for her not to let him. That part didn't work out.
Logan going by James Howlett must mean he got his memories back at some point.
I love how Laura and Logan can suck and / or push bullets out of their bodies.
The kid who plays Laura is great. The "Shane" clip was very instructive to me about child actors. Back then, they all sucked. That kid in the clip is absolutely awful. But Laura's actress gets across so much with her eyes without ever saying much until near the end of the movie.
Based on the look on Logan's face, I like that he mistook the farmer asking about his daughter being "mute" for something else. That was a very subtle thing I appreciated.
I like Charles correcting that he's a nonagenarian.
That footage from the facility was disturbing. Rice insisting the children be thought of as things was appalling on every level you can think of.
It seems very out of character that Charles is okay with the number of people Logan and Laura kill.
Logan HAS 20 thousand dollars on him. I don't quite see why he feels the NEED to steal from the convenience store. And of course he steals cigars. Why not?
I like Charles saying Laura does not need to be reminded of life's impermanence. That was smart.
I like Patrick Stewart sticking out his tongue to show he swallowed the pills. "Laaaaah!" There is a real lack of vanity in Stewart's performance here, which has always been one of his selling points. He is willing to do things that make him look weak and vulnerable, that most actors of his stature are unwilling to do. That's the precise reason they can get him to say all of that crazy stuff on American Dad. Patrick Stewart cares more about a realistic performance than a performance that makes him look good, which is a mark of a great, mature actor. You don't get that from the sticking out of the tongue, but it's the fact that he did that which is why that's true.
It's very chilling that Laura's nightmares all involve people hurting her, and Logan's involve him hurting other people.
I think Logan missed the point of Charles saying that he believed Laura could be better than Logan. I think Logan saw that as a wry insult at his expense. In reality, parents WANT their kids to be better off than they are. It's another insightful thing that sort of blows by Logan.
The Mutant kids enveloping Pierce in the grass at the end are totally the Children of the Corn. He's also Saddam in the spiderhole, and finally willing to negotiate.
Laura's fight with Fauxgan at the end was brutal. She did great and totally shredded him.
It's weird that Fauxgan's haircut and beard are identical to Liev Schrieber's Sabertooth.
I found Logan's death scene with Laura moving when she's calls him daddy, and he tells her not to be what they made her, and bemusedly finally understands what death feels like after shelling out so much of it himself. Unfortunately, the problem when you kill off the focal point character is that you need a good supporting cast to send off the movie with. I think Laura is a good character. But she and the rest of the other kids are not enough, and we don't even get any sort of real resolution about how they are going to survive if people come after them again. That's the problem of killing off all of the major characters but one. When the lead is dead, the movie is simply over, and if there is unfinished business, you won't necessarily leave satisfied.
I have a very hard time believing Laura memorized "Shane" after seeing it only once. Heresy, but I don't even think that's THAT great of a monologue anyways.
Turning the cross into an X however worked like gangbusters.
Loved the Johnny Cash song in the end credits.
People have been raving about this movie, and I just don't get the appeal. As a standalone movie unrelated to X-Men, it would be fine. As the last place in the timeline for nearly a dozen movies? It's a bad way to leave things off. ***.
Logan Noir:
A black and white version of the film. While the gore is easier to take, the brief nudity is less cool. The classic black and white 20th Century Fox Cinescope logo at the beginning was a nice touch though. ***.
Deleted Scenes:
I think all of these scenes were wise cuts, although some of them are interesting. Overall: **1/2.
Logan Gets A Ticket:
It's a nice scene, but as far as complications go, it's mundane, and eats up too much screen time. ***1/2.
Alternate Dinner Scene:
This affirms that Jean IS dead, but Charles claims Logan killed her, which seems to be news to him. Also, it's revealed that she and Logan were married when she died. I think the scene reveals too much. ***.
Caliban Death:
I liked the way he died in the movie better. **.
Bobby's Action Figures:
Sabertooth is mentioned. ****.
Medical Tent - Connect The Dots:
Gabriella didn't die in this version? Confusing. ***.
Mutant Kid Puppet Master:
A little TOO horrific. *1/2.
Trailers:
Some decent trailers: Overall: ****.
Theatrical Trailer 1: Excellent trailer. Doesn't reveal too much and plays up the pathos. Bonus points for rocking the Johnny Cash. ****1/2.
Theatrical Trailer 2: Not as good as the first trailer. ****.
Red Band Trailer 2: The R rated stuff added nothing. ***1/2.
Big Hero 6: The Series "The Present"
The cool thing about this show's villains is that I don't think most of them are evil. They're just naughty at worst. And because of that, I can enjoy them being a part of the Christmas card at the end.
I thought that was a very clever way for the show to have the episode title at the beginning to get around Disney's new mandate of "No title cards". Very clever.
Does Santa actually exist in this continuity, or is Krei just super dumb? It's possible Santa exists because this show is more Disney than it is Marvel. But never count out Krei being super dumb.
I liked Tadashi's last present, but I feel like even if it tied into the beginning, it didn't quite live up to the hype. On the other hand, it's not like Tadishi knew it was going to be the last present he ever gave him. The show kind of wrote itself into a no-win scenario there.
The stuff with Globby says this was aired out of order. Both Globby and Big Hero 6 are currently outlaws as of the last hiatus, but they aren't here.
Good Christmas special. ****.
Elena Of Avalor "Festival Of Lights"
That was cute, but I was wondering why they didn't just get Mateo to fix the thing using magic. But it was a sweet Hanukkah special. ***.
The Rocketeer "Downhill Derby / Flight Class Heroes"
Downhill Derby:
This Dr. Doodlebug kid has a serious lack of imagination. Instead of creating a snow machine to make it snow so that his go-kart can win the race, maybe he should have, you know, used all of those inventing skills to make a faster go-kart. Dumb kid is dumb. **1/2.
Flight Class Heroes:
The plot related stupidity is less egregious here because it involves little kids, but it's still annoying. **1/2.
Episode Overall: **1/2.
Muppet Babies "The Karate Cub / Don't Over Duet"
The Karate Cub:
Fozzie is so annoying in this.
Is this the first time Baby Fozzie has been referred to as a cub? I think it might be.
That homage to Punch-Out!! in the training montage was so random.
Fozzie was working my last nerve. **1/2.
Don't Over Duet:
Here Piggy was working my last nerve. It was nice to see Rowlf, Bunsen, and Beaker though. **1/2.
Episode Overall: **1/2.
Harley Quinn "A High Bar"
I'm still a little bit shocked I didn't laugh once. Two weeks in a row. This is a comedy, right?
This episode fell into a similar problem that Justice League's otherwise flawless "Maid Of Honor" fell into. Trying to do the slow-motion entrance / montage with no budget. Slow motion animation is freaking HARD, and should only be attempted by shows that have the budget or the patience for them. This was clearly a throwaway moment that didn't work because the producers didn't put in the needed effort. Say what you will about Family Guy (and I have) that show's slow-motion effects are amazing.
The fingerbanging stuff was icky. It's like seriously, DC. Grow up. If that's your idea of "adult humor" you are doing it wrong.
It's interesting the kids being poisoned is something Ivy is willing to use the antidote for. Even if it means kissing them. It's good to know that when we see villains from their own perspective, rather than the heroes, that they may have moral lines that the heroes and the viewers didn't know about. Here's a shocker: I liked that aspect to the episode. I wish the show did that more, and if it's solid, it will.
But I'm not sold on it YET. But that wasn't as appalling as last week. **.
Transformers: Cyberverse "Party Down"
It's bad enough that Optimus sucks at speeches. That's a new facet to the character I didn't like, but thought was potentially interesting. But they shouldn't have him be breaking machines to solve problems, or freaking polka dancing. What is this show thinking exactly? *1/2.
Power Rangers Beast Morphers "Evox: Upgraded"
I thougt Devon's scene of reconciling with his father was nice. I like nice scenes. Television should do more of them. This show DOES try them (for the record) but most of them come off as phony and insincere. This was genuinely nice.
What was up with the Mayor's hand at the end? Whatever it was, it was a cool bit of foreshadowing.
Shocker: The episode was great. ****1/2.
The Blacklist "Orion Relocation Services"
It was probably not in Red's best criminal interest to rescue the owl, but I love that he did.
I love the woman escaping at the end and killing the villain before the heroes got there. She TOLD them how armed and on-edge she was. Orion should have factored that in.
The hypnotism sessions confused me. I have no idea who anybody is at this point.
Park continues to be a drag but at least her role was small this episode.
That was pretty good. ***1/2.