In the near future, mutants are nearly extinct and a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

Logan takes a new turn on Hugh Jackman’s clawed superhero who he’s portrayed for the last 17 years. Instead of being the wise-cracking hero we all know and love, Logan is now depressed, lonely, and has let go of the Wolverine mantle. There is little hope left in his life and his daily routine consists of caring for his fellow mutant Professor X, and working as a limo driver. The genre is slightly switched up, feeling more like a drama with action scenes and chases rather than just a big superhero action movie. Lots of the film focuses on Logan reflecting on his decisions and his identity while trying to protect a young mutant who needs his help. Also, the rating is cranked up from the familiar PG-13 to a hard R, allowing the violence to be as bloody, gory, and insane as necessary, and Logan to curse as much as he wants. The action is directed excellently, with every shot capturing the intensity perfectly, and lots of the elements within the action are thought of very well. The R-rating allows the action to reach its true potential, which is sure to satsify audiences and fans, but younger viewers who may have enjoyed previous X-Men films should be warned about this film’s graphic content.

James Mangold, who also directed 2013’s The Wolverine, creates a completely different film here, which is unbelievable as most superhero directors, even the greatest ones like Christopher Nolan and the Russo brothers, will make similar films in concept and tone. However, Mangold even takes the same protagonist as before and alters the reality, tone, genre, and target audience to make a potent, mature, and exceptional film that’s distinct from all the other X-Men movies. Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart give it their all in the roles they’ve played for so long, delivering more soul and emotion than ever before. Newcomer Dafne Keen does a great job as well, and her role is sure to launch a great career for her. The movie sometimes delivers some backstory and exposition unclearly, and it could have done a better job delivering the needed exposition at a right time and making it understandable. However, fans are still sure to love this unconventional superhero film that feels more like a mix of Western and melodrama than your typical superhero movie that you expect to be released nowadays. If you loved previous X-Men movies, even the hard-R Deadpool, this film stands outside of that genre so you should walk in with some more patience and an open mind than usual.

Logan has redefined the superhero genre with a poignant storyline and characters, that’s sure to satisfy fans of the series and action films, despite being distinct from the other films in its genre. Hugh Jackman gives it his best in his final performance as the iconic Wolverine character, and without a doubt the greatest one in the franchise.