So maybe you've heard that Logan is critically-acclaimed and you've finally decided that you wanna see what all the fuss is about. But you've never taken comic book movies seriously and now you're worried that you'll be lost because you're clueless about the character. The main character, Logan, has appeared in eight previous movies. The good news is that those movies suck ass so you don't need to waste your time trying to catch up. You don't need to know the full history to appreciate the movie anyway -- just a few basics. Here's a quick primer:
1. Mutants
Logan is a mutant -- someone born with a rare genetic mutation absent in "normal" human beings. Most such mutations vary from one another. The public is aware of the existence of mutants.
In Logan's case, his mutation allows him to heal from injuries and illnesses extremely rapidly. The problem is that while he's damn near indestructible, he feels every bit of the pain that accompanies any injury he receives. He can also extend and retract three bones, that he calls claws, from each hand/forearm.
2. Adamantium
Logan was the subject of government experimentation years ago that resulted in his entire skeleton being coated with an unbreakable metal called adamantium. Consequently, none of his bones can be broken or pierced. He's the first test subject ever to have survived the procedure, so the long-term side effects are completely unknown.
3. What's My Name?
Like Usher, Prince, Madonna, Rihanna and Beyonce, Logan is the only name you get -- at first. He also goes by James Howlett (it's a long story). Logan is also the only given name that he knew for much of his adulthood. Jason Bourne's not the only assassin with a bad memory. His code name from his black ops days is "The Wolverine".
4. Made in Canada
Logan is a native of the Great White North where he was trained and worked as a black ops agent and assassin for the Canadian government. He's killed lots of people. A couple of lost loves and his mentor and father figure, Charles "Professor X" Xavier, have since taught him the error of his ways. Xavier is the founder of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, a safe haven for mutants, to which he recruited Logan/Wolverine decades prior to the events of the movie.
OK, you're set. Everything else you need to know'll be explained during the movie.
Related:
The 12 Greatest Comic Book Movies of All Time
Marvel's Movie Empire Started with "Blade"
Did Disney Mis-cast the Upcoming Han Solo Movie?
This movie was Great! The plot, pace and characters are a thousand times better than in the previous movies. The best part about it was the wolverine attitude and heart... this took the fight scenes to another level altogether.
ReplyDeleteI agree, too, that there is no need to have seen the previous X-Men movies for background. This one is a story on its own. And a good one at that. I'd definitely see it again.