The Logan blu-ray that we got today has a black-and-white version of the film along with the theatrical release. How appropriate. Two of the characters that have meant the most to many of us for decades fight heroically and die — as all great heroes need to. The original movie’s look is grim and de-saturated to start with, leaving black-and-white the only way it could be made “darker.”
In late 1974, Marvel Comics employee Len Wein was given a heads up by his boss that the long-suspended X-Men title might come back, but this time with a more international team. Taking a chance, he made a guest star that he was working on for a Hulk story a short, gruff Canadian mutant – just in case there might be a place for him on the X-Men team. There was. Then in late 1992, thanks to the underappreciated voice-over actor Cal Dodd, we all heard Logan’s proper voice for the first time: “I go… where I wanna go…”
In Logan, Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart act their hearts out, knowing this is the end. Much as we yearn for it to be a perfect movie, it isn’t. But Logan and Charles don’t let us down. We have depended upon their strength and commitment for decades, and now, despite being enfeebled and in doubt, they persevere.
