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Hugh Jackman reunites with The Wolverine’s James Mangold in the final chapter of LOGAN – the movie also sees Patrick Stewart reprising his X-Men role as Charles Xavier, Narco’s Boyd Holbrook cast as a villain of sorts and an unusual (but it works) piece of casting with Stephen Merchant playing mutant tracker Caliben….

In the near future 2029 to be precise a battle worn Logan is a Limo Driver, trying to save some money whilst caring for an ailing Professor X who’s he hid somewhere on the Mexican border….

The single most devastating thing about watching LOGAN was that I knew (everybody new) that this would be Hugh Jackman’s final outing as The Wolverine and this was in my opinion a game changer – James Mangold uses this knowledge as his filmmaking tool, his simple yet striking tone, deliberately slow pace and painful to watch narrative all builds to an agonising crecendo, it’s certainly not upbeat and unlike any other Marvel movie before it LOGAN is stripped bare of the usual comicbook humor, kaleidoscope of colour and deluded fantasy instead it’s a picture that’s dripping with a dark, gritty no-nonsense underbelly, utterly gut wrenching and humanized like no other movie of it’s ilk – even the performances in the picture seem better, Jackman captures the ageing tired Logan with a comfortable ease, his maturity as an actor gives him the tools to pull this off, you can see the pain he’s going through as he limps and claws his way through the storyline and Stewart is equally as impressive as Charles Xavier who requires medical assistance to not only help with an illness but to keep his powers at bay, there’s also an impressive film debut by Dafne Keen who kills it (literally) playing Laura, her fight scene’s, mannerism’s and interaction with Charles and Logan are a joy to watch….

One of my favourite moments in the movie (and there are many) takes place at the Munson Home – Logan, Laura and Charles help the Munson’s with some runaway horses after which they get invited back to their home and enjoy a brief trip into yesteryear, spending time with a loving family over a hot meal with smiles, real laughter and a bed to sleep in (Eriq La Salle playing the father of the family is as good in these 20mins as he’s ever been) – sadly the groups happiness does not last long and their ugly, brutal past catches up with them….

James Mangold’s LOGAN is the perfect send off for one comics most iconic stars – the film’s raw and uncompromising style allows it to become a far superior comicbook adapation than what’s come before, it’s not only a thing of beauty to look at but it’s also one hell of an emotionally charged rollercoaster ride that doesn’t let up until the final credits rise & Johnny Cash’s vocals hit home…. ★★★★½

Making a list of 25 movies that I think will rock our screens in 2015 was a lot harder than I thought – in no particular date order here is 25 Badass Movies hitting our screens next year !!

The Revenant sees Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy team up for a revenge thriller set around the early 1800’s directed by Birdman’s Alejandro González Iñárritu – up next Tarantino’s western The Hateful Eight that’s stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Channing Tatum & Kurt Russell (you drooling yet?) – anybody looking forward to a new Star Wars adventure? well I certainly am and with filmmaker J.J. Abrams at the helm December 2015 can’t come quick enough – the new remake of Fantastic Four is on my list for two reasons the first it’s directed by Chronicle’s Josh Trank and second it’s cast is pretty darn young Hollywood impressive including Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Toby Kebbell & Jamie Bell – OMG have you seen the trailer for Mad Max Fury Road? well if you haven’t why haven’t you? Tom Hardy, Nicholas Hoult & Charlize Theron look incredible in George Miller’s latest post apocalyptic Action fest….

Crimson Peak sees Guillermo del Toro explore the gothic horror genre and with a cast that includes Charlie Hunnam, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska it’s already got me shivering with excitment – in 2015 Jason Clarke & Jake Gyllenhaal will be battling the conditions in Baltasar Kormákur‘s Everest – Next September, from the talented filmmaker Scott Cooper comes the true story of Whitey Bulger who became an FBI informant who attempts to take down a Mafia family invading his turf in Black Mass that stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Johnny Depp and Sienna Miller – had enough of Marvel Superhero movies yet? me neither and Joss Whedon’s Avengers: Age of Ultron should be the summer blockbuster of 2015 me thinks – just seen the trailer for the latest Terrence Malick movie Knight of Cups and it looks fantastic, the film includes three powerhouses in Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett & Natalie Portman….

It seems like an age the trailer for Matthew Vaughn‘s spy movie Kingsman: The Secret Service has been sizzling on our screens and finally in February we will be able to feast our eye’s on Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Caine kicking some ass – not heard much about The Martian ? well it’s the latest Ridley Scott movie based around Andy Weir‘s novel of the same name, for me the material has great potential and could be the surprise package of 2015 – any new Robert Zemeckis movie is one to get excited for right? well The Walk looks unbelievable and it’s based on a true story surrounding the infamous attempt to cross the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974 by French high-wire artist Philippe Petit – next year’s Criminal is directed by Ariel Vromen (the Iceman) and stars Ryan Reynolds, Gil Gadot, Gary Oldman and Kevin Costner and follows an unpredictable and dangerous convict who has the memories & skills of a deceased CIA agent implanted into him, sounds interesting – next up is the return of Dinosaurs to the big screen in Colin Trevorrow‘s Jurassic World that stars Star Lord aka: Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, early stills and the first teaser has me reminiscing of the Spielberg classic but also looking forward to this new futuristic adventure….

One of 2014’s surprise movies was The Maze Runner based on James Dashner’s dark young adult series so finding out the sequel The Scorch Trials is in production and should hit our screen’s late 2015 made me a pretty happy chappy, the film will see the return of cast members Dylan O’Brien and Kaya Scodelario – next November 007 the man with a license to kill return’s in Spectre from director Sam Mendes and will see new Bondites Monica Bellucci, Christoph Waltz & Léa Seydoux add to the familiar faces of Daniel Craig & Ralph Fiennes – Told from the perspective of Igor, Victor Frankenstein promises a new take on Mary Shelley’s novel that stars Harry Potter aka: Daniel Radcliffe and the brilliant James McAvoy, the script comes from the young Max Landis – next summer Brad Bird’s latest Tomorrowland will finally hit our screens and having seen the teaser trailer & being a big fan of young Britt Robertson I am pretty excited for this picture, expecting big things here – if you’ve watched & loved Rush the formula one movie that was sadly overlooked during the 2013 Award Season, then like me you will be excited by the re-teaming of Filmmaker Ron Howard and his main man Chris Hemsworth for the Moby Dick tale In the Heart of the Sea – any Ron Howard picture is a must see on the biggest screen one can find….

I know what you’ve been thinking not another Terminator movie (yep I thought it too) but having finally got too see the first trailer of Alan Taylor‘s Terminator Genisys I am really excited, how can you not be excited by the return of Schwarzenegger to the franchise and the Game of Thrones beauty Emilia Clarke kicking some Robot’s ass, I mean come on ! – when Neill Blomkamp burst onto our screens and into our movie hearts with the amazing District 9 back in 2009 and then followed it with the all action Scifi movie Elysium in 2013, any film project that involves this talented ballsy South African filmmaker will get my utmost attention and in March his latest film will land, and with it’s story looking frighteningly good and it’s trailer bristling with of all kinds of movie goodness then I think you will agree Chappie should be a must watch in 2015 – although it was sad to see Edgar Wright exit Ant-Man I am still optimistic for a superb big screen adaption of yet another Marvel character and with it’s cast including Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd this could fly under the radar and be a gigANTic hit next summer – I really am a huge fan of British Filmmaker Guy Ritchie but felt he lost his way with the Sherlock sequel Game of Shadows, so when I heard he was bringing the popular TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. to our screens I was very excited, firstly I’m a huge fan of the show and secondly the casting of agents Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) is perfect in my opinion – and finally no unmissable list would be complete without the inclusion of Tom Cruise and his latest offering to the Mission Impossible franchise – don’t know a great deal about the movie’s plot except that it’s been filming in Vienna, Austria and London and is being directing by Jack Reacher’s Christopher McQuarrie

So that wraps up My 25 Unmissable Movies of 2015 I’m pretty sure there will be some surprises along the way that may not be listed & some that are here that may prove to be real stinkers – but overall my love for the screen will never waiver, I will keep watching, reviewing and sharing my thought’s with all who will listen – I Love Movies !