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“More DC than Marvel” X-Men: Days of Future Past Review

X-Men: Days of Future Past (UK CERT: 12A)

Director: Bryan Singer   

Music: John Ottman

Stars: Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen


Bryan Singer’s return to the X-Men franchise comes at the perfect time both for the series and its director.

After last year’s poorly executed Jack the Giant Slayer, Singer needed to come back to home turf and after a string of irritating X-Men films, including the entertaining but soulless X-Men: The Last Stand and the downright offensive Wolverine origins story, it seems the superhero series needed to do the same.

But can a re-partnering 11 years after the brilliant X2 restore the magic of one of Marvel’s best comics?

Partially is the answer here. Singer restores the cinematic flair and sparkle of the series and brings back a lot of old faces but forgets a lot of the fun in the process.

x-men-days-of-future-past-character-poster-01.jpgDays of Future Past is set in a dystopian future as a war between mutants and humans continues to rage. Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellen), Storm (Halle Berry) and many other fan favourites return to the series after being absent for some time. We follow these characters as they try to escape the sentinels; an army of robots impressively rendered in CGI designed to kill any mutant on sight, friend or foe.

The only way to stop the war is to send a mutant back to 1973 when the sentinel program was put in motion. Unfortunately, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine is the chosen one and remains the lead character throughout the film.

Back in 1973, the mutants from X-Men First Class are blissfully unaware of what lies in store for them, though they still have their own personal battles to deal with.

As the film progresses, it becomes painfully obvious that this is very much a “First Class” era film. James McAvoy’s impressive take on the young Charles Xavier returns, as does Michael Fassbender’s Magneto.

However, only Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique makes a lasting impact amongst the 1973 era mutants. You can see the pain and torment etched onto her face throughout theJennifer-Lawrence-mystique film and as in The Hunger Games she steals focus from everyone around her. Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage also joins the cast as the film’s primary antagonist Bolivar Trask and is a real joy to watch. His character is understated in every way, but he remains an iconic presence throughout.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsjtg7m1MMM?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

However, as impressive as the set pieces and acting performances are, it is in the future where we wish to see more. The ‘classic’ characters are barely given any screen time which is a real shame and the real mutant cost of the war is glossed over entirely. The special effects are genuinely very good. Each of the action sequences is well choreographed and the CGI is great, especially the rendering on the future sentinels which can adapt to seek a mutant’s power – no matter what it is.

Unfortunately, the fun factor is completely lost as Singer ramps up the tension and the death toll. In fact, only one character provides the humour and that is Evan Peters’ portrayal of Quicksilver who is only on screen for 15 minutes.

Overall, X-Men: Days of Future Past is definitely the best film of the series and thankfully does away with the atrocities that have been committed previously in the franchise. However, it feels like Singer was trying so hard to repair his predecessor’s mistakes, he forgot some of the key elements of a Marvel superhero film in the process – this is more DC than Marvel.

Category

Scoring /10

Story/Plot

8

Acting

8

Special Effects/Cinematography

8

Soundtrack

8

Costume Design

9

Script/Dialogue

8

TOTAL /60

49

Overall: Very dark, but definitely worth a watch!

2 Comments

  1. Invisible Mikey

    I think it’s a 5/10, and not as good as either X2 or First Class. Too many characters, too complex a plot, and precious little FUN, which you would think is a minimum necessity in a superhero movie. McAvoy’s performance is compelling, Jackman’s and Fassbender’s competent, but I thought Dinklage, Lawrence, and the older Xavier & Magneto were wasted. The cameo President Nixon looked like he was having a good time, and Wolverine’s return to the school after fixing the future was sweet. The only fully entertaining scene was having the boy who will become Quicksilver zip around the walls and room re-arranging fists and bullets to Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle”.

    • Adam Brannon

      Hi there Thanks for your comment. I have to agree with you that there was very little in the way of fun this time around. Quicksilver’s party-piece in the kitchen was very good, but then that humour dissipated and there was nothing left.
      Thanks again for reading!

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