I’ll be completely honest with this review, I didn’t see any trailers, I didn’t read too much into this film before it came out. I enjoyed the last X-Men film – Days Of Future Past (2014). I would always be for watching this movie for the solid casting anyways. But I went into this movie, as I try to do with most of the films I review, with a clean slate, no prior judgments, ready to be entertained.
If you’ve seen previous X-Men films you know what to expect. But X-Men Apocalypse is about a re-emergence of the world’s first mutant, Apocalypse. The X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan. Its a very bare bones plot, but makes for some interesting action scenes, and just a fun watch.
As I previously stated, X-Men Apocalypse is directed by Bryan Singer. I think he does a very good job with these types of movies. So much so that he’s directed 5 comic book films, X-Men(2000), X2: X-Men United(2003), Superman Returns(2006) – this was an awful movie, I remember watching it years ago, and its 3 hours I’ll never get back, X-Men Days Of Future Past (2014) and finally X-Men: Apocalypse in 2016. Aside from comic books, he also directed The Usual Suspects(1995), 2 episodes of the series House, Valkyrie(2008), and Jack the Giant Slayer(2013). He captures what is needed to be captured, his action scenes definitely are very well directed and he puts you at the forefront of the action.
The cast is usually what my major draw to these newer X-Men films. The previous cast is back of course, reprising their roles. James McAvoy plays a great Professor Xavier (he was also in Wanted(2008), Filth (2013), Michael Fassbender is the best Magneto, sorry Ian McKellan (Fassbender also starred in Hunger (2008), Inglorious Basterds(2009), Shame(2011), Prometheus (2012), and will be the star of the Assassins Creed movie, coming Christmas 2016). Jennifer Lawrence – Known for the Hunger Games Trilogy (2012-2015), Silver Linings Playbook (2012) – is in this as well, but she wasn’t particularly great, definitely not up to my standards of her acting. Nicholas Hoult – About A Boy(2002), Warm Bodies (2013), Skins(TV) – 2007-2013, Mad Max Fury Road (2015). I think he’s a great up and coming actor, definitely Fury Road is my favourite film he was in. The cast was pretty strong for the X-Men, I thought they all did a good job, minus Lawrence who just was stiff as a brick the whole movie. Its also interesting to note that Oscar Isaac plays the antagonist of the film, Apocalypse. He’s definitely one of my favourite up and coming actors, and to see him actually play a bad guy is great, he plays it very well. I wouldn’t have recognized him at all, If I didn’t IMDb who was in the film. Isaac is known for his roles in Drive(2011), Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), A Most Violent Year (2014), Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015), Ex Machina (2015). He is pretty much a chameleon and can do anything. Definitely check out his work if you haven’t seen his films, I can almost guarantee you’ll either recognize him or want to watch more of his film. Outstanding actor.
My favourite part of the movie/character, which was my favourite part of Days of Futures Past(2014), was the part with Quicksilver. It added a nice little comedic touch to the movie, and it was a pleasure to have another scene with him again. They casted him very well in the last film, Evan Peters was a very great choice and I hope eventually that he gets his own spinoff with the character. Quicksilver was definitely the best character in the film.
Instead of going crazy into the things I enjoyed about the film, I’m just going to say what I didn’t like about the film and end it there. I thought the story telling was off, it was really disjointed and kind of nonsensical. I didn’t enjoy Jennifer Lawrence portrayal of Mystique this time around, maybe it was the hype of her being fantastic in Days of Future Past that brought me down a peg.
**Spoilers Ahead**
They downplayed Magneto too much in this film, he was there and definitely an important role, especially in this trilogy. But he didn’t seem as important, as he didn’t get enough screen time in my opinion.
The story was absurd, I didn’t really care much about what was going on, it was just a structure to keep the film going and to push the action along. The story tried to be super smart, but ended up tripping over its own two feet a couple of times
**End Spoilers**
Despite some of these flaws, I still had fun with X-Men Apocalypse, its definitely not as good as X-Men First Class or Days Of Future Past. But, if you’re looking for a pretty good action movie with an okay plot/story, i’d recommend seeing it. Its mindless and sometimes nonsensical. But its fun.
I’d give X-Men Apocalypse a 3/5.
Until Next Time!
-Andrew
Side Note: Was supposed to go see Snowden tomorrow (September 12th) but I have to work that day. So ill try to get my plan to watch Adam Wingard’s You’re Next and The Guest watched, and the original Blair Witch Project watched and reviewed before I go see Adam Wingard’s Blair Witch which comes out next week on friday.