X-Men: Days of Future Past- staring Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, and Michael Fastbender
9 out of 10
By Chase L. Manson ’16
THE ROUNDUP
In the early 2000s the first X-Men films showed that comic book movies could be cool.
Then they messed it up with the third film “X-Men: The Last Stand.”
Hoping to amend the problem Fox created “First Class,” A movie that was somewhat of a reboot but caused some continuity errors. Still, it was a huge financial and critical success.
Now, Fox hopes to fix the continuity errors and create a brand new world by using the critically acclaimed storyline “Days of Future Past,” written by famed X-Men writer Chris Claremont.
I am a huge X-Men fan, having read most of Claremont’s work and seeing most of the films. Personally, I love the first two, and find the third to be horrible.
I find “First Class” to be very solid, but it does have some issues.
This new movie is trying to be the saving grace for the franchise and it works on every level.
The plot is very imaginative, spending most of the time in the past and how to correct the problems of the franchise.
The plot is a little cliche but they end up putting an imaginative spin on it.
The X-Men are known for working together with their different powers. This film is the first to use this.
I love the fight scene with the future mutants fighting the future Sentinels.
Ian Mckellen as Magneto really displays his immense power and finally I got to see Halle Berry’s Storm play a key role.
Berry’s interpretation isn’t the best, but she is trying to be the powerhouse character comic readers know and love.
The past mutants are very well done having James McAvoy play Charles Xavier and Michael Fastbender as Magneto. They have good chemistry and really have a good counterbalance, which in essence is the spine of the X-Men.
Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique delivered a good emotional performance. It wasn’t her best but she does a good job in making Mystique a sympathetic yet powerful anti-heroine.
I also loved the addition of Quicksilver. He was cool, hip, and very funny. The prison breakout scene was filmed beautifully and was hysterical. I wish I saw more of him though.
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is always enjoyable. He brings a lot of heart to the role and his loyalty to the character is evident throughout the movie.
My only complaint is the story. While action packed, is a little to dark.
I found it to lag in some places and maybe a few more jokes could have let the movie speed up.
All in all, “X-Men: Days of Future Past” has great acting and does fix the franchise. I can’t wait for a sequel.
I can see Fox releasing a X-Men movie every year, one taking place in the present and one taking place in the past. Fox truly has redeemed the mutants into a powerhouse once more.