X-Men: Days of
Future Past (2014) Review
Director – Bryan Singer
Stars – Hugh Jackman,
Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Patrick Stewart
When Singer announced shortly after the release of X-Men: First Class that the next X-Men
film would be a crazed mash up of old and new, many people were hesitant. It’s
a bold idea and one that plays well. We see the original X: Men cast that we
grew up watching combining with the recent incarnations; as Wolverine (Jackman)
is sent back in time to stop a war that will wipe out humans and mutants from
ever beginning. The feel of the film is defiantly more like ‘First Class’ than the originals, as it
has more of an edge to it rather than the trilogy’s fun feel. It also makes
sure not to mention the awful stand alones that Mr Jackman decided he would take
on. With this in mind it has the combination to be a great success, each cast
member was as excited to be back as the rest of us and with Singer at the helm
we were in familiar territories.
The Film begins well, we are thrown straight into the action
as we see old faces including Ellen Page’s Kitty battling it out in the future
against Peter Dinklage’s Sentinels. These Sentinels have the power to adapt to
any mutant’s power in order to beat them, and so we see the perilous situation
faced by Professor X and the gang from the word go. Without over complicating
things in the story we are sent back to the 70’s where we can reunite again
with the younger mutant’s who are faced with their own problems. After we are
introduced to each member the story can finally progress as our heroes plan to
free Michael Fassbender from his cage in the Pentagon. Aided by newcomer Quicksilver
we are given great action sequences and great acting. Singer makes these
sequences combine well with the heightened tension as we cross back from and
forth between past and present. With major set pieces including stadiums
crashing around the white house and a slow motion battle set to classical music
being a major highlight. Another thing that Singer does well is making the
characters use their powers together to make these moments that more effective.
However that said the only thing that lacks is the character development, with
a great story that is never boring it manages to sacrifices it’s key players.
We never see much of Ian McClellan nor Ellen Page, and even when we do they aren’t
able to grab enough screen time to help us remember what they have been doing
when the last film ended. We are hurried along the story with each character attempting
to make the most of their moment, even though they are great to watch they are
left feeling somewhat hollow and disjointed.
Singer does his best to provide drama and action and it
works, well. It’s great to see his big ideas play out and unfold in front of
us. Jackman is a predictably sturdy lead who navigates us along at a great
pace, whilst the supporting roles are filled with A list talent who manage to
cement themselves within the X-Men universe. Singer’s well written script and
amazing fight sequences make Days of
Future Past is a crowd pleaser, and we are even treated to some old faces
making cameos at the end. With this in mind and the next instalment X-Men-Apocalypse fast approaching it’s
going to be a spectacular comeback for the franchise, let’s just hope we get to
see more of the characters we have learnt to love.
RATING 4/5
By Joshua Tanner
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