X-Men: Days of Future Past

Starring: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Nicholas Holt, Peter Dinklage, Evan Peters, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Daniel Cudmore, Fan Bingbing, Omar Sy & Halle Berry

Directed by: Bryan Singer

Rating: ★★★

In the not too distant future, murderous robots known as Sentinels have almost entirely wiped mutants off the face of the planet. The X-Men who have survived the ordeal so far- including Professor X (Stewart), Magneto (McKellen), Iceman (Ashmore) and Storm (Berry) decide that the only way to stop their terrible fate is to use Kitty Pryde’s (Page) psychic powers to send Wolverine’s (Jackman) consciousness back to 1973 to prevent Mystique (Lawrence) from murdering Trask (Dinklage), the man who designed the Sentinels, whose assassination was the tipping point for the Sentinel’s production by the U.S. government.

The X-Men are back and some of them are as bland as ever!

The film then mainly takes place back in 1973, where we once again have to watch far inferior actors (McAvoy & Fassbender) play the beloved characters of Professor X and Magneto, as Wolverine tries to persuade them to help him put an end to Mystique’s retributive quest.

Mystique is intent on exacting her revenge...

After the appalling prequel X-Men First Class, I was hoping that reuniting the original X-Men cast would inject some much needed competency into this outing, and make the film somewhat enjoyable. Luckily for me, and every other X-Men fan out there, it is.

Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine- but sadly isn't as utilized as he should have been...

The opening, with some original characters and some new ones- including Bishop (Sy) and Blink (BingBing)- is really strong. It is visually impressive, mainly due to Blink’s impressive powers, and is incredibly exciting. Just seeing Storm flying around and Iceman throwing icicles reminds you of why we fell in love with this franchise in the first place- and why X-Men: First Class was just so bloody terrible.

Blink is a very cool new addition to the series...

Unfortunately, as soon as Wolverine travels back in time, the film becomes very uneven, mainly because it oscillates between some very solid action moments and some very weak ‘character development’ scenes. 

Beast is a very strong part of the film- but he isn't in it enough!

McAvoy and Fassbender just don’t have enough star power, or acting ability, to carry this film (as X-Men: First Class proved). Luckily for them, much more likeable supporting characters such as Beast (Holt) and Quicksilver (Peters) manage to keep the film moving.

The action scene with Quicksilver is one of the movie's best bits...

The prison break scene with Quicksilver is really great, mainly because of the new hero’s special abilities, but unfortunately his character just disappears half way through, as does Wolverine, who is relegated to sitting at the back of an aeroplane whilst McAvoy and Fassbender try desperately to out under perform one another.

I don't think anyone knows what Fassbender's Magneto really wants- including him!

Mystique’s subplot is also fairly muted, as most of the film is about Professor X’s having some kind of existential angst. This is meant to make us like him more, but because he is played as a whinny, moany, annoying spoilt brat, it is very hard for him to be endearing. Fortunately for the film makers, we are just about on his side, mainly because we know that he will one day become Patrick Stewart’s interpretation of Professor X. When the two versions come face to face (psychically), it’s glaringly obvious why X:Men: First Class just didn’t work: because of some terrible casting decisions. We wanted X-Men 4, not some poorly written badly acted prequel that made absolutely no logical sense.

Poor James McAvoy tries his best to hold the film together- but can't...

Generally, X-Men: Days of Future Past is slow and slightly boring for the first two thirds, as it builds up to a massive finale, which takes place both in the future and in the past. The past’s ending is very sloppy and weak, and also reminded me of parts of the ending in X-Men: The Last Stand. Also, for no real reason, both Wolverine and Professor X are taken out of the final battle, as it becomes more of a battle of wills between Magneto and Mystique.

The weird subplot about Magneto and Mystique is relatively unimportant until the ending- when it becomes all about them...

But, in spite of this massive weakness, the finale is saved by the future battle, which is gripping, exciting and emotional. It also has a lot of the characters and actors we love from the original- mainly Storm- who gets to prove how awesome her powers are.

It's great to see Storm again- even though she is hardly in it!

The ending to the film is, although rather cheesy, very impacting and satisfying as it gives the audience exactly what they want. And what we really want next is a sequel to this one, so that we no longer have to watch McAvoy and Fassbender empty stare at one another.

Unfortunately, that it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen.

X-Men: Days of Future Past may have its weaknesses- mainly the under use of its bigger stars- but it is watchable and enjoyable. Unlike X-Men: First Class it has a fairly good plot and a very strong ending, and it is really saved by the original cast being brought back together again, even though their screen time is incredibly brief.

I liked it, but didn’t love it. I mainly enjoyed it as it made me reminisce on happier times, and better films. I wish I could travel back into the past to change the state of modern cinema.

Perhaps someone who hates movies already did.