Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future!!!! All-Star X-Men
film delivers powerfully gripping installment!!!
By Brandon Porter
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| To save their future, they must change their past. |
Story
For years, Mutants have lived among humans. Ever
since their existence, the mutant species has been met with fear, hatred,
oppression, and even violence. However recent events have seen tremendous
change as mutants slowly begin to have acceptance following the Alcatraz
incident. Unfortunately, a new development by Trask Industries known as
sentinels have become an issue. Originally used to target mutants, it took it
one step further and now fate mutant kind and mankind hang in the balance. With
their backs up against the wall and all options exhausted, Professor Charles
Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Erik Lehnsherr (Ian McKellan) and the X-Men feel
the best way to save all of humanity and mutant kind is to stop the sentinel
threat from surfacing altogether. Logan (Hugh Jackman) volunteers for an urgent
mission that will send him back to the 1970s where he will try to convince a
young Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr (James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender)
to come together in a time where they could barely stand each other to combat
an impending threat and prevent the horrible future that awaits them.
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| Logan, Xavier, Erick, and Quicksilver attempt to escape mutant custody |
Analysis
For
14 years, people have watched installments of one of Marvel Comic’s most
beloved characters come to life. There have been highs and lows, but in its
existence, the X-Men franchise has endured and is slowly gaining new life in
this current age of filmmaking. The latest chapter Days of Future Past mixed
the old with the new to bring together fans who have been around the films
since day one and fans who may just now getting on the bandwagon. All In all,
the film did great. X-Men Days of Future Past not only delivered strong at the
box office with a worldwide total of $301 million, but it garnered an
outstanding 91% certified fresh rating on rotten tomatoes. This makes it the
highest critically ranked film in the franchise. Sean O'Connell of Cinema Blend
stated that the film was "the greatest, most complete and staggeringly
entertaining X-Men film to date. The CEO of AviLand Productions, Mike Avila,
said the film was Superb and also praised the performance of the actors as well
as the film’s action and emotion. Critics and fans alike praised the film for
its action and substance. Now the question remains: With this boost of
momentum, how will the franchise build on its new found breath of life.
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| The X-Men battle the sentinels in the past and the future |
Review
I
have been following the X-Men franchise since it started in 2000. For 14 years,
this franchise has been the staple for superhero films today and for comic book
adaptations for Marvel. This year, X-Men Days of Future Past brought together
all of the X-Men characters from the original trilogy and the X-Men characters
from the acclaimed Preboot First Class for one of the biggest films in the
franchise. The result: The best X-Men film to date. Days of Future Past is an
amazing collection of old and new that culminates into an unforgettable
experience. From the opening sequence, the film grabbed hold of me tight. The
depiction of the bleak horrible future was both gripping, depressing, and
extremely dark. I found this a very effective example of grabbing a hold of the
audience from the first act. There is plenty to like about this film. First
thing is familiarity. Obviously, a lot has changed since the original X-Men
cast last suited up for action. However, returning actors, sights, and sounds
were a welcome addition to the film. Hearing music and seeing characters I’ve known
since I was 8 years old tugged on my heart strings and brought a smile to my
face. Seeing Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Shawn Ashmore, Ellen Page, Ian
McKellan, and Halle Berry return to their respective X-Men characters brought
back so many childhood memories. These were MY X-Men. The heroes I watched as a
kid, the first superheroes I ever truly watched in film. Seeing them again was
truly a welcome sight. The performances of the actors was one of the other
pluses about the film. Terrific acting from Jackman, and the returners from
First Class: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence (who I have
missed dearly seeing on screen), and Nicholas Hoult deliver extremely well in
their return to their roles. The veterans like Jackman, Berry, Ashmore,
Stewart, and others play their roles as if they were clockwork. New characters
such as Peter Maxinoff aka Quicksilver were fun as well. Evan Peter’s depiction
of the character were both fun and really brought light heartedness to the
otherwise dark story. I’m eager to see what Arron Taylor-Johnson does with the
character in Age of Ultron next year. The biggest plus of the film is its
powerful emotional aura. This was one of the most emotionally powerful
superhero films and possibly films period I’ve seen this year. There were several
scenes that had me on the brink of tears. Preferably the scenes in the future.
Seeing all of my childhood heroes suffer and die was truly heartbreaking. It
was sometimes unbearable. This proves how much they meant to me and how
emotional the film was. I no question applaud the folks at FOX for delivering a
truly amazing installment to their long running franchise. Though action wasn’t
the main star in this X-Men film, it still delivered some great sequences.
Given the circumstances that Logan faced knowing everything he did or help
happen would alter the future. Everything that occurred in the 70s made me ask
the question “How would this effect the future?” This was a great way of the
movie toying with our minds and bringing up theories on how what happen back
then would affect now. In the grand scheme of things, X-Men Days of Future Past
is hands down one of the best X-Men Films ever made and the best non-Marvel
studios film to date. Given how the film ended, questions still remain on what
the future of the franchise holds for the world most famous mutants.
Rating
and Final Thoughts
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With solid action, terrific acting, and a dark and
gripping story, X-Men Days of Future Past establishes itself the best film in
the franchise and one of the most emotionally powerful superhero films ever
made.
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Days of Future Past is the culmination of what this
franchise has accomplished in its 14 years in Hollywood. Now, the question
remains: With the film in a way hitting the reset button for the series, what
does the future hold for the franchise down the road?
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