X-Men: Days of Future Past shines on many levels

Image source: http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2014/05/22/bryan-singer-its-ludicrous-to-compare-foxs-x-men-and-marvels-avengers/

By Lisa Goudy


It is hard to find anything wrong with X-Men: Days of Future Past.

The plot is complicated, but it’s explained and shown in an easy-to-understand manner.

The characters are interesting and have a lot of depth as they grow and evolve during the film.

The effects are fantastic to watch and only add to a great story with twists and turns along the way.

There is action, drama, intrigue and humour in the film that unites old with new.

Even if anyone had an issue with any of the previous X-Men films, X-Men: Days of Future Past makes them all be forgotten. It is more than satisfactory. It is one of the best superhero films ever made. It serves as a sequel to X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and X-Men: First Class (2011).

X-Men: Days of Future Past opens in the year 2023 in a post-apocalyptic world where the death-mongering robots, Sentinels, dominate the world. Mutants and humans are on the brink of doom as the Sentinels kill mutants and any humans who help them.

In an attempt to change the fate of the world, professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) enlist the help of Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) to send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) back to 1973 to stop young Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing Dr. Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage).
That event eventually leads to the apocalyptic future.

To stop the future from coming to fruition, Wolverine must find the younger Charles (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender), who have become alienated after the traumatic events that occurred in X-Men: First Class.

As it is with all films involving time travel, and especially in this one, because it doesn’t just stay in the past but also jumps to the future during the film, there is the high possibility of making a convoluted mess.

Director Bryan Singer and screenplay writer Simon Kinberg also introduced a plethora of characters, some of which had very small roles.

However, what the creative team has instead created is a compelling and mind-blowing movie filled with characters, plots and scenes that make it a memorable film.

Cutting back to the dystopian future at several points isn’t jarring, but fitting in the way that it’s used.
The story doesn’t become confusing at any point in time.

While certain mutants were pushed to the side, Singer and Kinberg have kept the most interesting ones at the focal point of the film.

For instance, the brief appearance of Quicksilver (Evan Peters) is one of the best scenes in the movie. That scene, as well as others, is visually appealing with stunning choreography.

Other familiar characters, many of which are given new layers, are part of the driving force of X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Young Charles is in a point in his life where he has lost hope, which is a contrast to how his character is generally seen, which is as a teacher and a leader.

Seeing this role reversal, especially as it relates to Wolverine, is fresh and incredibly well acted.
Young Magneto is angry, bitter and constantly unstable.

Mystique, who has always remained a mysterious character, is given new levels of depth in the movie. None of the characters are good or evil. Nothing is black and white. That makes it all the more interesting.

The acting is superb. All the cast did an outstanding job of portraying the characters and the casting is perfect.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is a fantastic film on every level. It is guaranteed to satisfy the likes of any X-Men fan. It sets a new standard that’s going to be hard to top. 

*** This review also appeared in the June 4, 2014 issue of the Moose Jaw Times-Herald's weekly paper, FYi