"X-MEN : DAYS OF FUTURE PAST" Movie Review

Welcome to my first movie review and to kick things off, I thought I'd start with the recently released on DVD prequel-sequel, "X-Men : Days of Future Past."This film was the victim of skepticism and fear for months after announcement. This fear was well grounded, however, after the almost universally hated "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" and "X-Men: The Last Stand" in addition to the divisive Wolverine movie released last year. Don't worry, though. It's awesome. Bryan Singer returns to the X-Men franchise after directing the first two X-Men movies but leaving after X2, which is one of the most loved superhero movies ever, to direct Superman Returns (and that didn't work out too well for him). The announcement of his directing this newest addition to the franchise was met with relief and as soon as you hear the familiar X2 music in the film's opening, you know Singer is back and a good movie is in store. The plot revolves around Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman, being sent back in time from an apocalyptic future where mutants have almost been entirely wiped out to find a young Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr (otherwise known as Professor X and Magneto), played by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender respectively, and help him change the past to save the future. This storyline is overly complex at some points, introducing plot points that have not even been raised or questioned in previous movies (how exactly is Professor X alive?) but that is because Singer has not been the only director working on this franchise and the mythology and plot has been mixed up because of this. It is an engaging and interesting story, drawing you in from start to finish. One of the X-Men movies strongest points throughout the series has been its impressive visual effects and it is no different here. The robotic Sentinels look interesting and realistic in the past but intimidating and powerful in the future while the mutant powers look as fantastic as always. One scene, however, is the clear stand-out of the film due to its style and CGI involving Evan Peters new mutant Quicksilver. It had the whole cinema laughing and, while I won't spoil it here, it is a must see. Another thing the X-Men franchise has consistently done right is its terrific casting. Hugh Jackman is iconic as Wolverine and it is difficult to imagine anyone else playing the role at this point while James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are worthy successors to the comic-book accurate characters portrayed by Sirs Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan. It is very difficult to have any gripes at all with this film if you are a casual moviegoer with entertaining action sequences among all of this. This only problem I can think of which may annoy hardcore X-Men fans only but even then not a lot is the lack of fan favourite character Bishop throughout the film. Even then, this is a film that it loved generally by fans and newcomers to the series alike, boasting impressive action sequences, casting, effects and a great sense of humour which weaves in nicely with the dark sections of the film. This is a return to form for the X-Men franchise and leaves myself personally aching for more and highly anticipating the 2016 follow-up "X-Men Apocalypse."

Rating : 9.5/10