X-Men: Days of Future Past, 2014.
Directed by Bryan Singer.
Starring Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Lucas Till, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Shawn Ashmore, Daniel Cudmore, Evan Peters, Booboo Stewart, Omar Sy, Fan Bingbing, Adan Canto, Evan Jonigkeit, Josh Helman, and Peter Dinklage.
SYNOPSIS:
The X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.
Scepticism is rife in Hollywood, as is cynicism. It seems that an outlandish idea or some offbeat promotional material can taint a film’s reputation before it is released. For a lot of people that certainly seemed to be the case regarding X-Men: Days of Future Past. As a critic, objectivity and an open mind is crucial. Alas, I must confess that I too had all but succumbed to the preconception that the franchise’s latest outing would be mediocre at best. Fortunately though, I could not have been more wrong.
In its most basic plot summary, DOFP involves the classic, leather-clad heroes of Singer’s original films sending Wolverine (Jackman) back in time to help the groovy, 1970’s characters from X-Men: First Class. The motivation for the time travel is to prevent the series of events that lead to a planet-destroying war between the mutants and the evil robot Sentinels, much in the same vein as the Terminator films.
The film is a juggling act right from the get-go, with Singer et al having to negotiate the collaboration of two separate X-Men casts whilst dealing with all the issues that arise from a tricky time-travel plot. Brilliantly though, the filmmakers tackle these challenges with blind ambition and serious panache. Wasting no time whatsoever, Patrick Stewarts’ booming tones deliver an opening narration that brings the audience up to speed. One punchy fight scene later and the time-travel plot is explained in a concise and time-saving manner, which really lets us get to the narrative’s delicious filling.
The most striking element of the film is the use of the cast. Who among us can forget that glorious image from last year’s Comic Con in which X-Men old and new descended on mass to the stage? Well, they are definitely all here, but with varying degrees of screen-time. As you’d probably expect, the film’s most bankable stars get the lion share, with Jackman, Fassbender and McAvoy all delivering the goods. Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique also enjoys the character’s most prominent role in any incarnation, presumably thanks to the Oscar-winning media darling that Lawrence has become since the last film.
With so many characters jostling for their time to shine, some fall by the wayside. Disappointingly, Peter Dinklage’s villain has very little chance to be villainous, while Wolverine’s pals from the original films are rarely utilised, including the likes of Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Ian McKellen’s Magneto. There’s little to rave about when it comes to the franchise’s new characters too, with the only exception being Evan Peters’ Quicksilver; although his look may have been questionable, he’s one of the film’s stand-out characters, providing some top-drawer comic relief in an otherwise serious and political movie.
Like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, DOFP is an unexpected game-changer. What was expected to be just another standard franchise installment has turned out to be a universe-expanding gem. It’s both a homage to all that was great about the first two films, and a fresh lease of life for the next. Truly a satisfying collaboration of the past and future.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Jackson Ball – follow me on Twitter.
Originally published May 25, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
