Just because the X-Men series stumbled and lost its path doesn't mean it can't be saved

Rating: 7/10 (31 May 2014)

Great marriage of the first two X-Men films with First Class. Its primary function is as a sequel to First Class but it also works as a clean-up of the mess made with Last Stand. That the series has rebounded from that film and now "fixed" itself is surely a cinematic miracle. Hugh Jackman continues to be the backbone of this franchise. I really can't predict what will happen when he's too old to continue in the part and they have to recast. I'm not looking forward to it, for sure. Let's hope that is many years off. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen step back into their old roles seamlessly. Both are perfect as always. It was nice to see Halle Berry and the others return. The First Class crew (McAvoy, Fassbender, Lawrence, Hoult) are all excellent actors and do well just as they did in that film.
The new characters are good, especially Evan Peters' Quicksilver, but it would have been nice if some of the old gang had been given more to do. I like that Storm and Iceman got some action and I understand why the others who appear at the end were only there briefly but poor Rogue was left to a two-second cameo. That's just sad when you consider how important she was to the start of this series. It would have been cool, considering the future angle, if they could have shown her for once being more like the Rogue from the comics. I think most fans would have gladly sacrificed a mort like Warpath to get that. I also shouldn't complain that Rebecca Romijn had no cameo considering she had one in First Class, but still it would have been a nice bonus. But these are minor quibbles with an otherwise very entertaining movie.
The special effects, action, and music were all well-done. The script was very smart and although I'm sure I could find some holes if I tried, the effort to keep a sense of continuity in this series despite its missteps is certainly appreciated. I was skeptical before the film for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that they were loosely adapting one of my favorite comic book stories and I didn't want to see it besmirched. What they wound up doing resembles the comic story only in name and using time travel as a plot device. Everything else is different. But I'm okay with that. I value the comic story for what it was and this for what it is. Bryan Singer's triumphant return puts him at 3-0 in X-Men movies. Hopefully he makes more of them as it's clearly material he connects with and is good at.