The best X men movie yet, by far

Rating: 10/10 (5 June 2014)

The best X-men movie yet, by far
It's been a long time since I left a movie theatre simply too stunned for words, I think it was "Inception", 2010.
The writers have pulled out all the stops here and meshed together THE best comic storyline adaptation I've seen bar none. Growing up in the nineties, waking up on a Saturday morning, the one and only cartoon to look out for was X-men, so I think I can say I'm biased toward the franchise, but with good reason; the storywriters have produced something with so much depth and complexity that makes other comic film adaptations look, basically, for kids. OK, I enjoyed "The Avengers" as well, don't get me wrong.
5 movies, 1 original comic story, weaved together by perhaps the strongest cast available. Perhaps it just me, but ever since "The Matrix", action movies have basically been "same same, but different". What people crave is stories, and what a story this is.
How can I describe it? The fact that after what I consider was the worst Wolverine movie (Yes, "The Wolverine" was horribly disappointing), Hugh Jackman has finally got Wolverine (aka Logan) down. Perhaps his own experience playing him, along with the requirements of the movie for a more mature Wolverine, really come together here. A lead supporting actor. Is it even possible? Yes, somehow Hugh Jackman has pulled it off. Like the other veterans in the movie (Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan) he's brought something tangible, credible and humble to the ensemble.
Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Peter Dinklage, Halle Berry, Bingbing Fan... you know what, I could go on praising this cast for another 1000 words, however I'm going to stop now.
OK, let me rewind a little, 5 movies, one comic arc.
Five movies? X-men, X-men 2, X-men – Last stand, X- men origins – Wolverine and X-men – First class.
1 comic arc? #141 – 142 Chris Claremont, John Byrneand Terry Austin. 1981.
OK, so the comic speaks for itself. But how about the movies? Well, firstly the actors, for the most part, there are the same actors from all five of those movies featured in "X-men – Days of Future Past". This is a fantastic bit of casting. It gives so much more credibility to different actors playing the same characters across time. Next; flashback sequences. Third; inferences from the characters themselves. This mash up, so seamlessly knitted with both subtle and overt political references, personal tragedy, friendship, betrayal, unrequited love and, of course, the Michael Bay style action sequences we've come to love and expect from our favourite X-men movies.
OK a quick word on powers. Some superhero movies (especially in my opinion "Superman" movies) play down the powers of their heroes. Not in an X-men movie. Not in THE X-men movie. We all know Magneto is awesome. We all know The Professor is awesome. And we all enjoy seeing Wolverine rip someone a new one. Here in "X-men Days of Future Past" we get to see their awesomeness, but flawed. Flawed in their physical weaknesses, flawed in their selfish desires, flawed in their humanity. This does wonders for the movie. It creates a dynamic which accentuates the lighter parts and allows for the action sequences to have greater impact. What Bryan Singer has managed to do is create a symphony; complete with prelude, development, low dark tones interspersed with lighter ones, building up into a colossal cacophony, rising into a crescendo and concluding with style.
Needless to say, I've got to see the next one.