'X-Men: Days of Future Past' keeps hope alive for mutants and fans alike

Rating: 8/10 (12 July 2014)

The 'X-Men' films were always second to me, right after The Dark Knight trilogy. In fact, I really thought that 'X-Men: First Class' was better than 'The Avengers'. While I'm not a fan of the Wolverine solo movies, I've liked all of the other 'X-Men' films, even the third one. It's kinda sorta a tie for me between 'First Class' and 'X2' as the best installments, but there for a while, the series hit a rocky road for fans who had plenty to complain about. With the unsteadiness of a lot of people not liking the third movie, and then to be followed by an even less liked solo Wolverine movie, moviegoers and comic fans alike began to believe that the series had peaked. Then "First Class" landed, and it changed things up. It rebooted the franchise in a way, by introducing a new cast of old characters, and telling the origins of Erik Lehnsherr and Charles Xavier.
With overwhelmingly positive reception, everyone began to see a twinkle in the eye of a thought to be exhausted consecution, and hope peaked it's head. Then came 'The Wolverine', and again, made the ground shaky for the series. It's not as terrible as it's predecessor, but it has many, many flaws. Then news came that Bryan Singer , director of the first two movies, was stepping back behind the director's chair for 'Days of Future Past'. And Matthew Vaughn, the director of "First Class", came on as a writer, joining up with Singer. So basically you get the best of both worlds making one movie, and it's based off of probably the best storyline in the comic series.
Right after the standard opening narration by Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and opening credits, the action starts immediately. With probably the most exciting opening scene I've seen all year, you see several X-Men, including Ice Man (Shawn Ashmore) fighting their biggest foes yet; Sentinels. The Sentinels are non-metal machines made up of Mystique's (Jennifer Lawrence) DNA, allowing them to adapt and use mutant's powers against them. The fight doesn't go too well for the mutants, needless to say. Using Kitty Pryde's (Ellen Page) ability, she sends Logan/Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) current consciousness into his younger self from the 1970's. So he has all his current knowledge of what the future has in store, only he's in the past, and it's his job to find a young Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender), and tell them what the future holds, in hopes that they'll put their differences aside.
Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage) makes Sentinels, machines who's sole purpose is to flush out and exterminate mutants. With politicians skeptical, it isn't until a young Mystique assassinates him that the Sentinel's program is given the go-ahead. Wolverine has to bring Erik and Charles together in order to unite and find Mystique before she can murder Trask, and cause a future of ruin. Absolutely brilliant storytelling, and well-acted, as always. And like usual, regardless of how serious and dark the impending threat is, there's some good humor and one-liners that keep a fine balance, so it doesn't get too gloomy. There's a wide array of mutants/characters, and the music is really nice.
The action scenes are unique and mesmerizing, never failing to entertain with both visuals and violence. The last 10-15 minutes are gripping, and almost pulls at your heart. It concludes satisfyingly, and leaves you with a cliffhanger. Wait through the never-ending credits, and you'll see a glimpse of the next movie's villain, Apocalypse, who's goal is to conquer the world. He looks slender, and not how I'd picture him, but I'm sure it's going to work out just fine.