Holds some of the most poignant, intense, and copacetic scenes of the year so far...who would have known?

Rating: Null/10 (4 June 2014)

BY RYAN C. SHOWERS
I never cared much for the "X-Men" film series with their silly transformations and "cool" special effects, but I found myself intrigued and captivated by the latest installment, "X-Men: Days of Future Past." Bryan Singer returns to his role as director and pursues a deft vision that translates to a clean, organized superhero flick. "Days of Future Past" both stands as a staple of technical adeptness and shoots gratifying bullets of adrenaline for those paying for the entertainment.
The screenplay avails its twisty concepts, fastens tight a sturdy structure, and wins the audience's interest with a developed plot. Its swift beating tone keeps the project going at an advanced, adaptable rhythm. An "X-Men" movie holds some of the most poignant, intense, and copacetic scenes of the year so far...who would have known?
The creative and technical team behind "X-Men: Days of Future Past" climb to the brim of quality action filmmaking and maintain high standards throughout the two hour film. The film editing is the first thing noticed in opening fight sequence, a scene which made me sit back in my seat and mumble "wow" to myself as at the sharp, charged cuts. The art department showcases pleasing neon blue and purple colors that contrast with the ample black space in the scenes taking place in present time, which flatters the look of the film.
"Days of Future Past" reminds me in more than a few ways of Christopher Nolan's monstrous 2010 hit "Inception." An action film that takes itself seriously and respects the sanctity of the motion picture process are most basic ways the two films are alike, but specific aesthetic features and narrative structure overlap between them as well. It's as if Singer and company had a group viewing of "Inception" before beginning preproduction and used the Academy Award winning film as its muse. The way it is written (multiple time dimensions, the plot hinging on a ghostly femme fatal from the past), cut (aligning time periods action scenes), and shot (Quicksilver's racing speed distorts gravity as Arthur's gravity-less hotel sequence from Inception) all breathe like an homage to "Inception," which is a complimentary observation.
The vastly talented array of A-listers entertain and revel in their characters effortlessly. With pretentious egos aside, the actors to deliver the resilient superheroes in full form. Hugh Jackman, while not very complex, relishes in leading the pack as Wolverine, Jennifer Lawrence adds another valuable blockbuster to her resume as Mystique, and Michael Fassbender coerces blood into Magneto. James McAvoy is the acting standout by threading Professor Charles Xavier with a sore backstory. It's impressive to see the cast in the film, even with these crucial four aside, for just the sake gathering so many highly regarded thespians into one genre picture.
The exorbitant fan expectation is just as high as they were for the first sequel in 2003, yet after seven films X-Men surmounts any conjecture surmised by eager fans. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" may sound like a drag (literally, the title sounds reductive and crude), but it's a technical marvel with an absorbing story and characters.
Rating: 7.8
Grade: A-