"Booooooooring" - Homer Simpson

Rating: 4/10 (9 July 2019)

Here's what I say about the "best" movie in the X-Trilogy: I took a nap during this slog three times. Three.
I'm all for movies that focuses on character work and personal stakes instead of big explosions in my superhero movies, but this constructs the blandest and vaguest versions of those possible. An aggressively boring movie not only wrecked by ugly sets and a horrendous pace, but also by how it fails to live up to the central conflicts in the movie. Strykers son feels completely contrived, only there to freeze Xavier out of commission in the third act, and Wolverines journey to his past just marks down things we already know. It all feels like filler, with the whole "global headache" in the end not holding any stakes.
The only scene that really registered with me is probably the least necessary plot-wise but perfectly highlights the "Mutants as metaphor for civil rights" angle. The scene where Iceman meets his parents in shock - which then follows Pyro killing armed cops with explosions - is easily the most emotionally riveting and coolest scene out of all of these movies. And the crazy thing about it: we don't even need it in the movie! It's just a detour for the characters to seek refuge only to get picked up by the hovercraft anyway.
Yeah, I just don't care. Personally, I choose the first movie simply because it's shorter and more to-the-point, despite looking a whole lot cheaper.