'X-Men: Apocalypse' Review

Image via comingsoon.net

First of all, I blame lackluster reviews for me taking so long to see this film. Sometimes, we rely too often on the Tomatometer and the reviews of our favorite critics and media personalities. This was a case in which I was fooled by both, as well as box office numbers. The two previous X-Men films (First Class, Days of Future Past) garnered praise from both audiences and critics alike, but the reception to X-Men: Apocalypse is split right down the middle. It currently sits at a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 52% on Metacritic, which I really don't understand. So, without further ado, lets talk about the latest installment in the franchise.

X-Men: Apocalypse takes place in 1983, 10 years after the previous film and sees the return of the first mutant, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), as he wreaks havoc on the world with his four followers because he feels that mankind has lost its way. One of the main things that excited fans about this film was the introduction of some iconic characters including Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan), Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee). One of the things that this film did a great job of was organically introducing each of these new characters. It reminded me of the way Joss Whedon handled the introductions in The Avengers. Everyone was in different parts of the world, yet nothing seemed out of place, and that really helped set the tone of the film early on. In fact, the story structure early on closely resembled The Avengers with the way they introduced the villain in the first scene, followed by a battle and then the introduction of new and old characters. The most interesting being the whereabouts of Magneto, which I won't spoil, but I'll just say this: forest scene.

As the film progresses and we see the plot really begin to take hold, I think this movie hits its stride. Apocalypse has his Four Horseman in Angel, Psylocke, Storm and Magneto and is ready to begin his destruction of the planet. Once they encounter Charles, and this is a scene in one of the trailers, there's a new objective: find Charles Xavier. So, now, the team consists of Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Nightcrawler, Mystique, Beast and Quicksilver, who manages to steal every scene he's in. And yes, this film has another fantastic slow-motion sequence. There's also a cameo that left me with a huge smile on my face because it gave us a glimpse of what we can expect, as far as violence, in a future film. The middle of the film also did a great job of showcasing the powers of Jean Grey, Scott Summers and Nightcrawler. We got to see Scott Summers really become Cyclops, Jean Grey show how powerful she can be (wait for the third act) and Nightcrawler using his power to get the team out of certain situations.

Now, the third act is where I have some criticisms of this movie. I felt like there were points where certain things were too easily accomplished. In a couple of instances, there could have been a lot more tension and the stakes could've been raised exponentially. Also, I expected Apocalypse to be in the fight more than he was. Now, that's not to say that he's totally absent, because he's not. You really see the menacing and imposing figure that he is, but I think if he were present for more of the battle, things could've ended a bit differently. However, the action sequences are incredible and look great as well. I also wish the Four Horseman, especially Psylocke did more, but it really wasn't a huge letdown for me. The resolution was very effective in my opinion and we got a very cool throwback to the first X-Men film with the final scene.

X-Men: Apocalypse is a worthy sequel and much, much better than the critics would have you believe. This movie contains some of the best and heart wrenching character moments in the franchise, and it gives these characters much more depth. We see relationships continue to develop, especially between Charles Xavier and Magneto, and the new characters really elevate this film. Specifically, Sophie Turner and Tye Sheridan became their characters and turned in some incredible performances. We also see their relationship begin to develop, along with Mystique finally taking a leadership role and being the one to lead this team after she had been viewed as a heroine after the events of the previous film.

Overall, X-Men: Apocalypse is one of those films that gets a bad wrap for no reason. This film, in my opinion, delivers on all fronts. It has great character moments that really pull you in, comedy that works really well in context, and it feels like an X-Men film. Granted, the film has its problems, just like any other, but it definitely delivers. In my opinion, I enjoyed this film more than Days of Future Past. But, that being said, none of the films in this franchise are bad. Each one has its merits in terms of which is best and that's how you know its a great trilogy. A lot of the time, the first film can be great and the other two can fall off the rails. Do yourselves a favor and go see this film, especially if you're an X-Men or comic book fan. There are some treats that you'll really enjoy. If not, you can go see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and be immersed in Michael Bay's world. But, lets be honest, you don't want that.