Written by: Kevin Berge
Wow, this movie has Xavier, Magneto, and Jennifer Lawrence! Now I have to see it. (Image Courtesy of: comingsoon.net)
Quick Take: X-Men Apocalypse is an enjoyable comic book ride buoyed by solid performances and engaging moments though one that does not live up to the high marks of its predecessors in the X-Men franchise due to disjointed direction and uninspired writing that feels too rehashed without developing enough of a star cast of characters and actors.
***This is a spoiler free review for X-Men Apocalypse giving only a general overview of the plot and focusing more on the elements of the film that make it worth seeing. However, if you have any concerns about allusions to plot points or potential spoilers on character appearances, do not read further ahead.***
Despite the less than successful track record of 20th Century Fox's Marvel movies, the X-Men series has largely been the rare exception that has not disappointed over the years. Certainly there are elements of even the best movies of the franchise that will particularly annoy comic book fans, but the films are all solid with some rare exceptions.
X-Men Apocalypse is the third installment of the X-Men reboot films which began due to maddening black sheep of the X-Men franchise, X-Men: Last Stand. While Apocalypse is not as strong as X-Men: First Class or X-Men: Days of Future Past, it is far from the depths of Last Stand as the end of another X-Men trilogy.
Apocalypse is the story of the rise of the first mutant, a mutant with an insane collection of powers who has been in hibernation for centuries and returns seeking to once more rule the world as a god as he once did. The threat is greater than ever while the X-Men seem more divided than ever as most of the powerful mutants are in hiding while the newcomers are mere children learning the way.
While an intriguing premise, this movie largely fails to reach the lofty heights it hints at. Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) is a rather generic villain who spends most of the movie plotting and talking, getting one real action scene. The individual stories of the many mutants in this film each have some promise though not get real time to develop.
Still, this is a fun comic book film that has some great action and imagery that makes it more than worth a watch. Much of the movie rests on its potential, scratching the surface of a whole list of new mutants and vaguely exploring the 80s setting it inhabits. There is nothing wrong with these hints though stand out strongly.
The new host of mutants in this film include Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Psylocke (Olivia Munn), and Archangel (Ben Hardy). They join a returning cast of Professor X (James McAvoy), Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Holt), Quicksilver (Evan Peters), and Havok (Lucas Till).
That's more than a few names to have to juggle with this movie trying its best to give everyone some development which leads to no one advancing enough through the course of the film. This also applies to the acting as a whole.
Despite the less than successful track record of 20th Century Fox's Marvel movies, the X-Men series has largely been the rare exception that has not disappointed over the years. Certainly there are elements of even the best movies of the franchise that will particularly annoy comic book fans, but the films are all solid with some rare exceptions.
X-Men Apocalypse is the third installment of the X-Men reboot films which began due to maddening black sheep of the X-Men franchise, X-Men: Last Stand. While Apocalypse is not as strong as X-Men: First Class or X-Men: Days of Future Past, it is far from the depths of Last Stand as the end of another X-Men trilogy.
Apocalypse is the story of the rise of the first mutant, a mutant with an insane collection of powers who has been in hibernation for centuries and returns seeking to once more rule the world as a god as he once did. The threat is greater than ever while the X-Men seem more divided than ever as most of the powerful mutants are in hiding while the newcomers are mere children learning the way.
While an intriguing premise, this movie largely fails to reach the lofty heights it hints at. Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) is a rather generic villain who spends most of the movie plotting and talking, getting one real action scene. The individual stories of the many mutants in this film each have some promise though not get real time to develop.
Still, this is a fun comic book film that has some great action and imagery that makes it more than worth a watch. Much of the movie rests on its potential, scratching the surface of a whole list of new mutants and vaguely exploring the 80s setting it inhabits. There is nothing wrong with these hints though stand out strongly.
The new host of mutants in this film include Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Cyclops (Tye Sheridan), Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Psylocke (Olivia Munn), and Archangel (Ben Hardy). They join a returning cast of Professor X (James McAvoy), Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), Beast (Nicholas Holt), Quicksilver (Evan Peters), and Havok (Lucas Till).
That's more than a few names to have to juggle with this movie trying its best to give everyone some development which leads to no one advancing enough through the course of the film. This also applies to the acting as a whole.
Apocalypse forgot that he never got the talk people to death power while he was asleep. (Image Courtesy of: ibtimes.com)
One thing the X-Men franchise has done impressively well is cast its opposing mutant leaders in Xavier and Magneto. James McAvoy (Wanted) is both strong in delivering long speeches and allowing his facial expressions to convey more than he can say. Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds) is a powerhouse in this film, dealing with the most emotions and complex storyline with heartbreaking and powerful force.
In this star-studded cast, Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) may still be the biggest star on this cast, and she is an impressive actress in most everything she's a part of. However, the script makes Mystique not just unbearable but also unrecognizable as the movie largely spends the two hours with her doing nothing and not even wearing the classic blue paint.
Perhaps the issue in this movie was that the filmmakers just wanted to spend less time with makeup and costume design as Nicholas Holt (Mad Max: Furt Road) also spent this movie on the sidelines with only one scene in Beast mode and so few lines you can forget he's there. Meanwhile, Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina) is weighed down by makeup design that does not make him menacing enough while he delivers his lines with impressive conviction.
The new cast make enough of an impression that I left the theater excited to see what was next from them. Tye Sheridan (Mud) feels like a better formed and written Cyclops than his predecessor though needs work on his angry yelling (which he does a lot). Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) plays an emotionally damaged and scared Jean well though her American accent needs serious work.
Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) is enjoyable and funny if a bit one note. Alexandra Shipp (Straight Outta Compton) gives the X-Men franchise its first truly committed Storm performance though is silent too much of the film. Similarly, her counterparts in Apocalypse's Four Horsemen, Olivia Munn (Attack of the Show!) and Ben Hardy (EastEnders), feel like they're just around for the last action scene.
If anyone steals the show in this movie (besides Fassbender who has been doing that in every movie), it's Evan Peters (American Horror Story) who is easily the movie's funniest presence while also keeping up solid drama. It helps that Quicksilver gets all the best individual scenes. Rose Byrne (Neighbors) also returns in this film as Moira Mactaggert though feels wildly out of place.
In this star-studded cast, Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) may still be the biggest star on this cast, and she is an impressive actress in most everything she's a part of. However, the script makes Mystique not just unbearable but also unrecognizable as the movie largely spends the two hours with her doing nothing and not even wearing the classic blue paint.
Perhaps the issue in this movie was that the filmmakers just wanted to spend less time with makeup and costume design as Nicholas Holt (Mad Max: Furt Road) also spent this movie on the sidelines with only one scene in Beast mode and so few lines you can forget he's there. Meanwhile, Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina) is weighed down by makeup design that does not make him menacing enough while he delivers his lines with impressive conviction.
The new cast make enough of an impression that I left the theater excited to see what was next from them. Tye Sheridan (Mud) feels like a better formed and written Cyclops than his predecessor though needs work on his angry yelling (which he does a lot). Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) plays an emotionally damaged and scared Jean well though her American accent needs serious work.
Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road) is enjoyable and funny if a bit one note. Alexandra Shipp (Straight Outta Compton) gives the X-Men franchise its first truly committed Storm performance though is silent too much of the film. Similarly, her counterparts in Apocalypse's Four Horsemen, Olivia Munn (Attack of the Show!) and Ben Hardy (EastEnders), feel like they're just around for the last action scene.
If anyone steals the show in this movie (besides Fassbender who has been doing that in every movie), it's Evan Peters (American Horror Story) who is easily the movie's funniest presence while also keeping up solid drama. It helps that Quicksilver gets all the best individual scenes. Rose Byrne (Neighbors) also returns in this film as Moira Mactaggert though feels wildly out of place.
Amazing how despite all their failings Fox still is the only one to do a speedster right on the big screen in all these years. (Image Courtesy of: moviepilot.com)
The X-Men franchise has largely been Bryan Singer's (The Usual Suspects) baby over the years, and it is beginning to show a bit strong that the series needs new blood behind the camera. This movie feels a bit too disjointed as if the director isn't quite sure where he wants the focus.
There are some real solid shots along the way, but Singer does not quite seem capable of digging out the best from its actors nor focused enough to keep the story from feeling like it is moving too slowly from setting to setting yet also too quickly through much of its action.
The elements of this film that don't work are similar to those that didn't work in the original X-Men that Singer also directed. The plot follows too many similar paths and tries to develop its characters too little in the span of two hours. This is particularly troubling with a host of new characters who barely seem to have changed in the wake of facing an almighty being.
The writing by Simon Kinberg who was helped by Singer, Michael Dougherty, and Dan Harris is hit and miss as well. Where his writing shines is in its humor as well as ability to connect all six films together helped by the fact that he also helped write Last Stand and Days of Future Past.
Where he falters is with heavy monologue and expository dialogue, focused primarily on Apocalypse himself. He fails to make the villain menacing while thrusting too much of the repetitive dialogue on Oscar Isaac who does the best he can. The script just feels a bit too much like its predecessors and comes off more than a bit forgettable with very few memorable lines.
X-Men: Apocalypse simply was let down by its construction. After strong casting and grabbing hold of a compelling concept, continuing the period piece themes of its predecessors, the movie spends too much time setting up too little. Comic book movies thrive on compelling action, and Apocalypse has only one overlong action scene as its climax.
The only other action scene in the film is ten minutes of fan service that feels wildly unnecessary in a film that needed every second to convince the audience of its main villain's power and threat. While the scene is effective, it replaces actual substantial story development that was desperately needed without doing much to develop any of the characters.
The fundamental problem with the film is that it is just too derivative without making enough of a case for its own existence. The film feels too much like its predecessors without carrying its own banner. It is a lot of fun to sit back and watch, but it is too insubstantial. Similar to X-Men, it is just a forgettable movie.
Still, that does not make it a bad film. It is an easy going viewing experience from start to finish that does not fail in any particular category. It just does not succeed in any way unlike several of the films that came before it. The X-Men franchise has proven that it can succeed thanks to strong casting and interest characters, but Apocalypse left those characters and actors too often in the background.
There are some real solid shots along the way, but Singer does not quite seem capable of digging out the best from its actors nor focused enough to keep the story from feeling like it is moving too slowly from setting to setting yet also too quickly through much of its action.
The elements of this film that don't work are similar to those that didn't work in the original X-Men that Singer also directed. The plot follows too many similar paths and tries to develop its characters too little in the span of two hours. This is particularly troubling with a host of new characters who barely seem to have changed in the wake of facing an almighty being.
The writing by Simon Kinberg who was helped by Singer, Michael Dougherty, and Dan Harris is hit and miss as well. Where his writing shines is in its humor as well as ability to connect all six films together helped by the fact that he also helped write Last Stand and Days of Future Past.
Where he falters is with heavy monologue and expository dialogue, focused primarily on Apocalypse himself. He fails to make the villain menacing while thrusting too much of the repetitive dialogue on Oscar Isaac who does the best he can. The script just feels a bit too much like its predecessors and comes off more than a bit forgettable with very few memorable lines.
X-Men: Apocalypse simply was let down by its construction. After strong casting and grabbing hold of a compelling concept, continuing the period piece themes of its predecessors, the movie spends too much time setting up too little. Comic book movies thrive on compelling action, and Apocalypse has only one overlong action scene as its climax.
The only other action scene in the film is ten minutes of fan service that feels wildly unnecessary in a film that needed every second to convince the audience of its main villain's power and threat. While the scene is effective, it replaces actual substantial story development that was desperately needed without doing much to develop any of the characters.
The fundamental problem with the film is that it is just too derivative without making enough of a case for its own existence. The film feels too much like its predecessors without carrying its own banner. It is a lot of fun to sit back and watch, but it is too insubstantial. Similar to X-Men, it is just a forgettable movie.
Still, that does not make it a bad film. It is an easy going viewing experience from start to finish that does not fail in any particular category. It just does not succeed in any way unlike several of the films that came before it. The X-Men franchise has proven that it can succeed thanks to strong casting and interest characters, but Apocalypse left those characters and actors too often in the background.