Film Review | X-Men: Days of Future Past

Mutants aren’t the only ones close to extinction. If there’s any trace of mutation in you’re DNA you’re just as hopeless as anyone who can read minds or shape-shift. Welcome to the future, where the human population is at an all time low and machines threaten to demolish anyone that is different at any cost. In a time where nothing is certain, it’ll take more than just the X-Men to secure life on a dying planet.

The Story

Picking up from where X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: First Class ended, we have a collision of past and present in the latest installment of the X-Men franchise. In this latest release, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is sent back to 1973 to erase the current future in order to restore humanity’s faith in mutants. This blast-into-the-past sees both the original cast – Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Barry, Ellen Page, and Shawn Ashmore – and the current cast – James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Nicholas Holt – into one gigantic A-List compilation.

This film not only continues the plot that the original comics take, but also undoes the inconsistent and story progression found in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the unforeseen deaths of characters in X-Men: The Last Stand. As though to remedy past mistakes, X-Men: Days of Future Past literally re-boots and removes everything they were slammed for in the previous films, and pick-up the remaining pieces as though all is right with the world again.

The main story in this film is to wipe out the concept of mutant-inhalation from history altogether. What this film really does is bring back characters that we love very much and make sure that they’re stories don’t get to screwed over in the future. Thus, the plot for this film seems to mirror the inner-workings off-camera, just as much as successfully progress the overall plotline of future films.

Who says art doesn’t imitate life?

The Cast

Hugh Jackman has been loyal to Wolverine over that last fourteen years and I have to say, with the help of incredible writing, we have definitely seen multiple sides to Wolverine. This particular film shows the caring and emotionally contained Wolverine. Being the only one from the future, Jackman portrays a more mature character in this film – he’s like the dad disciplining the children who have misbehaved while his back was turned.

James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart play two different points of view of Charles Xavier. McAvoy plays the uncharacteristically unhopeful Charles who sees the destruction of humanity in the future as none of his business, where as Stewart plays Professor X as the wise professor who sees hope no matter what. The opposing portrayals bring forth another dynamic to the Charles Xavier; in this film, we see a weaker side of Charles that later gives birth to the strength inside of the beloved Professor.

Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen, much like McAvoy and Stewart, portray different sides to Magneto. Fassbender embodies the same callous Erik that we see in First Class and throughout the X-Men Trilogy. By contrast, McKellen plays a worn-out and beaten Erik who, much like Stewart’s portrayal, is wiser and apologetic for his callousness. The two juxtaposed depictions of Magneto sees the inevitable division between the two friends, regardless of the past, present or future.

Jennifer Lawrence and Peter Dinklage both play the “bad guys” in this film. Lawrence reprises her role as Raven (a.k.a. Mystique) and delves into the “mutant and proud” mantra that she takes with her at the end of First Class in order to kill and destroy Dinklage’s character, Dr. Bolivar Trask. The two villains in this film help develop the plot as Trask is attempting to bring down the mutants once and for all, while Mystique is attempting to stop that plan from proceeding, with no knowledge of the dire consequences for the future. The dualistic nature of villainy in this film really begs viewers to question who is ‘good’ and who is ‘bad’.

In saying that, with all the characters that are prominent in this film, the question of good and evil is always being asked.

***

Overall the film was a blast to watch. There are times where you are absolutely drawn in solely by the action, and other times you’re pulled by the emotion. There are also times, like most of these Marvel films, you’re laughing until everything hurts. But the majority of this film is emotional, you have to remember that the balance of the future sees that everything is done right in the past in order to save the future – that’s a heavy burden for anyone to carry, fortunately, there’s a team who’s got that covered.

sL Star Rating: ★★★★★

Next on sL: Maleficent

Maleficent

FILM REVIEW | The Wolverine

Logan (Hugh Jackman), a.k.a. “The Wolverine”, is once again a lone wolf. After the devastating death of Jean Grey (Famke Janseen), Logan’s never been able to grasp what life should be like without her – and being immortal, it would be a long and lonely life.

The Story

The sub-story is Logan is trying to find a way to come to terms with the loss of Jean Grey. Throughout the film, Jean appears to him in dreams and visions beckoning him to come to her – that is, to die – which is impossible for his genetic mutation. The main story (that all the trailers showcase) is the idea that Logan has become human; needing the help of modern medicine and having someone to look after him, while simultaneously (and voluntarily) keeping a Japanese company heiress, Mariko Yashida (Tao Okamato), safe.

I personally liked the dual storyline that happens in this film. You have the main storyline that carries all the action, while the other serves as the underlying theme of Logan wanting to be human or normal. What I liked most about the story was it was focused mainly on The Wolverine. Unlike the first film (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and the X-Men Trilogy, there weren’t too many mutants in the one film. Since that was the case, you were able to grasps the story and believe the action playing-out before you.

The Cast

Hugh Jackman – Brilliant (as always) as he reprises his role as Wolverine. Like any role he’s been given, Jackman gives 100% and brings a delightful balance of humour, wit and seriousness to the role, and Wolverine is no different. Hugh was absolutely flawless.

Rila Fukushima – plays fellow mutant, Yukio, an adopted daughter of the Yashida family. Fukushima was a great sidekick for Wolverine, and at times became the main source for comic relief. It was great to see a female-bad-ass in combat boots and fiery red-hair. Kudus to Rila!

Svetlana Khodchenkova – plays another mutant, Viper, Yashida’s doctor as well as one of Logan’s nemesis in this film. Khodchenkova was vicious, sensual and, well, gross. Spitting everywhere as well as shedding her skin – it’s a given for a reptile-like mutation. But she was believable on both accounts – scientist and villain – so kudos to Svetlana as well.

Tao Okamoto – following the current trend of the paradoxical trait of being a kick-ass damsel in distress, Okamoto was a brilliant surprise in the storyline. I don’t want to say too much, because (a) you kind of see it coming and (b) every superhero needs something added to their story to keep audiences entertained – meaning all audiences. But I thought she did a great job contrasting the roughness of Jackman’s beastly character with the gentleness and grace of Mariko.

Famke Janseen – it’s always nice to see familiar faces, and Janseen’s is no exception. After her abrupt and colossus death in X-Men: The Final Battle, it was nice to see the Jean Grey that Logan fell in love with, rather than the Jean Grey that she disappeared as.

Setting

Setting the film in Japan was a great idea. Not just plot-wise, but as well as action and scenery wise. The beauty of several Japanese gardens contrasted with iconic Japanese skyscrapers, along with several provincial residencies were all excellent places to tell each part of the story.

Overall 

The film was a great addition to the Marvel collection of the X-Men Saga, but it’s also a great film that stands on it’s own. Marvel fans will love the simplicity of the story line as well as the execution. What I love the most about Marvel films is the transcendental inclusion of different languages, cultures and the histories that turns the differences into a similarity. You get a great sense of the Japanese culture in this film and really appreciate how history interplays with the world of Marvel. The only thing left for me to say is: GO SEE IT.

sL Star Rating: 4.5 Stars

Next on sL:  Now You See Me