In the year 2023 a new threat exists to wipe out the entire mutant population. All of the horror that currently rains down on those mutants comes as a result of something that occurred fifty years prior. Now Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Erik Lehnsherr (Ian McKellen), and others devise a plan to go back in time, to the 1970’s, and rectify the issues of their past. X-Men: Days of Future Past sees the X-Men of the past and the present come together for the good of man and mutant kind in a tale of epic proportions.
X-Men: Days of Future Past exists in a weird place in the grand scheme of the X-Men series. Some claim that it takes place immediately after X-Men: First Class, and others claim that it takes place after The Wolverine. I subscribe to the idea that it takes place after the latter–and our heroes travel back in time. With that being said, the struggles of the franchise up to this point–continuity errors that is–don’t plague this film like the others. Having been released after six other X-Men films, ones that tamper with the overarching timeline to a degree, X-Men: Days of Future Past appears to adhere to what has already been established. This is a breath of fresh air after having watched so many other mutant-related films that can’t seem to get a grasp on their own reality. Simply in the sense of continuity and continuing to develop a universe, writers Simon Kinberg, Jane Goldman, and Matthew Vaughn do a perfect job.
I’m conflicted with my overall take on the film–there are ups and downs and I’m not entirely sure which outweighs the other. The William Stryker (Josh Helman) and Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage) storylines have run their course, and I’ve honestly grown tired of hearing their names and seeing what they have to contribute to the franchise. I find myself struggling to appreciate any storyline that includes either one of them. To be clear, both Helman and Dinklage are incredibly talented actors, and they do a wonderful job of filling the shoes of their respective antagonists, but having these characters present in the film was both underwhelming and frustrating.
I truly enjoy X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men: Dark Phoenix, and this certainly isn’t a shot at them, but X-Men: Days of Future Past feels like the better way to end the prequel series. Things are neatly wrapped up, major plotlines remain intact, and the thrill of seeing old and new faces working side by side is a nearly perfect end to this part of the franchise. This is simply me stating that X-Men: Days of Future Past is developed so brilliantly as a piece of the very large puzzle–and while there are aspects of the narrative that fail to entertain, the fashion in which things are wrapped up is brilliant.
The main narrative of X-Men: Days of Future Past is sandwiched between two pieces far more powerful and more entertaining than the rest. In the present (2023) the action sequences, emotion, and relevance of the film is unparalleled by the middle section and the part that takes place in the 1970’s. The film feels more alive in those moments, and the threats to the mutant species feels more real and visceral. I was captivated by these moments and by the interactions between a number of returning fan favorite mutants; this is the meat and potatoes of the film, and this is where it thrives.
Again, there are pros and cons present throughout each and every aspect of X-Men: Days of Future Past, but it feels that the film is ultimately successful in its attempt to merge the past and the present of the X-Men franchise. This film sees a massive number of talented individuals reprise their roles, and the emotion present throughout certain parts of the superhero film is incredible. X-Men: Days of Future Past is a wonderful film, and it serves its purpose in the grand scheme of an ever-changing X-Men universe.
Directed by Bryan Singer.
Written by Simon Kinberg, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn, Jack Kirby, & Stan Lee.
Starring Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Helle Berry, Nicholas Hoult, Anna Paquin, Elliot Page (as Ellen Page), Peter Dinklage, Shawn Ashmore, Omar Sy, Evan Peters, Josh Helman, Daniel Cudmore, Bingbing Fan, Adan Canto, BooBoo Stewart, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
Comments