THE X-MEN return to face their greatest threat in “X-Men: Apocalypse.”
And the greatest asset in this the ninth film in the franchise is the original X-Men director Bryan Singer whose vision of the merry Marvel mutants in 2000 spawned this billion dollar franchise with no stopping.
Where Singer’s “X-Men: First Class” was set in the truly hip 1960’s and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” took movie goers into the groovy 1970’s, “X-Men: Apocalypse” is set in the “Me Generation” 1980’s and introduces all new and substantially younger actors to their respective roles of Cyclops, Jean Grey and Nightcrawler with the now bald-headed James McAvoy returning as Professor Charles Xavier and Jennifer Lawrence as the shape-shifting Raven.
And the villain this time is himself the creature known only as Apocalypse.
Sophie Turner (Jean Grey), Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler and Tye Sheridan as Cyclops
Born in ancient Egypt, Singer’s Apocalypse (Oscar Issac from “Star Wars: The Force Returns”) is nothing less than the very first mutant who along with his Four Horsemen, ruled with absolute terror. Worshipped as a living God, Apocalypse has the ability to harness the powers of many other mutants, hence becoming immortal and indestructible.
Fast forward to the 1980’s where after a long self-induced slumber, Apocalypse is let loose onto the world and gathers to himself a set of new Horsemen, Magneto (Michael Fassbender who again returns as the powerful master of magnetism) Oliva Munn as Psylocke, Ben Hardy as the winged mutant Angel and newcomer Alexandra Shipp as Storm.
Magneto’s passionate fight against mankind was the central focus of “Days of Future Past” and is still no less a friend to you or I as his family are murdered in front of him which pushes him over the edge to becoming a more than willing recruit to cleanse mankind for a new world order of mutant supremacy.
Coming to the rescue is Raven as she pretty much pushes Xavier into action to create this new group of X-Men, with herself as the driving force to stave off complete destruction.
So, how does the latest edition of X-Men stack up against their previous incarnation?
Actually, not that bad.
You need a scorecard to keep track of all of the new faces such as fan favorite Jubilee and the Blob (yes, the Blob) but it is the titular performance of Issac as the God-like Apocalypse rather than Fassbender’s Magneto who steals the show and along with Munn’s psychic-wielding sword which more than manhandles the X-Men.
In truth, the only negative to “X-Men: Apocalypse” is all of the drivel dialogue that the cast have to spew out.
Enough already, I want to see ray beams and lighting being hurled at one another.
And when it does come, the battle set scenes are exceptionally well choreographed.
Rose Byrne as Moira Mactaggert, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique and Nicholas Hoult as Beast in a scene from “X-Men: Apocalypse”
But the real star of this movie is the fleet footed Evan Peters as Quicksilver who is revealed as Magneto’s long-lost son. His quips are perfectly timed as is his super speed run through the collapsing Xavier School of Gifted Youngers when Apocalypse shows up to tear more than roof off the school’s foundation. Its great fun and Quicksilver’s high speed antics really give a new dimension to the X-Men’s capabilities when the final battle commences.
Although not a Marvel Studios movie, “X-Men: Apocalypse” is one of Singer’s best outings and the best battle of the mutant team to date.
Now with the 1980’s completed, fans are clamoring to see Singer’s next rumored outing of the X-Men in the 1990’s and the transformation of Jean Grey into the super powerful Phoenix.
“X-Men: Apocalypse” is a great summer superhero film with terrific action for the teenage scenes and more than enough dialogue and philosophy to keep senior citizens glued to their chairs.
Questions, comments or travel suggestions, write me at [email protected].
