I would like to start this review with a little background knowledge of myself. I am a fan of
X1 &
2, wasn't fussed with
X3 or
Origins and found
First Class and
The Wolverine to be a breath of fresh air into a stale franchise.
I can't say I was super hyped too see this film up until a couple of days before it's release, I don't know why as the trailers looked and sounded awesome. I absolutely love
Adagio in D Minor, it is one of my favorite pieces of music used in film. Anyway, back on topic, here are my thoughts on the film.
The film is mostly set in 1973 at a time where the future of mutantkind will be decided. Wolverine is sent back in time to prevent the the grim, dystopian future where mutantkind is on the brink of extinction. But in order for him to succeed, he must enlist the help of a young Charles Xavier who is at his lowest point. Wolverine must do what Xavier did for him, give him purpose and above all, hope.
The film's plot is very tidy which balances action, drama and heart flawlessly. The set pieces, especially those in the future, are breathtaking which really helps the viewer submerge themselves in their world.
The action is easily the best in any X-Men film to date. What makes it so good, much like
The Avengers, is that it is team orientated and that there is real emotion behind it. My personal favorites would have to be any piece involving Blink.
The film is able to capture the desperation of the future mutants and make it felt throughout the entire film. Whether it's with brilliantly edited cut scenes to the future or with Hugh Jackman's blunt dialogue and sense of urgency, you never once forget what is at stake and the gravity of the slightest slip up.
The drama and heart are the film's strongest assets. Themes such as responsibility, love, forgiveness and hope are explored in young Xavier's adversity, which shapes the film and creates some of the franchise's most memorable scenes.
There is not a single weak link in the cast. Everyone brought their "A" game with McAvoy, Stewart and Jackman leading by example. However, Lawrence is yet to surpass Romijn's Mystique in my opinion. Even Evan Peters as Quicksilver surprised me (he still looks a little lame, though).
The only negative thing I have to say about this film is that it falls victim to the predictable end of having to stop Magneto. And even saying that isn't much of a complaint.
Whether you're an X-Men fan or not, this film is a must see. It truly delivers and evokes a broad range of emotions. It extends and fleshes out previous films and even makes one or two completely inconseqential which isn't a bad thing. Be sure to stay until the very end to see a sneak peek into X-Men: Apocalypse.
How I rated the other CBMs this year:
Captain America: The Winter Soldier 5/5
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 3.5-4/5