X-Men: Apocolyse film review
X-Men: Apocalypse. This is now the third instalment of the ‘timeline 2’, from the X-Men franchise. Third in chronological order, and sadly third in quality (at time of release, fourth best now). This film misses the mark on so many occasions throughout. However, despite this I did get some decent entertainment value, and enjoyment from this picture in the end.
Wild? Predictable? Amorphous? At times ridiculous? That would be a swift yes to them all. But, if you stuck with this picture you’d find out that despite all of these flaws, this film was actually a load of fun at times. Thankfully, this film for the most part even shed the usual blatantly obvious social politics, and prior instalments awkward Cold War play-outs for something even weirder and bolder.
This film seems to be actively engaged, with the concept of its characters’ constant recapitulation of emotional past events. This shown no better than the final moments, the act of literally rebuilding the school on the same ground, and in the same place the original stood. Dredging up from the depths, the raw material of past trauma, used in order to transform it into new structures.
This pictures mayhem didn’t even peak with moments such as Magneto stripping all metal, and laying waste to an empty Auschwitz, nor with a worldwide nuclear laugh shown through the reflection of Stan Lee’s sunglasses. I think it is more than fair to say, these movies will never get back to the simplicity, effectiveness, and grace, of the originals. In accordance to this, Apocalypse is a total mess, but at times wow, what a marvellous mess.
Back in 2003, when X2 was released and opened with a scene of Nightcrawler breaking into the White House, it was a watershed moment in the history of combos book films. He was one of marvels most ludicrously peculiar characters — blue skinned, three fingered, German demon with a pointy, weaponised tail. Oh, with teleportation powers — brought to live with an outlandish person. This sequence, was something never properly seen before and captured all viewers immediately.
It’s a telling of the state of X-Men films in 2016, that when Nightcrawler — a thrilling and compassionate character- returns, he is treated completely as a background character. Who’s only purpose and individual plot is simple to move the X-Men from A to B.
But, what’s crucially missing at this point is that ever present sense is awe, and wonder from the original films. For all the high budget fight scenes, and explosions, they’re things we’ve all seen before.
Despite all of these factors, building together to gradually deteriorate X-Men: Apocalypse, there were a few positives to take note of. The new, younger versions of Jean, and Cyclops both seeming s to show more personality in this one film that most other characters have in three together.
James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender. Both continue yet again, to undoubtedly display their best in their respected roles. With Fassbender, naturally bringing into this film the heavy baggage and trauma that seems to follow him round like a shadow. Each of the three ‘timeline B’ films, shows Magneto’s constant battle between his own demons and the humans that created them. Fassbender’s performances, make it clear to plan out the path of destruction that goes into creating the Magneto we all know.
This film really does miss the mark, but visually and thanks to a couple of the characters was a lot of fun to watch. X-Men: Dark Phoenix is tomorrow’s instalment, and here’s to hoping it’s an improvement.
2* 4/10
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