Movie Review: “X-Men: Days of Future Past”

INTRODUCTION: I can’t really talk about any X-Men movie without giving some of my backstory – and thus reference point. In the last ’80s my best buddy Alicia said I would really love comics as they had cool women in them. Really I asked. She proved she was right by giving me 10 years of the Uncanny X-Men to read in one summer. Her younger brother collected them. So I read the birth and development of the X-Men from the pen of the mighty Chris Claremont. The X-Men under Claremont became my homebase for comics and the Marvel universe. To this day I have undying loyalty the X-Men, Claremont, and Alicia and her baby bro.

During that summer reading fest I did indeed read the original Days of Future Past story so I was excited to see it on the big screen. If I have any complaints it is that some of the particulars were changed. See the video below X-Men: Days of Future Past Explained – Comics History 101.

I still liked it a lot. And of course I want more. 🙂

ALSO. I am not a huge Bryan Singer fan as he seems to have problems with women: Bryan Singer Still Thinks Superman Returns Failed Because He Tried to Make it for Women; and may be a sexual predator: Lawsuit Accuses X-Men Director Bryan Singer of Sexual Misconduct With Underage Boy. Crap. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap. This disappoints me and I am taking a step back from being a fan. Even if the lawsuit is not true, the first nonsense just shows he really doesn’t know what is what here. No wonder he had a hard time with Kitty Pryde being the lead in the story. *sigh* Hey Bryan, you can do better.

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OVERALL: It’s the X-Men! Revisiting a famous X-Men plot line in the movie universe was enjoyable and well execute.

POINTS: I loved watching the different time and landscapes in this movie. I loved how they worked together. The opening was a real thrill with a plot twist as well. So were the Sentinels.

PITFALLS: There were times I felt the beats in the scenes were just a tad too slow. I also got the feeling that the director loved working with his main male leads and didn’t apply the same love to the other characters.

FEMALE CHARACTER(S): There are a lot of female characters in the X-Men. They seemed to take a big back seat in this movie but at least they were there. Of note with the most screen time is Mystique played the awesome Jennifer Lawrence. I enjoyed her character arc and of course Lawrence’s performance.

CULTURAL PITFALL(S): Hmmm… This is going to be a bit tricky. See what I LOVE about the X-Men is that “mutant” is a term that can be replaced with race, gender, or sexual preference. The X-Men are about studying our own societal bigotry. Therefore it was a bit disappointing that we saw so many white men. Then again, it did take place in the ’60s so it is also not surprising. I guess my internal jury is still out on this one.

HIGH POINT(S):

1.) James McAvoy. He took names and stole several scenes with his portrayal of the younger Charles Xavier. There were times I thought “Oh just give that man the Oscar now.” Fantastic acting Mr. MacAvoy! Go you!

2.) Peter Dinklage. I think he makes everything a bit better. He was a believable and sympathetic villain. I enjoyed watching him.

3.) Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde! Squee! She was perfect! Now to see her play that role again and with a bigger part.

* [SPOILER ALERT] *

4.) Wolverine In the New Future. Hugh Jackman played this perfectly. His shock, joy, confusion, his brief conversation with Scott Summers, all perfectly delivered. Well done!!! I smiled the whole time.

*END [SPOILER ALERT] *

BECHDEL TEST (Website): 1 of 3. Shame, shame, shame. This should not have happened.

RACIAL BECHDEL TEST (Website): 1 of 3. Yes we had more than one PoC but they never conversed and weren’t in the bulk of the movie.

IMDB: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

OFFICIAL MOVIE WEBSITE: X-Men: Days of Future Past

DVD/BLU-RAY WORTHY: Yes.

LION PAW PRINTS: 3 of 5.