X-Men has been one of the best comic book franchises since the first film hit the big screen back in 2000. Sixteen years on, Bryan Singer is back in the director's chair with X-Men: Apocalypse.
X-Men: Apocalypse
I have a huge X-Men fan and the franchise has been packed with some truly unforgettable moments over the years. We take a look at some of the best... do you have a favourite? POTENTIAL SPOILERS
- Wolverine in the Cage - X-Men
Hard to believe that it was back in 2000 when X-Men hit the big screen for the first time but it was the movie that really helped to make Hugh Jackman a star.
Jackman took on the role of Wolverine and it is a part for while he has become synonymous and truly made his own over the last sixteen years.
In this clip we are introduced to the character of Wolverine as he is showing off his cage fighting skills:
- Magneto Destroys Train - X-Men
I have always loved Ian McKellen in the villainous role of Magneto - a mutant who is convinced that the human race would never be willing to accept those who are different.
In this scene we get a better idea of just how powerful Magneto is as he rips open a train to get to Wolverine and Rogue... it turns out that it is Rogue's power that he is interested in and she will become a major part of a sinister plan:
- Statue of Liberty Battle - X-Men
X-Men climaxes with Rogue strapped in a machine at the top of the Statue of Liberty that has the power to change humans into mutants.
Wolverine, Storm, Jean Grey, and Cyclops are in hot pursuit to try and stop Magneto's plan and save Rogue.
This great movie moment sees Wolverine doing battle with Sabretooth on top of the Statue of Liberty:
- Nightcrawler Tries Assassinate President - X2
X2 is my favourite of all of the X-Men movies and it opens in dramatic style as there is a security breach at the White House.
This scene not only sees the American President almost assassinated by a mutant, but it introduces us to the character of Nightcrawler - played by Alan Cumming - for the first time:
- Wolverine Defends The School - X2
Wolverine returns to Charles Xavier's school at the beginning of the film to find himself on babysitting duty.
But when the school is attacked - in retaliation for the almost assassination of the President - Wolverine is the right man to protect the children.
He goes on a rampage and takes down as many intruders as he can. This is one of my favourite moments in the film and a great way to introduce this popular character:
- Jean Grey Saves X-Men - X2
In X2, Jean Grey's powers are growing and she makes the ultimate sacrifice at the end of the film.
The character, played by Famke Janssen, holds back a wall of water just long enough for the team to get away... before it crashes down around her. It is a brave but heart-wrenching moment and says goodbye to the mutant family that loves her.
This is a key moment as we see Jean return in The Last Stand as the iconic Phoenix from the comic books:
- Magneto Hunts Nazis - First Class
X-Men: First Class was released back in 2011 and took us back to the early years of Charles Xavier and Magneto.
Michael Fassbender took over the role of Magneto for the first time and we see him on the hunt for Nazis - who put him in a concentration camp as a child.
Magneto's experience during World War II had been hinted at briefly in other X-Men films, but is explored further for the first time in First Class:
- Hank McCoy Becomes Beast - First Class
Nicholas Hoult took over the role of Hank McCoy aka Beast - a character that we did see Kelsey Grammer play in X-Men: The Last Stand.
McCoy is a brilliant scientist who is working on a cure for the physically debilitation aspects of his mutation... but it all goes wrong when he tests the 'cure' on himself.
- Charles Xavier Shot - First Class
When we meet Charles Xavier in First Class, he is not the wheelchair-bound character that we all know him to be. Played by James McAvoy, he is a young a vibrant young man who wants to help those who are like him.
But in the final stand against Magneto at the end of the film, Charles is accidentally shot and loses the use of his legs.
Not only is this a dramatic moment in the film, but it continues to show the bond between Charles and Erik - even though they are on different sides:
- Quicksilver - Days of Future Past
Quicksilver was one of the big new character introductions to X-Men: Days of Future Past back in 2014 - played by Evan Peters.
In this scene Quicksilver, Wolverine, and Charles Xavier are trying to get Magneto out of a prison cell beneath the Pentagon... when they are cornered and it seems like there's no way out, we get our first real glimpse of Quicksilver's mutation:
- Charles Xavier Meets Charles Xavier - Days of Future Past
In Days of Future Past, Wolverine is sent back into the past to help change the future. In the past, he finds Charles Xavier who is struggling with his injury and is using a serum that allows him to walk but suppresses his telepathy.
Through Logan, Xavier is able to talk to his future self and is inspired by the words of hope that he has for him. It is the only time in the film that James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart come face to face - a really great moment:
- Final Sentinel Battle - Days of Future Past
Logan is set to the past to stop the Sentinel programme from ever being developed by Bolivar Trask - played by Peter Dinklage.
In the future, the Sentinels are killing mutants and their human allies and the X-Men are fighting a losing battle. The end of the film sees them make their last stand as they try to give Wolverine as much time in the past as they can.
Mutants who have been on different sides throughout the whole X-Men series comes together to battle a common enemy:
Other honourable mentions include, Magneto moving the Golden Gate Bridge (The Last Stand), Magneto Kills Shaw (First Class), Lady Deathstrike (X2), Statue of Liberty Battle (X-Men), Chess Game between Xavier & Magneto (X-Men) and Wolverine Kills Phoenix (The Last Stand).
X-Men: Apocalypse is out now.
Tagged in X-Men