Starring: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult
Director: Bryan Singer
Rating: 5/5
X-Men: Days of Future Past is the summer movie that I have been looking forward to the most, as I am a huge fan of the X-Men franchise.
The early trailers and clips promised an epic adventure, that was bigger and better than ever before... and it certainly did not disappoint.
The movie will follow Wolverine, as he is sent into the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.
I have to say, I went into the cinema more excited than I have for quite some time, and was entertained and thrilled from start to finish.
It is so rare to see a summer blockbuster get almost everything right - it really is set to be one of the best big budget movies of the year.
Bryan Singer was the director who brought us the first X-Men movie back in 2000, and he is the man who has got the franchise back on track with this latest instalment.
He masterfully moves back and forth between the present and the past, giving all the major characters chance to have an impact on the story and shine.
Having said that, the story really belongs to Jackman, McAvoy, Fassbender, Lawrence & Hoult, as they battle in the past to save the future.
And it is the characters, their story, their problems, and their demons that always take centre stage: no matter how great a spectacle the film is, it never casts a shadow over the characters of the actor's performances.
McAvoy & Jackman are particularly good as Charles Xavier - with the help of Wolverine - begins to hope and find his way again. It really does pave the way for the friendship and the trust that these two characters have in the future.
Fans of the original trilogy may be a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more of Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellen, but a lesser role for them was necessary.
Singer must be applauded for keeping so many plates spinning: the film never buckles under the size and the scope of the story that it is trying to sell.
On top of all that, Days of Future Past looks spectacular. The desolate world that we are introduced to at the beginning of the film really looks terrific.
For those who were left unhappy with the ending of The Last Stand, Singer has re-addressed the balance, and now the franchise has wide scope of opportunities going forward.
X-Men: Days of Future Past is the best instalment in the X-Men franchise so far, and I am already looking forward to X-Men: Apocalypse.
If you have the patience, stay until the end of the credits for an extra scene.
X-Men: Days of Future Past is out now.
Tagged in X-Men