Film review: X-Men: Days of Future Past (9 out of 10)

We are definitely in the age of the movie franchises. There are lots of them and some even cross over.

The latest in the X-Men series has hit the big screen and for me is the best of this particular franchise and a darn good movie in its own right.

However, if you follow both X-Men and The Avengers you’re in for some confusion.

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Days of Future Past has the character Quicksilver (played by Evan Peters) and he will turn up again in the next Avengers film, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, but no mention will be made of the X-Men.

It’s confusing but that’s what happens when rival production companies (Marvel and Fox) face up to each other.

Days of Future Past has been taken from a particularly strong X-Men comic storyline, but director Bryan Singer (already with two X-Men films under his belt) and his team have adapted it very well for the big screen.

The plot starts in a near future with only a handful of mutants left after a backlash against them by governments, backed up by giant all-powerful robots called Sentinels.

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Wolverine (Hugh Jackman in his seventh appearance in this role) is sent back to 1972 to prevent an assassination that sparked off the clampdown on mutants.

However, back then his mentor, Professor Xavier was a mental wreck.

Wolverine has to get Professor X and his foe Magneto (but friend in the future) back together in order to achieve his goal.

Actually it’s far easier to watch the film than explain it!

The plot fairly rattles along for the whole 131 minutes with some good action scenes and a particularly smart bit of footage involving Quicksilver.

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Singer captures the feel of the 70s very well with muted colours looking like old film footage.

With the likes of Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Halle Berry you’d expect some good acting and we’re not disappointed.

There’s also a meaty role for Peter Dinklage (from TV’s Games of Thrones) which shows what an excellent actor he is.

Of course, the bottom line, though, is that this is just total fantasy, but it’s to everyone’s credit that you do feel for the characters.

Film details: X-Men: Days of Future Past (12A) 131mins

Director: Bryan Singer

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley

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