The X-Men are back–well sort of–in the eighties! Marvel’s merry mutants have returned to close out the New Class trilogy in a rather “apocalyptic” way! The film begins with En Sabah Nur (Apocalypse, played by Oscar Isaac), the world’s first mutant, born in Ancient Egypt. His life force is waning and requires a new body to transfer his consciousness into. The process usually leaves him rejuvenated and having acquired the powers of whatever body he has taken over. However, it is also when he is at his most vulnerable. He is betrayed by a few of followers and buried under rubble in hibernation for thousands of years. He awakens to find the world not as he expected, believing “the weak” have taken power through religion, government, laws and systems. He sets out to create a new world by destroying the old one!
The world has grown more tolerant of mutants thanks to Mystique’s (Jennifer Lawrence) efforts in stopping Magneto (Michael Fassbender) years before, but remain hunted in the shadows. Meanwhile, Charles Xavier/Professor X (James McAvoy) has reopened his school and trains young mutants in the use of their powers. Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), an immensely powerful telepath and telekinetic, foresees Apocalypse’s plan for the world, and with information from an old love, Moira McTaggart (Rose Byrne), Professor X confirms it. Apocalypse sets out recruiting four principle followers, his “Four Horsemen,” which include a young Storm (Alexandra Shipp) and a grieving Magneto. It will take the combined efforts of Mystique, Jean Grey, Beast (Nicholas Hoult), new students, Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), and Quicksilver (Evan Peters) to take save the world. The danger is real, the action is riveting, and the heroes are unlikely; but you will enjoy this movie thoroughly!
This film is not the best of the X-Men film of the franchise, but is definitely the best at telling a story. It does an excellent job of explaining Apocalypse’s origins, his many abilities, and the extent of his powers–something the comics has as of yet fully explain. However, there is too much story and too little of a battle. Captain America: Civil War did a great job of handling multiple superheroes on screen as noted in their amazing airport battle scene. This is what we should have seen in this film. When you have powerhouses like Archangel (Lucas Till), Magneto, Storm, Jean Grey, Professor X, and Psylocke (Olivia Munn) on the battlefield you expect a fight scene of cataclysmic proportions. Still, Apocalypse does steal the scene in every appearance. He is easily the most powerful super villain we have seen in any Marvel film. Even if he is a false god, his power, plans, and the moral dilemmas he places each hero and villain in speaks volumes!
You just be sure to catch this latest installment of X-Men on Friday, May 20th in theaters near you.
***There are no post credit scenes for this film.****
