X-Men: Apocalypse – The What’s A Geek Mega Review
X-Men: Apocalypse hit the theatres a few days back and the whole What’s A Geek team watched the movie countless times! Here’s Gem, Rhenn & Emile’s thoughts on the 9th installment to the X-Men movie franchise, X-Men: Apocalypse. Be aware that there are SPOILERS mentioned by each review given.
GEM (HR Recruiter by day, X-Men geek all the way)
X-Men: Apocalypse is not as awesome as ‘Days of Future Past’, but it’s better than the non-Bryan Singer directed franchise, ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’. It is still worth watching it twice or even thrice if you’re a fan of the X-Men movies. This movie gave a lot of fan-service. From Psylocke’s outfit and her badass portrayal (even if it’s a bit short), to referring Storm as a ‘Goddess’, that homage to the Storm VS Cyclops, also THAT Phoenix effect, the fight scene in the Astral Plane, the X-Mansion exploding (and rebuilding it, just like in the comics) and lastly a proper introduction to the Danger Room having Sentinels on it.
Movie itself though felt short, like there was a movie still shot that was released before the film was released, the sort of cameo of Dazzler. But it was never revealed in the film. It felt like that the editors removed a lot of things that can make things clearer to understand the full story. It’s similar to ‘Days of Future Past’ where they included Rogue (played by Anna Pacquin) in the promotions (Comic Con Panels, Trailers, still shots, etc.) but only to be seen for a couple of seconds (not even half a minute) during the film. Thankfully the production team listened to the reactions of the fans, thus creating the ‘Days of Future Past: The Rogue Cut’ on home video release, where they included Rogue in the film and making the whole story have more sense and clarity. But then again, it’s going to be next-to-impossible to have ‘Jubilee Cut’ or a ‘Mall Cut’ for this one. Since the director, Singer, made it clear that he’s not really a fan of have a Director’s Cut edition for home video releases. But who knows, maybe in the 90’s set-up of the possible next X-Men film, we can get to see Dazzler in person or even Jubilee popping up those fireworks of her.
As a friend pointed out, ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ is like if Bryan Singer got a chance to direct the third X-Men film years back. And I would agree on that. His return to do ‘Days of Future Past’ two years ago is like him really wanting to remove the previous X-Men films, particularly Brett Ratner’s ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ and its spinoff Gavin Hood’s ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine’ (take note, in ‘X-Men: First Class’ Bryan Singer was one of the Executive Producers so he still has involvement). Thus making ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ seem his third film and ending both X-Men Trilogies. Which in my end, I see it as good way to make the X-Men movie universe consistent and have that sense of continuity. From having Professor Xavier doing a voiceover introduction and showing the doors of Cerebro closing in the beginning of the film and as the same concept in the comics where the Mutants are the minorities and the struggles of being accepted in a society that fears what they don’t completely understand, Bryan Singer has kept that theme in all of his X-Men film. Showing it that he the X-Men films, are his babies and he is accountable for it.
To those who haven’t seen the film, because of what they’ve read or heard from movie critics, I’d suggest still watch it. It’s still as cool as any other X-Men films that Bryan Singer made and produced. It is still for the fans of the X-Men cinematic universe.
I’d rate it 8/10. I’ve watched it twice already, and I may still watch it again (if my day job permits me). I’d still going to buy the home video version when it releases and add it to my X-Men movie collection.
