First Impressions - X-Men Days of Future Past

You can imagine how much I geeked out when I saw this image for the first time. The X-men are some of my favourite superheroes, but I haven't always been super excited for their movies. However, the increasing standard of the films leading up to Days of Future Past (i.e. First Class) and the killer post credit scene in The Wolverine reinvigorated my excitement for this movie. For me, this was the most anticipated movie of the year... and it was awesome. Here are my first impression for X-Men Days of Future Past. 

"Are we destined? Is the future truly set?" 

A Brief Overview 

The future is overrun with Sentinels; they're big, powerful, and near unbeatable machines dead set on killing all mutants and humans alike. Only a few of the X-men remain, and in order to set everything right they have to send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) back in time. Wolverine has to reunite the younger Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), in order to prevent the production of the Sentinels and save the future. The only problem is that Charles and Erik could not be further apart. 

My Thoughts 

The last film that actually worked up my feels was Twelve Years of Slave. That comparison alone should to tell you that I really love this film. Bringing back the old cast really tugged on my nostalgia; seeing them work together in all their glory really reminds you of the first two movies. X-Men was the first good comic book movie, and Days of Future Past definitely gives The Avengers a run for it's money. Not only is it extremely satisfying for die-hard fans, but it also holds its own as a first introduction to the franchise. Here's why I love this film... 

A Timeless Cast 

"Wait, what? They're bringing the old X-men together with the new X-men? THAT SOUNDS FRIGGIN AMAZING!" 

I actually thought they were rebooting the franchise with X-Men First Class, but that isn't the case. This film brings both timelines together for some big feels. Getting to see Sir Ian Mckellen playing Magneto, and Patrick Stewart delivering his words of wisdom was a good throwback. The additions of new mutants like Bishop, Blink, and Quicksilver only add to the greatness of the movie. Comic book fans will know their name, backstory, powers, underlying awesomeness, and us casual movie goers will like their style (silver hair WUT). It's just good fan service all around. 

Even with such a big cast, the movie did not feel crowded at all. Director Brian Singer, who also directed the first two movies, did not hesitate to chop up this film. Fun fact: Anna Paquin was supposed to have a big scene in this film, but that got cut because it didn't serve much of purpose (which explains why she's in the credits even though we see five seconds of her). The characters were on screen only when they were needed.

Awesome Powers and Killer Exhibitions 

This is an X-Men film. We want to see mutants using their powers being badass, and that’s exactly what we get. It’s good action, and you know I love good action. You get to see the real power of the mutants. I mean, Magneto (Fassbender) lifts a friggin’ baseball stadium! That’s not a spoiler cos it’s in the trailers. However, the one that really steals the show is Quicksilver. Who knew super speed could be so awesome (silver hair WUT). I’ve got to hand it to Brian Singer and writer Simon Kinberg, because the way the story played out allowed each character to really showcase how awesome they were.

Rest assured, the glory is not all in the action. On the contrary it’s actually in the more dramatic and emotional sequences. James McAvoy shows us the Professor X that has hit rock bottom. He’s lost everything he’s ever loved, and he’s struggling to regain hope in the world. I really love it when an actor is able to make me feel the sense of overcoming an obstacle. In terms of best performance, McAvoy is definitely my top pick. 

Easter Eggs Galore 

This movie is chock full of Easter eggs that the fans will enjoy. I’m proud to say that I spotted pretty much all of them. This film had to pull out all the stops if it was going to bring back the fans Fox had lost from The Last Stand and X-Men Origins Wolverine. How do you do that? Make a great film with lots of Easter eggs. That’s really what this movie is; a great film. It’s got all the right ingredients in the right amounts. I wasn’t taken out of the film for one second. The X-Men truly are the best group of superheroes, and I’m glad this film did them justice. 

My Score: 5/5 Stars 

10/10 would see it again, and again, and again. With all the potential for being a disaster, Brian Singer turns out a masterpiece. He brings out the best in each actor so that they can bring out the best in each character. I love this film. Have I convinced you go to see it? Are you tired of hearing how great this movie is? Have you seen it and agree with my thoughts? What was your favourite part of the film? Let me know in the comments!