An 'X'-cellent Blockbuster

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE
dir. Bryan Singer

   A lot of people forget but when the first "X-Men" film came out in 2000, it reignited the superhero movie genre just when it seemed to be on life-support and since then, this franchise has seen some ups and downs but has still managed to remain fresh and new in the minds of audiences. This latest installment just maybe the best X-Men film since the original. It isn't trying to reorganize or repair the foundation of the series (like with First Class or Days of Futures Past) or spinoff a character into another storyline/franchise (like with the two Wolverine films and the still unconfirmed and undetermined Gambit film). Instead, Bryan Singer reigns in the universe and its characters to make a coherent and entertaining blockbuster. In other words, its a film superhero film about story, not setups, teases or namedrops.
    Taking place after the events of the previous entry, the resurgence of an all powerful mutant who thinks he is god, brings the gang back together with some new recruits. Oscar Isaac's performance as Apocalypse is the best villain performance in a superhero film that I've seen in a long time. He's a villain who isn't trying to back up his actions or overstuff them with long and rambling monologues but instead gives us some chilling, intense and somewhat frightening scenes such as one where he takes Michael Fassbinder's Magneto back to Auschwitz where his powers were born. The less I say about that, the better. Among some of the other scene stealing moments are the performances by the young and new actors playing Cyclops, Jean Grey and Nightcrawler and another movie stealing moment by Evan Peters as Quicksilver which I dare not give away as it is too good and smile-inducing to spoil. The pacing may be a bit slow for some but at least it's consistent and builds unlike the start and stop and start and stop patterns like some other superhero films. Bryan Singer brings some of the same flourish and bam action sequence directing that he brought back to the franchise with "Days of Futures Past" and even brings out some great emotional performances out of both James McAvoy and Michael Fassbinder during the films more dramatic scenes.
     "X-Men: Apocalypse" maintains a balance of being both an individual summer blockbuster and continuing the franchise's canon storyline and it works. Is it better than "Batman V Superman" and "Captain America: Civil War"? In some respects, yes but that is like comparing three books in the same genre. Sure, they're the same genre but they are still three different stories. Still, "Apocalypse" is an amazing and x-cellent summer action-fest that succeeds on every level.

Rating: 4.5/5 Reels