An X-citing X-ample of a sequel that X-ceeds
X-pectations.

When X-Men: First Class was released two years ago, it was seen by many as a thrilling reboot to the tired X-Men franchise. Days of Future Past now combines both generations of X-Men into one X-citing sequel as the world’s most talented mutants band together to avoid X-tinction.

Days of Future Past is X-tremely dazzling and clever, full of quick-paced twists and turns as well as emotional moments that are perfectly X-ecuted. The scenes with newcomer Quicksilver are by far the most thrilling and hilarious in the film, and that’s no X-aggeration. 

The cast is also X-ceptional, and there’s plenty of fun cameos to boot. Where else would you get a cast like Jennifer Lawrence, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Ellen Page, Halle Berry, and Peter Dinklage all assembled together in the same movie?

Days of Future Past has some minor flaws, but whatever problems the film has are mostly X-cusable. It could have had more fun with its 1970’s-set time period, and there’s a lot going on with the multiple characters/plot lines/time travel that only X-acerbates the confusion. The movie sure is X-citing, but the story all feels a little inconsequential by the time things wrap up and viewers X-it the theater.

+ Top-notch cast
+ Thrilling use of both generations of X-Men characters through time travel
+ Fast, quick-paced
+ Quicksilver steals the show
+ Never a dull moment
+ Action-packed while also emotionally resonant

– A little bit too much going on simultaneously
– Those unfamiliar with X-Men lore may be lost at certain moments
– The ending makes all the came before it feel almost unneccessary

X-Men: Days of Future Past is a thrilling, fast-paced adventure through time with everyone’s favorite group of mutants. It has some X-cusable flaws, and X-hibits some confusing storytelling, but it’s refreshing to see a superhero film focused on more than just X-plosions and villains trying to “take over the world.” With its X-ceptional cast of characters, Days of Future Past is a fun, heartfelt, and intense ride.
Oh, and sorry for all the X-puns.

X-Men: Days of Future Past is rated PG-13 for “intense sci-fi action and violence, nudity, and language.” Plenty of characters are mercilessly killed throughout the film; and in one scene,Hugh Jackman’s character gets out of bed to reveal his bare backside. 

© Matt Tory, 2014.