X-Men: Days Of Futures Past

Etrane Martinez- The Comic's Corner 

How close is "X-men: Days of Future Past" to the original source material? Well, not very. Does it matter that this movie didn't recreate the much beloved 1981 story line from the comic book of the same name by Chris Claremont and John Byrne? A story some refer to as the greatest X-men story ever told? Not one damn bit!

Director Bryan Singer returns to the film franchise that helped cement his place in the film industry and does so with such ferocity that one can only hope he never leaves again. Not only does this new installation of the X-men film universe bring us back Singer, but many fan favorites from all previous X-men movies (including X-men: First Class and an element or two from the Wolverine movies) to create an action packed plot that delivers a story worthy of two time lines, killer giant robots, a half naked Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique,) and the truth behind the JFK assassination. 


The movie calls in the heavy hitters of the X franchise including Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), James McAvoy (young Charles Xavier), Michael Fassbender (young Magneto), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Patrick Stewart (older Chalres Xavier), and Ian McKellen (older Magneto) as well as many other very familiar faces. Some of which we have not seen in a very long time. There were plenty of new faces as well, but there were two performances that really stood out. Bolivar Trask, played by Peter Dinklage, was the X-villian I was hoping for. A scientist whose unveiled hatred for the "homo-superior" becomes the fuel for his cold and calculating plans for a mutant free future. 

---

Though, it was Peter Evans as Peter Maximoff who steals every scene that he is in, which unfortunately is only a few. One scene in particular does an incredible job of bringing us into a small glimpse of what it's like to be able run circles around a speeding bullet, (suck on that Supes). Hopefully we will get more of the soon to be fan favorite in future X movies. It will be interesting to see how [Josh] Whedon's own version of the impossibly fast Quicksilver will measure up in next year's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" which has no connection at al tol the X-men movie franchise. 

The story written by Simon Kinberg, Matthew Vaughn, and Jane Goldman begins in 2023 as the X-men make their last stand against the adaptive Sentinel robots who hunt mutant and human alike. Systematicly placing them in concentration camps where their only escape is meeting a mortal end. With the threat of human extinction on the horizon Xavier and Magneto decide that everything that has happened was triggered by one specific event from their past. So they find a way to send Wolverine back to 1973 to bring their estranged younger selves together again in order to stop this event from ever happening in hopes of changing the future. 

---

The writers clearly took great care in mapping out a story-line that takes place in two different points in time. The plot is beautifully executed without the usual confusion and plot holes of many time travel based films. The movie is also stuffed with so many verbal and visual references that it's an Easter Egg hunter's wet dream. 

Days of Future Past does does such an impressive job of delivering a truly entertaining adventure that it stands out as a Summer movie must see. After seeing it this past weekend it is easy to see why 20th Century Fox green lit the next X movie before this latest installment even hit the theaters. "X-men: Apocalypse" is slated to open in 2016 but as of now only the cast from "X-men: First Class" will appear in it. Thankfully, Bryan Singer will return to direct once again as well. I look forward to seeing Singer's take on the X-men's deadliest villian. The first mutant, Apocalypse who has been kicking it mad evil style since 3000 BC. The story is still under wraps at this time but the end credit scene hints at a plot with a much more epic frame of mind.

X-men: Days of Future Past is a complete success on every level. Though it strays far from the source material it was just as satisfying and captures the same sense of adventure and excitement as the original comic books. I look forward to seeing it again on the big screen very soon.

---

---

More WBOB Reads

• WTF is a Zomba? Besides Awesome!
  
• POLL: Where is RI's Best Burger?
  
• War Movies: Flashy Freddy's Fabulous Friday Five