Review: ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’

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Bryan Singer returns to direct X-Men: Apocalypse, the third film in the young X-Men storyline and the 6th film in the franchise (Singer directing 4 of them). Looking to capitalize on the success of 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, Apocalypse looks to take a giant leap forward by bringing in younger versions of fan favorite characters as well as pit the X-Men against their biggest foe yet, the first and most powerful mutant, En Sabah Nur, also known as “Apocalypse”. Can Singer keep the momentum or will their latest installment fall to the enormous pressure of the new Marvel cinematic world.

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Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) has awoken after a thousand years to find the world he once knew has changed. Disgusted by what he sees, Apocalypse assembles his four horsemen, Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Angel (Ben Hardy), Psylocke (Olivia Munn) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to help him with this task of destroying humanity to right the wrongs of the new world and bring forth a better one. Meanwhile, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) continues to rebuild the image of the mutant community after the events of Days of Future Past.  His School for the Gifted is now thriving with young mutants all looking for help to harness their powers and become accepted into society. Along with colleague Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult), Xavier hopes the school will act as haven for the oppressed with hopes that one day humans and mutants alike can attend the school in harmony.

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Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) has returned to enlist the help of her former allies after news that Magneto had resurfaced. Xavier, in hopes to locate Magneto, encounters the power of Apocalypse first hand and realizes that this foe will take more to battle than anything they’ve faced before. Four young mutants, Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), Quicksilver (Evan Peters), Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and Scott Summers (Ty Sheridan) join the fight as the X-Men prepare for a battle that will decide the fate of the world. Will this young team be enough to stop the powerful force that is upon them?

 

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X-Men: Apocalypse doesn’t steer much away from the X-Men formula of late, and that’s both to its advantage and its downfall. Each of the last two films focused heavily on the redemption of Mystique and Magneto and, where it worked magnificently in Days of Future Past, it tends to feel like a rehash in this film. The continuing evolution of the X-Men characters has been exciting as they add new blood like Scott Summers and Jean Grey, X-Men royalty to comic book fans, into the mix. Both Ty Sheridan and Sophia Turner were cast perfectly and I am excited to see where their cinematic storyline flourishes. Kodi Smit-McPhee was also just as wonderful as Nightcrawler, a character brought to life so perfectly by Alan Cummings in X2: X-Men United. Oliva Munn, Ben Hardy and Alexandra Shipp look to have a bright future in this every growing universe, I just wish they were given more time to flush out their characters on screen in this one. Oscar Isaac is the essential piece to this film as the antagonist Apocalypse. Isaac embodies the elegance of the character while revealing his true sinister nature when needed making him the best villain to date in the X-Men franchise.

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The returning cast is there to provide the necessary steps forward for the newcomers. I’m amazed at how well James McAvoy is settling in as Charles Xavier. With each film I have the continued belief that he is the perfect cornerstone to build this franchise on. Michael Fassbender’s emotionally charged Magneto nicely shapes the character as the constant anti-hero. You can’t help but want him to find that peace that will help him channel the rage that consumes him. Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult and Evan Peters all provide essential parts to the present and future success of this franchise. Lawrence has the most questionable character re-imagining, but I am very intrigued to see it to it’s conclusion.

Overall, X-Men: Apocalypse isn’t the high water mark we were all hoping it would be, but it’s far from X-Men: Last Stand. In a summer of Civil Wars and Dawns of Justice, this film will find an audience somewhere in the middle of those films. A fun summer popcorn movie, and sometimes that’s all you need.

Stars:

3 out of 5

After Credit Scene?

Yes

Trailer:

20th Century Fox Has Unleashed a Brand New ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ Trailer!

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20th Century Fox has unleashed a brand new X-Men: Apocalypse trailer and we have it for you below!

Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-Men: Apocalypse. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

The movie also stars Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Helman, Lana Condor, and Ben Hardy.

X-Men: Apocalypse arrives in theaters May 27, 2016!

First Trailer for the Upcoming ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’ is Released

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20th Century Fox has released the trailer for the upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse and we have it for you below!

Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-Men: Apocalypse. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

The film also stars Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn, Lucas Till, Evan Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp, Josh Helman, Lana Condor and Ben Hardy

X-Men: Apocalypse hits theaters May 27, 2016

Michael’s Review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

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Visionary director George Miller returns to the franchise that launched his career 36 years ago, with a fourth installment, Mad Max: Fury Road, a film seen as a renaissance of the franchise and quite possibly one of the best action films of the century. The first film in the franchise not to star Mel Gibson as the titular character, actor Tom Hardy takes over as Max Rockatansky, a survivor in the apocalyptic wasteland searching for his place in the abyss. This action packed adventure is a throat punch to your senses and one hell of a wild ride.

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His name is Max (Tom Hardy) and his world fire and blood. Life in this world is reduced to a single instinct: survive, but survival is not an easy task.  Max is a loner running from the ghosts of his past, memories that haunt his every move. Being a loner makes you more susceptible in this world, predators across every dune, looking for any opportunity to kill you and take what’s yours. The perfect introduction, or re-introduction for some, into the world of the mad.

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We begin with Max being captured by the War Boys, the army of tyrannical cult leader King Immortan Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne). Taken to a mountainside fortress called the Citadel, Max is imprisoned and used as a blood donor for a sick War Boy named Nux (Nicholas Hoult). We see into the chaotic nature of the Citadel, where War boys control and harvest the resources for Joe while hordes of desperate survivors beg for even a single drop of water. In need of replenishment of their gasoline supply, Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) drives her heavily-armored War Rig to collect more from Gastown, but instead veers off course and makes a run for it. Joe quickly realizes that his five wives are gone and scrambles his entire War Boy army in pursuit of Furiosa, as well as calling on the aid of nearby Gas Town and the Bullet Farm to assist in the pursuit.

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Nux joins the army and straps Max to the hood of his car, to continue supplying blood. A battle ensues between the Rig and Joe’s forces which leads to a chance for Max to make his escape. Max encounters Furiosa and the wives and reluctantly agrees to let them accompany him. Furiosa informs Max of her plan to make a run for the “Green Place”, a location she remembers from her youth, as a safe place for the wives. As the group begins their journey into the unknown, Nux continues his pursuit of the traitor Furiosa to bring Joe’s prized wives back to him and receive the rewards. With Joe’s army quickly closing in, Max and Furiosa must face the battle of their lives which will test not only their physical state, but their mental one as well.

CHARLIZE THERON as Furiosa in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ action adventure “MAD MAX: FURY ROAD,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Jasin Boland

CHARLIZE THERON as Furiosa in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Village Roadshow Pictures’ action adventure “MAD MAX: FURY ROAD,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Photo by Jasin Boland

From start to finish, Mad Max: Fury Road is non stop action. George Miller attention to detail in his vision of this apocalyptic world is captivating. Miller’s film, essentially, plays as one big chase scene, with a few detours here and there, but the real genius in this film is the use of real-time stunt work in place of CGI. The action choreography in Mad Max: Fury Road coupled with the astounding camerawork is mind-blowing. The sheer spectacle that is the stunt work and destruction of these vehicles is worth the price of the ticket alone.

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The world is riddled with interesting characters using futuristic dialogue which add to the insanity of the landscape. Tom Hardy is compelling as Max. His take on the character plays nicely in concert with Gibson’s version with a few added quirks that remind us that Max is still a man underneath despite his damaged psyche. Charlize Theron is astounding as Furiosa and one of the strongest female characters we’ve seen in a long time. Whether driving with a furious determination or contemplating her life thru all her struggles, Theron commands the attention of the audience in every scene and excels in her ability to make us feel for her character at every turn. The remaining cast, including the wonderful Nicholas Hoult, add to the character rich landscape of this film beautifully, each adding their signature to an already exquisitely acted film.

Overall, Mad Max: Fury Road is a amazing feat of action film making. George Miller has created yet another masterpiece in his apocalyptic franchise, one that I can safely say, honors the previous films with intense care. Do not miss this film.

Stars:

4 1/2 out of 5

After Credit Scene?

None

Trailer: