IMDB Review - X-Men Days of Future Past Review (No spoilers)

[DLPB_]

IMDB Review - X-Men Days of Future Past 6/10

Unless you are one of these people still dazzled by fight scenes and graphics, this film will be very average for you. 7/10 is about the most I would expect any sane person to bestow upon this (and IMDb has proved yet again that there are far more stupid people about than intelligent ones).

Firstly, when going into a film based on a comic book, you have to extend your suspension of disbelief. If I came into this review lambasting the far fetched powers, then that would be rather silly. Although X-Men is based in our world, being a comic book, it is afforded some leeway. Even so, I would just like to point out that much of what goes on in the X-Men is scientifically impossible, so I don't rate it as a sci-fi... more a sci-fantasy.

I won't go into a big review with this film, because I don't think it really deserves that much attention. Instead, I will summarize: The Good: 1. The film is mostly well paced (apart from that stupid video game sequence at the start).

2. The acting is good.

3. The visuals are good. One scene in particular, which is in slow motion (you will know what I mean when you see it), is pretty cool and well made.

4. The characters are likable.

The Bad: 1. The X-Men's abilities are far too powerful, especially Magneto's. Not only does it come across as laughable, some of the things they achieve, but more importantly, it breaks the tension. Instead of fearing the worst for our heroes and for their future, we are constantly allowing for an 'anything can happen' scenario. There is one part of the movie where Magneto lifts a giant structure (no spoilers) off the ground like it is a piece of play-doh. That's all well and good, but without a shred of believability (even for X-Men) and without seeing some sort of limit to these powers, there is no dramatic tension. The movie does at least place limits on some of the other characters... for a time.

2. The plot is very basic. When I found out this film had a time travel element, I was interested. Unfortunately, that potential is wasted here, so don't go into this movie expecting some really well written time travel stuff. The way in which the time travel works in this film is not original either (despite some claims), and has been done countless times before- for example in Babylon 5 (my favourite show, and infinitely better written than this). The general plot is way too simplistic. The pacing may be decent, but the story just plods along. No decent twists or parts where you have to engage your brain. It's just auto-pilot storytelling.

3. JFK was killed by Oswald. I am sick and tired of seeing conspiracy garbage portrayed as reality. If you are a logical person, and have done proper research, you will come to the sane conclusion that Oswald did it. The odds on it not being him are astronomical, based on the wealth of evidence that exists. The film does include a twist in this regard, but it's an absolutely absurd twist.

4. Evolution does not work like this film supposes. There are too many writers out there that have no idea how it works, or how science in general works. When dealing with a film like the X-Men, you'd think they would hire proper advisers.

Overall, I was disappointed with the film, but it was still worth the watch, and the day out to the cinema.

 

[LeonhartGR]

Point's taken! I liked the movie though since time distortion stories are my favorite theme... Also watched "The edge of tomorrow". Very nice concept of a story for my preferences.

 

[DLPB_]

I was impressed by some of the acting at least.  Not all, of course... but some.  It was worth the day out

 

[Vgr]

I loved the movie. Of course, there was a huge continuity error (Charles Xavier dies in X-Men The Last Stand, yet he is alive there). There was also the fact that the girl who can cross walls and travel to the past (damn me I forgot her name) seems to be used to doing the latter, yet... she doesn't remember after she does (you'll get what I mean if you saw the movie).

Regarding JFK, remember what Eric tells Charles later on in the movie.

Yeah, this movie had bad points; I was extremely disappointed by the fact Charles Xavier was alive, and by the continuity error with Wolverine/William Striker. It was a good action and fantasy movie and a good movie on its own, but the X-Men movies are full of continuity errors, which is sad. I'd expect better quality from Marvel productions.

 

[LeonhartGR]

Also bad that Wolverine did not play a large role, more of an escort figure to the whole event.

 

[DLPB_]

The continuity didn't bother me, only because I am not an X-Men fan.  If I were a fan... it would have pissed me off.

 

[Scrat]

Well gonna have to throw my thoughts in here. Watch out spoilers for all sorts of movies. Not so many comic spoilers though.

I am a massive fan of the comics and generally until around last year have been disgusted by the films. To follow DLPB's structure these are my reasons:

1) Characters were ridiculously poorly displayed and not true to any comic I've ever read (pre-movie). For example Deadpool "the merc with the mouth" not having a mouth. The stupid amounts of powers he had, etc. Wolverine killing Jean Grey, the whole Jean Grey- Phoenix development. I am yet to see a decently portrayed hulk. Until recently spiderman made no wise cracks. I can go on on this topic.

2) Some of the best comic story lines being fucked. Proper fucked. Before ze Germans get there.
I'll use the original Spiderman series as an example of this. Lets count the mistakes. Peter Parker becomes popular after he becomes Spiderman. His first girlfriend is Mary Jane (wtf i thought, what about Gwen Stacy), The enemies had poorly developed stories (this is not just Spiderman; in my opinion all early marvel films were hastily produced with character development left lacking.) Mary Jane is thrown into Gwen Stacy's story where spiderman has a choice to save a bus full of kids or his love. Now in the comics this is by far my favourite scene ever as he chooses the kids, Gwen dies, he hurts but it further creates Spiderman. It reinforces the idea that with great power comes responsibility and makes a better character out of him. In the movies Mary Jane is in Gwen's shoes. but don't worry Hollywood is here, spiderman saves everyone, yay him. What about pain and responsibility? Who cares. I'm still about as sore about this as I am about the Phantom Menace; I shouldn't care, but I do.

3) They always used to shoot their bolts early and give away plot features too early, or reveal characters too early, etc. I am a complete comic fanboy, I don't particularly care about suspense and good film making (though it helps) I would be happy being read a story, just to see my favourite moments of all time immortalised on the big screen. Saying this I am not against original thinking, as long as the original story is a) respected or b) done justice. For example, in Marc Webb's latest Amazing Spiderman films they made the characters SO right that I didnt particularly care about the plot, (having already abandoned my hopes of seeing a good marvel plot in a film due to early experiences). When Mr Webb then went on to make the story damn near spot on, with twists that made it enough of a difference to feel like a new plot, but really kept the core ethics and key points of the comics... honestly I was blown away.

I'll leave it at that, before I go on I would like to comment that in my opinion X-men 3: the last stand, Wolverine's origins and The Wolverine were so bad that I completely discount them and the events that happened in them. This is also true for all three original Spiderman movies.

In the last few years however things have got better. I must say that I was genuinely impressed with the Avengers, despite having disputes with some of the build up movies. Can't hold it against them anymore, the end characters are what I like and I am looking forward to Avengers 2. (Side note: Still not happy with the hulk, about the only character I am unhappy with, excepting Black Widow's appalling subterfuge skills. Saying that they got the hulk right, still waiting on a decent Banner). X-men 1 and 2 were passable, Iron mans were ok, Thor was cheesy, but that would have been hard to do without cheese to be honest, Captain America was about as good as it could be, haven't seen number 2 yet to my shame. So my faith has been gradually restored.

Moving onto the movies in question. The prequel X-men first class, was ok. Honestly nothing amazing in that one, but there were some nice character build ups and I generally got the feel that they were building up to a) replace the original X-men movies and b) build into a bigger storyline (much like avengers and the individual build ups.) I get the same feeling from days of future past.

DLPB you are right, the storyline wasn't amazing. No twists and turns no real thinking involved. As long as it is a set up I don't mind though. The characters were well acted and very accurate to the comics. I think the time travel thing was kind of an official way to wipe the slate clean and get rid of the events of the original X-men movies, without needing to replace all the actors. I don't mind continuity errors because they generally relate to movies which caused me to repress memories to avoid depression. I think we are being made to think that awesome powers are an everyday thing as a build up for the next stage of the story. So that when the twists and turns start taking place they can really blow our minds in other ways (being optimistic and hopeful). Sci-fantasy is right, I like to think of the marvel universe as less of an accurate display of evolution and physics, and more of a playground in which some of the greatest stories of all time can be portrayed and told. I am looking forward to some moments in the future; which, when I read them, caused a strong emotional response from me. If they nail those I will be a happy man.

LeonhartGR, I think Wolverine acted as an escort so that he could remain the same character no matter what they do next. With all the other characters they now have a choice of setting it in the previous era or the future era with different actors available for both sets. I'm not sure if many people could do Wolverine as well as Hugh Jackman, despite the poor writing he received in Origins and The Wolverine (A movie which claims a Samurai sword is learned by simply applying both hands).

I am bearing in mind that Marvel have all their movies planned until 2021 and I think they are building up to BIG story lines like Secret Invasion, House of M, Planet Hulk, Civil War and World War Hulk (please please please)

As an introduction movie, I think they did the best possible; prepped the characters well for the next step in the journey and left few ties so they can move into other stories and combine with other story lines well. I liked it I give it an 8 out of 10, mainly for further increasing my faith in the Marvel industry and giving me hope for the future. If they carry on the way they are going we are in for some VERY good story lines and movies.

Sorry for the essay