Basically…
When mutant-fighting robots - known as
senetals - threaten to wipe out their species, the X-Men send Wolverine (Hugh
Jackman) back in time to change the course of history. He has to stop the
creator of the senetals from collecting the vital research that will make them
strong enough to rid the world of what they deem to be dangerous creatures.
In other words…
Superheroes take on Skynet.
The main men and leading ladies…
A star studded cast sees Ian McKellen and
Patrick Stewart team up as unlikely friends in the future. Hugh Jackman plays
the never aging Wolverine while back in their younger days James McAvoy and
Michael Fassbender are the younger Professor X and Erik Lehnsherr. Real-life
couple Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult return, while Ellen Page’s role is
small but vital to the storyline.
In the chair…
He’s been hitting
the headlines for the wrong reasons lately, but Bryan Singer is finally making
us talk about him for his films once again. For the first time since 2003’s X2
(X-Men United), the Usual Suspects director returns to the franchise and avoids
what many feared – making Wolverine the central character.
So…?
Haven’t seen any of
the previous X-Men films? Do a quick search on YouTube for a round-up and
you’ll be ready to go within minutes. It’s a fairly easy storyline to follow if
you keep thinking of it along the Terminator premise, and if you manage to
remember who’s who in their elder days and not get the actors round the wrong
way. (Thinking Patrick Stewart is playing an old Michael Fassbender will hurt
your brain). Singer makes sure the door is kept open for those of us who aren't keen on the whole superhero /saving the world movies deal. It’s entertaining
and ambitious without relying on braindead special effects to carry the plot. My
main grievance with action sequels and such like is the plot and characters
have already been established so you’re thrown straight into the action before
the opening credits have even rolled. But despite this, Days of Future Past manages
to strike a balance between mutants battling robots, a storyline with real
substance and characters with real personalities and emotions. Time travel certainly
adds a welcome dimension to a typically standard superhero franchise.
Worth the money?
One of the better superhero movies, so yes.