X-Men: Days of Future Past Review

After six films, the continuity of the X-Men franchise was undeniably and utterly convoluted. Even big fans of the series such as myself would admit that. Luckily, we have Bryan Singer to clean up the mess left behind. Days of Future Past not only represents a sort of reloading process for the franchise, it also stands as a picture of just how good comic book movies in general can be when the right amount of attention to detail and care are put into them. This was a beautiful film.

As I previously mentioned, Bryan Singer, director of the first two X-Men movies, returns to direct this sequel after four other installments. After a slumping period, the franchise regained its momentum with the excellent prequel First Class and then Logan's solid solo film The Wolverine. Even though the quality of the products was back up to standard after the disappointing The Last Stand and Origins: Wolverine, the universe was still suffering from the blows it received sans Bryan Singer; the plot of Brett Ratner's The Last Stand, more specifically, left the series cluttered. Days of Future Past ties up any loose ends and puts the franchise back together deftly and satisfyingly.

This really was the ultimate X-Men ensemble, as it joined together the cast from the original trilogy with the one from First Class. The results are as entertaining and enjoyable as one would imagine such an assemblage would be. All the characters are still the ones we know and adore. At the same time, however, the younger cast allows exploration of who these beloved characters were before they were who they are now. It's really rather fascinating, and totally compelling to see them transform before our eyes into the people we've come to know them as.

One thing I thought Singer's previous efforts in this franchise were lacking was good action. There were many moments of excitement, yes, but the action itself always felt a bit stiff and graceless to me. Any trouble with filming action sequences have been dealt with by Singer at this point. The action scenes in Days of Future Past were well-shot and very exciting. I think it's safe for me to say I thought this was the most exciting and suspenseful X-Men film to date.

This wasn't only because of the action, however. For the X-Men franchise the stakes have never been higher. If Logan fails to go back in time and complete his mission, the world will quite literally end. The film sets up the plot as a type of "all or nothing" situation. My heart was actually pounding towards the climax of the movie. I was really that invested in the characters and the story. Is that simply a product of being a diehard fan? I honestly don't think so. The film was thrilling, and I think even casual viewers will concur.

With the high stakes comes impressive ambition from Bryan Singer. He isn't holding back on any front with this movie. Truly no holds barred. It's the biggest X-Men film yet, and all that ambition and potential is entirely fulfilled in the final product. The true weight of Days of Future Past caught me off guard.

This also stems from the fiercely emotional moments conjured up by the movie. I'm not ashamed to admit that I teared up multiple times. I think the emotional connections with these characters has reached its highest point yet. It's touching, affecting, and elevated in its emotional levels.

The summer blockbuster elements (which are definitely present), the ambition, and emotion are all great. However, they are not what truly raises Days of Future Past above recent comic book films. The perfection of its narrative, and the experience it gives us as a whole is what makes this movie special. Everything serves its purpose in turn. Everything comes back full circle and means something to the film. There are no wasted scenes.

Not only is the plot thoroughly and completely thought out, but the execution of everything in this film is utterly impeccable. There was not one moment where I wasn't captivated by the pure craftsmanship on display in Days of Future Past. Singer and his team have crafted something truly extraordinary. The plot is complex, but it all makes sense. There are a ton of characters, but they all get their fair share of screen time. Thankfully, Bryan Singer's return to the X-Men franchise heeds glorious results.

Conclusion

With Bryan Singer back at the helm, the X-Men franchise hits its highest point yet in Days of Future Past, an exciting and surprisingly complex entry that reaches heightened emotional levels, and not only outperforms its predecessors, but also challenges some of the finest comic book films in terms of quality, and arguably surpasses them as well.

Rating: 4/4