X- Men: Days Of Future Past
Generations X
Singer keeps his finale refreshingly character focused
Release Date: OUT NOW!
2014 | 12 | Blu- ray/ DVD Director: Bryan Singer Cast: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence Matthew Vaughn’s X- Men: First Class introduced the franchise’s youthified cast with such assurance that it seemed like a bit of a slap in the face to force them to share screen time with the other lot after only one film. Still, even though the buddy- up thing might have generated a more intense shiver had they waited a while, there’s still a huge fanboy thrill to be had watching Wolverine brushing shoulders with the First Class kids, and at seeing Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen et al one more time.
For all its poster promises of a double- generational team- up, this is actually more a sequel to First Class than to The Last Stand. The oldies bookend the movie, but – aside from Wolverine, who’s placed centre- stage – the emphasis is on the youngsters.
At the same time, there’s little left of Matthew Vaughn’s lightness of touch. Though returning director Bryan Singer has dialled down the allegorical heaviness of his previous X- pictures, this is a superhero movie that wears its seriousness with pride.
Its main point of fun is mutant newcomer Quicksilver ( Evan Peters), who bags the film’s centrepiece scene, and then is never seen again. In a film flushed with A- list talent, it’s quite something to be the one everyone’s talking about after the credits roll. More, please, next time.
Perhaps the Marvel movie it has most in common with is The Winter Soldier. Both exist in a rich cinematic world borrowed from grown- up drama, and both go easy on the CG. We’ve got used to superhero movie climaxes that are a blizzard of pixels and destruction, but Singer keeps his finale refreshingly character focused. Roll on Apocalypse.
Extras: The DVD has just a gag reel and galleries. The Blu- ray ( rated) adds deleted scenes ( with optional Singer commentary) and five featurettes ( 49 minutes), on topics such as directing the Quicksilver kitchen sequence, the actors playing Xavier and Magneto, and the Sentinels.
In the original 1981 comics storyline, it was Kitty Pryde’s mind that was sent backwards in time, not Wolverine’s.