Endings and new beginnings is the common theme across the super hero movie genre nowadays. For each new movie that comes out its greater purpose is to open up a much larger continuous story within a connected movie universe.
Fox's X-Men movie franchise has been ongoing since 2000; longer than any other existing super hero movie universe. So much so it has become a multi-timeline universe. One in the past for the 'First Class' X-Men cast, one in present day where Deadpool resides and another in a future timeline which is made up of the original X-Men cast.
X-MEN: APOCALYPSE represents both an ending to the 'First Class' trilogy and the new beginning for newer mutants to continue the X-Men storyline. The introduction of younger versions of heroes like Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler and others brings about this new beginning.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for the 'First Class' mutants Magneto, Charles Xavier, Mystique and Beast because these actors have fulfilled their current X-Men movie contracts, although post-Apocalypse things have yet another fresh start and a lot is left to speculation and interpretation.
This level of destruction has not been seen before in any X-Men movie while at the same time the focus is tightly on its mutants. Not much is made of the effects on humanity that such total destruction brought by Apocalypse onto the planet has caused. This oversight, in today's super hero genre trend of destruction accountability, is most definitely a issue and a topic that will probably come up again in many posts once the movie is out. But this is also a franchise built on mutants saving the day and the X-Men did just that.
A few positives.
Each mutant in this movie has a moment although the pacing felt a bit too fast at times through all the new introductions and characters. Fans will nitpick this because a few of the fan-favorites hardly had any true development, and two of them are members of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen. Possibly intentional for some familiar mutants; you should know about Jean Grey, Cyclops and Storm since you've seen their origin tale in a past X-Men movie.
In order to not give anything away that's too much of a spoiler, all that will be said about the recently revealed Wolverine appearance is BRAVO! X-Men and Wolverine comic book fans will not stop smiling during Hugh Jackman's small, but source material friendly part. It does feel like it was added late in the production, but it's always great to see Wolverine even if it's for only a couple of minutes.
Quicksilver is fun once again, too! But Singer and Fox need to watch out on the overuse of their fast-slow gimmick. It will grow old if they continue to play up Quicksilver's antics while he is moving so fast. It's was really funny the first time, in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, and it's still funny the second time around. Only if it comes back in the next X-Men movie then it may start feeling played out.
Magneto is the most commanding presence when he's on-screen. A little more of Magneto is always needed since Michael Fassbender was cast in the role. He's always a standout, as he was in the last two X-Men movie, whereas Mystique hasn't felt right since Jennifer Lawrence took over the role. She definitely doesn't feel like a true hero or leader as it's played up in the trailers and the performance feels forced; it just feels like she's already over this role.
Regarding the negatives, the battle in Act III is borderline boring without much really happening. At times there's too much CG where it looks like a video game more than a movie. There's hardly any memorable fight moments during this battle, which is unfortunate and could be a direct result of the awesomeness just seen during the airport battle in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. It's so over-the-top Fox needs to consider taking a step back and look at how they need to cut back their CG use.
Everything leading up to and after the climatic battle are enough to satisfy. Regardless of the wasted opportunities by not using the Four Horsemen in a more entertaining way. The concept of the Four Horsemen is neglected and they never feel threatening enough to really defeat the X-Men, and they should have felt like they could have easily taken out the X-Men. Apocalypse is the true powerhouse while his four minions are just a means to have multiple fights at once. Too often in this movie, the Four Horsemen are just seen standing around doing nothing. (Seriously.)
This franchise continues to roll on. It's the X-Men. You love the X-Men. And X-MEN: APOCALYPSE plays to your fandom in many ways as a movie about family and outcasts but with more spectacle than you've seen in past X-Men movies despite the last battle being too much CG insanity. You may not absolutely love the movie when you leave, but you won't hate it either. It is entertaining and has it's moment as well as a few laughs. You're guaranteed to be reminded why you're a fan in the first place. It hits many, but not all, of spots you need it to in order to appease your X-fandom.
In the end, it's worth seeing if you're an X-Men fan but when you're walking out to your car you might get a feeling that a new director is needed to bring some fresh life into a franchise that feels like it's about to go stale. Which is crazy when you consider that X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST was a great return for Singer to the franchise's helm.
Regarding the debate between seeing it in 3D or in 2D: A hard pass on 3D if you have the opportunity to see it in 2D instead. The 3D gimmick has gotten old because not every part of these movies are filmed in 3D; usually it's just the biggest action sequence(s) where close-ups and fast-paced action never look right in 3D while the rest of the movie is converted in post-production. All the 3D gimmick is meant for is to increase box office revenue due to the higher ticket price. Save those extras bucks.
One last thing, unfortunately, perhaps due to it screening so early, there was no credits scene as Fox's Marvel movies also have. It could get added before release, for sure, but before the credits roll there is one quick moment that happens that you'll wish would've played out for at least one minute more.
UPDATE: It has been confirmed that there is in fact a post-credits scene added after all the earliest press screenings were shown.
UPDATE: It has been confirmed that there is in fact a post-credits scene added after all the earliest press screenings were shown.
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