Hello, all!
I might be fudging a little bit with today’s pick, especially considering the fact that I wrote about X2: X-MEN UNITED as the fourth entry in this “series.” Well, maybe I am, but today’s flick is really too good not to include in the list, and could easily be argued to be a sequel to a rebooted franchise, anyway.
Even though the “reboot” of the franchise got started with the surprisingly good X-MEN: FIRST CLASS [directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also directed LAYER CAKE (highly recommended, incidentally)] the powers that be decided to hand the reins back to the director of the first two installments in the original X-Men films, Bryan Singer… and he absolutely nails it with this one.
It could just be the history geek in me, but I love it when films [or books, even those wacky Harry Turtledove ones] delve into an alternate history timeline. Here, due to the threat of the Sentinels [often teased in the previous films, but brought to the screen in very effective fashion here], the X-Men are in such dire straits that they have to send Wolverine back to the 70s to try to prevent Nixon from instituting their use to hunt down mutants. It sounds a bit convoluted, but it really does present a situation where there’s a sense of dread, partly informed by the same sort of “big brother is out to get you” that helped CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER be much more than just a superhero movie.
While the film shows a fair few X-Men, it smartly focuses on just a few, primarily Wolverine, Professor X, Magneto, and Mystique… but you can’t mention this film and not give a very big shoutout to Quicksilver, whose superpower is debuted in one of the most clever and memorable ways I can recall for a superhero movie. See for yourself by watching this scene:
It’s a superhero movie, so don’t expect Shakespeare, but it still packs the pathos in a flick with some solid performances and moments with real emotional weight… and it also manages to be fun. Just to be thorough, I’m including the slightly spoileriffic take by the folks at Honest Trailers below:
[You may need to sign in to watch the video. Jussayin'.]
If escapism is what you need, but you don’t want to wander so far off the reservation that suspension of disbelief becomes its own superpower, you really ought to check out this flick. Enjoy!
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - THE DARK KNIGHT; Day 2 - DESPERADO; Day 3 - THE ROAD WARRIOR; Day 4 - X2: X-MEN UNITED; Day 5 - TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY; Day 6 - DAWN OF THE DEAD; Day 7 - DEADPOOL 2; Day 8 - HOT SHOTS! PART DEUX; Day 9 - STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN; Day 10 - THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS; Day 11 - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER; Day 12 - ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES; Day 13 - PADDINGTON 2; Day 14 - RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET; Day 15 - LETHAL WEAPON 2; Day 16 - FINAL DESTINATION 2; Day 17 - FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE; Day 18 - NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION; Day 19 - THE RAID 2; Day 20 - THE BOURNE SUPREMACY; Day 21 - SPIDER-MAN 2; Day 22 - EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN]
I might be fudging a little bit with today’s pick, especially considering the fact that I wrote about X2: X-MEN UNITED as the fourth entry in this “series.” Well, maybe I am, but today’s flick is really too good not to include in the list, and could easily be argued to be a sequel to a rebooted franchise, anyway.
Even though the “reboot” of the franchise got started with the surprisingly good X-MEN: FIRST CLASS [directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also directed LAYER CAKE (highly recommended, incidentally)] the powers that be decided to hand the reins back to the director of the first two installments in the original X-Men films, Bryan Singer… and he absolutely nails it with this one.
It could just be the history geek in me, but I love it when films [or books, even those wacky Harry Turtledove ones] delve into an alternate history timeline. Here, due to the threat of the Sentinels [often teased in the previous films, but brought to the screen in very effective fashion here], the X-Men are in such dire straits that they have to send Wolverine back to the 70s to try to prevent Nixon from instituting their use to hunt down mutants. It sounds a bit convoluted, but it really does present a situation where there’s a sense of dread, partly informed by the same sort of “big brother is out to get you” that helped CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER be much more than just a superhero movie.
While the film shows a fair few X-Men, it smartly focuses on just a few, primarily Wolverine, Professor X, Magneto, and Mystique… but you can’t mention this film and not give a very big shoutout to Quicksilver, whose superpower is debuted in one of the most clever and memorable ways I can recall for a superhero movie. See for yourself by watching this scene:
It’s a superhero movie, so don’t expect Shakespeare, but it still packs the pathos in a flick with some solid performances and moments with real emotional weight… and it also manages to be fun. Just to be thorough, I’m including the slightly spoileriffic take by the folks at Honest Trailers below:
[You may need to sign in to watch the video. Jussayin'.]
If escapism is what you need, but you don’t want to wander so far off the reservation that suspension of disbelief becomes its own superpower, you really ought to check out this flick. Enjoy!
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - THE DARK KNIGHT; Day 2 - DESPERADO; Day 3 - THE ROAD WARRIOR; Day 4 - X2: X-MEN UNITED; Day 5 - TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY; Day 6 - DAWN OF THE DEAD; Day 7 - DEADPOOL 2; Day 8 - HOT SHOTS! PART DEUX; Day 9 - STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN; Day 10 - THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS; Day 11 - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER; Day 12 - ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES; Day 13 - PADDINGTON 2; Day 14 - RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET; Day 15 - LETHAL WEAPON 2; Day 16 - FINAL DESTINATION 2; Day 17 - FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE; Day 18 - NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION; Day 19 - THE RAID 2; Day 20 - THE BOURNE SUPREMACY; Day 21 - SPIDER-MAN 2; Day 22 - EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN]
