‘X-Men: Days of Future Past’ review: A Satisfying Mutant Frenzy

What do you get when you blend the 1970s with an apocalyptic future? A pack of mutants trying to change the course of the past with an all-star cast of superheroes. Fox’s X-Men: Days of Future Past is equipped with a perfect dose of humor, thrilling battles and a sea of characters that are sure to each find a place in fans’ hearts.

At the start of things, a dwindling number of mutants are forced to hideout due to scientist Bolivar Trask’s (Peter Dinklage) full-proof robots, known as Sentinels, sweeping the land in a full-fledged extermination attempt.

While evading imminent capture, a plan is developed to have Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) send Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) consciousness back in time. Tasked with gathering up the now-separated crew from X-Men: First Class, they must prevent Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from assassinating Trask.

This includes bringing together young tug-of-war duo Charles Xavier and Magneto, played by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, respectively. Thriving on the presence of one another, it can simply be said that McAvoy and Fassbender deliver at every level of excellence.

The opening minutes of the film are swept with action-packed sequences, surely having left the special effects team in a pickle trying to piece together every detail. Their hard work paid off, because audiences are given spectacular visuals that seem all too real to be from a comic book.

This is especially true for Blink (Bingbing Fan), an awe-inspiring mutant whose transportation abilities open up an entirely new challenge creatively. There is no doubt that she could bring in a crowd of her own with a solo film, deserving of a regular spot on the X-Men roster at the very least.

However, newcomer Evan Peters takes the cake as Quicksilver — a spastic mutant that literally runs through life in the fast lane. Though he doesn’t have as much screen time as many people probably would have liked, he is certainly a good candidate for the label of fan favorite. Right out of the gates, Fox’s Quicksilver has a strong lead over its competition at Disney.


Image via Twitter from X-Men Movies

The X-Men have always embodied more than a simple good-versus-bad plot. Centered around Wolverine’s literal blast to the past, this film is no different in layering on the richness of diversity.

The underlying messages of fear and prejudice reflect modern society in a perfect snapshot, slipping between the lines loud and clear. Through the mass genocide of mutants, Days of Future Past offers a look into what equality means and those affected by the hate of others.

Lawrence adds to the double-meaning of the script, giving a solid performance that begins to touch the surface of something deeper. Not only reeling in the sleekness of her character, Lawrence brings out Mystique’s contrasting feelings by humanizing her intentions and reasoning for wanting to murder.

A defining moment is dragged out at the height of the suspense, while Mystique teeters between her past and present desires. Revolving around a single decision that will forever change the oncoming future, her inner demons must bite the bullet for just awhile longer.

Rewriting the history books, Wolverine’s journey to the past may not be a newfound concept in Hollywood, but that doesn’t stop this latest X-Men release from being a blockbuster smash hit.

X-Men: Days of Future Past provides the kind of chaotic fun that will have kids imitating their favorite heroes for months to come. Whether it be the twists and turns of the script or the shout-out references to the fans, seeing the extraordinary powers of the X-Men will have every adult’s inner child jumping with joy.

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