X-Men: Apocalypse

Like with City of Glass, this review (along with Alice Through the Looking Glass - to come still) has been a long time coming.

In fact, it's been so long I probably can't even write a proper review because I can only remember snippets of each film.

Having said that, I remember the overall feeling I felt after them.

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This one I felt was a good film. I, at least, enjoyed it as much as any of the other films in the X-Men franchise.

The plot was standard with there being a bad guy trying to take over the world and the X-Men needing to stop him as usual. Although hardcore comic book fans have complained that it was rubbish compared to it's origins, simply not doing it justice.

I enjoyed the introduction of the well-known characters (Cyclops, Jean and Storm) in their younger days. I particularly think Sophie Turner did a wonderful job as Jean. It was refreshing to see her play somebody who wasn't a helpless high-lord's daughter for once (although not so helpless in the most recent series of GoT, I must admit).

I wasn't entirely convinced by Apocalypse's character. I thought he would be scarier or more dominating or something. He just seemed a bit merh to be honest.

I did love the Egyptian theme though, there's something fascinating about it all and the locations/set was pretty magnificent.

As for the four horsemen accompanying Apocalypse, I thought they, too, fell a little flat (except Magneto of course). I just wasn't convinced they were the all powerful group. It was too obvious that the X-Men would win because, well, they always do.

Two things I really really enjoyed though:

1. The way they showed Jean's capabilities even this early on was pretty interesting. Even in the early X-Men you don't really believe how powerful she is.

2. The scene with Erik and his family. It's awful, absolutely heartbreaking, but probably the most perfectly shot scene in the entire film.

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Rating: ★★★★☆



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Deadpool

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I've been so indecisive about this film - one minute I'm not interested at all, the next I am because I found out it was Ryan Reynolds playing the lead, and then I wasn't again because I didn't think it would be funny, and so on.

But, then I saw the trailer and I knew I wanted to see it for definite.

Again, though, sat in the cinema, snacks at the ready, right at the beginning of the film, I wasn't sure if it would actually be any good. I'm never sure about films where the character talks into the camera - it just doesn't work for me. But Ryan Reynolds nails it. I love the type of role he always seems to play - the sarcastic, good looking but hard done by guy.

And I also think it was great that the love interest wasn't some perfect, quirky girl that needed saving constantly. Okay so she needed saving at the end, but still. Oddly enough she reminded me of Jean in X-Men because she looks a lot like her (to me anyway) - before all the red hair and evilness.

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As the storyline developed I definitely enjoyed it more. I even enjoyed the way he constantly took the piss out of X-Men, the basic superhero film cast line-up (you'll know what I mean if you pay attention to the opening credits) and, even, himself. The music was great throughout and there was a great balance between comedy and drama/action.

It was brilliant.

The only thing I'm unsure about is that I'm slightly confused as to where this storyline falls in the X-Men franchise. Evidently, as he featured in Wolverine it has to be either before it or alongside it. Plus, if he dies at the end of Wolverine how will there be sequels to Deadpool - which they hinted at? Or did he not die at all?

I love the whole X-Men series so maybe I just need to watch them all again to figure out how it all fits together!

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Rating:

★★★★★

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