There is one scene involving the surprisingly fun That nearly everyone involved is counting down the minutes until this whole There is no sense of danger here, only the distinct feeling Wide-ranging, so cataclysmic, that it zaps the film of any tension. It isn’t just one city that hangs in the balance, “X-Men: Apocalypse” takes this idea to the next level with startling violence. The destruction of cities in order to make the stakes higher for heroes, While much has been made about how superhero films rely on
The worst translations of a character from page to screen in modern comic bookįilms) her performance somehow becomes even more unengaging. When Raven reverts to her natural blue form (which is probably one of Raven comes off far worse due to Lawrence's obvious disinterest in the role, coasting from scene to scene with none of her trademarkĬharisma. Slightly better served, but Jean’s development is too inconsistent to leave
Taken out entirely and nothing would change. Jubilee ( Lana Condor) is such a non-factor she could be She has none of the emotional interiority, swagger or complexity of herĬomic counterpart. Storm is once again given very little toĭo. Trades in the language and ideas of the Civil Rights Movement without caring one
There’s also something deeply troubling about a series that Kinberg are seemingly incapable of developing more than one female character at The ways this entire series has failed its female characters Psylocke is such a one-dimensional villain she seems two steps away from twirling a mustache. Singer and None of these characters are all that interesting but Psylocke and Storm embody The rest of Apocalypse’s team are the smug yet forgettableĪngel ( Ben Hardy), Psylocke ( Olivia Munn) and a young Storm ( Alexandra Shipp).
Imbuing his Four Horseman with power than wielding his own. Despite Apocalypse’s backstory and grandstanding, he spends more time Own, before even being adapted for the screen. The comics, which can be damningly inert, nihilistic, and overcrowded on their “X-Men: Apocalypse” also exhibits the worst traits of these sort of stories in Move through that they almost exist in entirely different films. They seem so disconnected from the world the heroes Their motivations are-at best-confusing and nonsensical. These operatic, world-destroying villains don’t seem How can an actor as charismatic and dynamic as Isaacįeel so torpid here? The failure to make Apocalypse engaging is mostly theįault of Simon Kinberg’s script. In regards to the treatment of women in comics? How many more wives andĭaughters will be killed in these kinds of films in order to give a male leadĪs the movie's world-destroying, god-like mutant, Oscar Isaac struggles to make Apocalypse even the least bit menacing. Give Magneto’s storyline the emotional depth it needs.īut could any actor distract from how that storyline embodies the most onerous cliché Terribly it wastes some of the greatest modern actors. The greatest sin of “X-Men: Apocalypse” by far is how Interested in hurtling to the next plot point, the next introduction, the next Singerĭoesn’t offer the scant interesting moments enough room to breathe. Moment at the end, it doesn’t land well, given how poorly she’s developed. Walls of her room before Xavier comforts her. Scenes involves her having a nightmare which rocks the school and burns the Side of her abilities is especially fertile ground. Weight of everything else going on around them Jean grappling with the dark To actually be enjoying themselves but their development staggers under the Their powers and fledgling attraction to each other. ( Tye Sheridan) and Jean Grey ( Sophie Turner) who are struggling to cope with Then there are the teenaged Scott Summers/Cyclops Walking punchline Nightcrawler ( Kodi Smit-McPhee) on her own, and struggling Ravenĭarkholme/Mystique ( Jennifer Lawrence) is rescuing mutants, including the X ( James McAvoy) is successfully running his school for mutant kids. Players and establishing what the veterans are up to. The first hour is almost entirely in service of setting up new There are several films crammed into one, all battling for the spotlight, and none of them wholly work there is really no central storyline or heart to "X-Men: Apocalypse" is a confused, bloated mess of a film.