X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Strange how as soon as Bryan Singer returned to the directing chair, the 'X-Men'-series suddenly had a great new installment. I guess he must have done something right then, ey? Not that 'First Class' wasn't good, but this one is superior.

Don't believe me?

You'd be wrong.

The signs were there though: get the old and new cast together for a mix and also some retrospective correction whilst acknowledging the previous ones. Pick up one of the most iconic storylines in comics like, ever. Give it a nice retro feel, shake it well and voila!

Sure, things have been changed. It's not Kitty Pride like in the comics or Bishop like in the cartoon that goes back to stop an assassination that could alter the course of history. But it's easy to see why they went for Wolverine, because he's a more bankable character and also Hugh Jackman. McAvoy and Fassbender are great as always. No really, is there a role in which they are mediocre or even bad? I have yet to find one. And I also really like Peter Dinklage as Bolivar Trask. He's not an evil villain as such, just a man who firmly believes that what he is doing is the right thing.

Reminds me of the Thanos-hype. Pretty much the same thing, except killing half the universe. Just a minor, minor difference there then.

The film deals with pretty serious themes yet again, but there is also some levity, especially with Quicksilver. But the balance is just right. The story never gets too goofy to lose the idea that much is at stake and it is never too serious to become dull. This is a comic book adaptation, after all.

I just really, really like this one. This one might well be my favourite of the X-Men franchise. I love the look, the feel, you finally get some early Sentinels, that used to scare the crap out of me as a kid.

But can I point out just one thing I have never been too big a fan of? And I will probably get some flack for this, but I just don't buy Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique and never have. It's not fair comparing her to Rebecca Romijn in the role, but Romijn felt more like the comic/cartoon counterpart. Lawrence lacks the gravitas of the character and something about her always looks a little off.

A minor gripe, it is true.

Cool film, lots of nods to the source material as well and a fun ride throughout. Check it out.