X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) Review

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Days of Future Past follows Wolverine, who, after being sent back in time from a future overrun by Sentinels, must reunite Charles and Eric and stop Raven from killing Bolivar Trask, the creator of the Sentinels. 

Adapted from the 80s comic of the same name, Days of Future Past would ride the success of First Class in order to do the unthinkable, joining both generations of big screen X-Men together in one glorious, time traveling adventure. My nostalgia aside in seeing the X-Men I grew up with share a screen with this new, retro adaptation of the team, this genuinely works so well and Days of Future Past was the perfect comic inspiration to make it happen. 

Marred by a dystopian future overrun by Sentinels that can adapt to survive and wipe mutants off the planet, this film shows what we’ve known all along—that Charles and Eric have always been fighting the same battle, just too stubborn to do it together. All it takes is one act of kindness to truly change the fate of humanity here, and though the right choice is eventually made, it takes so long for Eric and Raven (and even the government) to realize that it isn’t mutants vs people, no matter how threatened one is by the other. And through the lens of a fractured Earth and broken friendships, this film goes such a long way in, yes, muddying up the timeline, but also in making all of these films deeper in the way they handle the mutants constant struggle with people’s fear. 

Future Past sports an incredible cast, starring Fan Bingbing, Omar Sy, Shawn Ashmore, Elliot Page, Evan Peters, Nicholas Holt, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Peter Dinklage, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman, and James McAvoy. While always great seeing Jackman back in the Wolverine saddle, I was blown away by just how much depressing humanity McAvoy brings to Charles this go around, constantly being abandoned and hurt by those he loves, and still managing to be the best version of himself. It really adds layers to Stewarts already great performances, and it was amazing seeing them share the screen. 

Days of Future Past, directed by Bryan Singer, is quite possibly up there with the best that X-Men can offer, adapting the famous comic storyline to spin a tale of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness, with plenty to enjoy from X-Men fans new and old. 

8.5/10