Technical assessment: 3
Moral assessment: 3
MTRCB rating: PG
CINEMA Rating: V14
Kitty
Pride (Ellen Page) uses her ability to project a person’s mind back in time to
launch a mission of changing the
course of events that could have determined the fate of X-Men eternally. One crucial step of the mission is to
prevent Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from assassinating Sentinel leader
Trask (Peter Dinklage) and not to make him a martyr for manipulating the future
of mutants. This mission sends Logan’s (Hugh Jackman) consciousness back in
time from 2023 to 1973. Logan
seeks and convinces Charles to cooperate in freeing Magneto (Michael
Fassbender/Ian McKellen) from prison and be part of the mission. With the help of fast-moving mutant
Maximoff /Quicksilver (Evan Peters) who penetrates the prison cell in The
Pentagon, Magneto is freed. In
Paris where the negotiation to end the Vietnam war is taking place, Raven
impersonates a Vietnamese officer in order to kill Trask.
X-Men
Days of the Future Past is a spectacular movie that offers
exciting effects to the thrills of the viewers. The idea of travelling back in
time has always been a treat to moviegoers. The plot development struggles a
bit as always the problem with multiple characters. However, it still succeeds
in keeping the focus of the story which is the mission. The movie successfully weaves into a
fresh conflict previous installment plots which rationally allows the
resurrection of old characters. It helps if a viewer has seen the previous X-Men movies so they can build on the
storyline of each character. There is not much to commend in acting except for
Lawrence's flawless portrayal of an indignant woman searching for retribution
and Dinklage’s depiction of a scientist consumed by the desire to eliminate
those who are different. Viewers celebrate the charismatic connection between
past and present Professor X and Magneto in McCoy and Fassbender (the younger
version) and Stewart and Mckellan (the older versions). The director is an
emotional storyteller with a keen sense of balancing post production techniques
with the narrative.
If
there is one thing that works in this genre, it is the ability to explore the
struggle to be human. There is tenderness and vulnerability as it outstandingly
portrays heroism, wit, friendship and survival interjected in historical
events; humor is also injected through the blindingly fast moves of Peters’
character, Quicksilver. Amidst the
consecutive superhero movies, this reimaging of X-Mens delightfully reminds viewers
how overpowering this genre is.
Trust amidst betrayal, self-sacrifice against self-preservation, heroism
in the face of extinction. These are some of the more prominent themes the film
delivers. But more importantly, it
emphasizes that trust, sacrifice and heroism are weapons we can use to make our
future better. We might not have
the capability of going back in time to rewrite history but destiny is not a
pre-determined course. Every
single day, through our choices, we have the ability to redeem ourselves and
make the world better for everyone. Charles Xavier beautifully says that no
person is permanently evil as long as he has the desire and will to reform his
life. While there are flawed moral discourses both on insisting on diplomacy,
human nature and survival, the overall message drives home a strong point. The
film has several scenes and material inappropriate for children below 13,
parents are advised to provide adequate guidance.
