The X-Files: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Just over a decade on from his last directing gig for the franchise, Bryan Singer returned to the series that made him so popular for a film which brings together not only the original cast from the first three instalments but also the new recruits in the form of their First Class iterations, for a film that's set to fix things up and kick-start a new era of X-Men movies – and what better way than with a timey-wimey comic book adaptation that's arguably the comic book series' best storyline? So with the majority of actors returning for a feature film that acts both as a celebration of the franchise (who'd have thought there would seven of these?) and in an attempt to remove the elements of The Last Stand and Origins: Wolverine, can this massive movie fit in all the sequel/prequel/reboot elements together to make it all comprehensible? And will it be better than the last time I saw it?

It's further into the future, and the world has devolved into a desolate and bleak dystopia which is run by those against mutants and their allies. Areas are covered in bones and ashes, and those captured are branded with a giant 'M' to their face to show their traitorous actions. Within this reality, a small number of surviving X-Men members – including Magneto (Ian McKellen), bringing the good and bad guys together – are all that remain of saving the world from the Sentinels: robot creations that act like multi-powered Terminators. When the members converge, a plan is formed – use Kitty Pride (Ellen Page) and her new power of sending people's consciousness back in time to a moment before the war on mutants started and stop it by halting the assassination of Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage), the creator of the Sentinels, at the hands of Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence). As the only one who'd survive the journey, Logan (Hugh Jackman in his seventh appearance as Wolverine) takes on the task, and sets about reuniting the now-powerless 70s version of Charles Xavier (James McAvoy, with Patrick Stewart back for the future segments) and Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) - who's imprisoned within the Pentagon for allegedly killing the President. With Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult) on hand with Xavier and a new friend in the form of Peter Maximoff (Evan Peters), can Logan save the future before it's too late? 

While the large ensemble cast may suggest a largely convoluted story, it is pretty much as simple as it's put above. The two iterations of the characters are kept mostly to their own timelines, with only Jackman and a single scene between Xaviers Stewart and McAvoy having interaction to it all. And whilst you have the standard Magento-turns-evil moment that's practically a staple to the franchise at this point (hell, they're doing it again for Apocalypse this year), it's overall a fine story and a great way at revitalising the series. The pacing is well-kept, the screenplay witty when necessary, and whilst some of the more referential moments such as the third outing for Major Stryker (here played by Josh Helman) may go over the heads of newer viewers, it's minor enough to not leave them out of all the fun. There are also a few questionable decisions with some of the characters, or even why they go through the trouble of including some mutants – including a returning Lucas Till in a singular scene in the Vietnam War – but they're only really gripes in a mostly well-prepared story. 

Leading practically all the action here is Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine, and I'm pretty sure you don't need me repeating myself. He's as fine as ever, and it's fun to see him in a different environment and with bone claws (seeing as his metal claws seem to have come back following The Wolverine a year prior). It's nice to see the character have a little more fun too following his more recent outings, and despite a sense of Jackman fatigue starting to stench up the place he does still leave plenty of entertainment to be had. James McAvoy as a somewhat depressed and drug-addicted Xavier makes for an interesting and unique portrayal of the character, and his moments of whimsy make for some of the film's funnier moments, but it’s once against his chemistry with co-star Fassbender that makes his performance so enchanting. Same with Fassbender, as his actions are always so engaging. Plus, his escape sequence is perhaps the biggest spectacle of the franchise thus far. Jennifer Lawrence as the shapeshifting Mystique still seems rather uncomfortable in the blue stuff, but with such a large role in the overarching plot she's lucky that she has a number of sequences in her human form. Nicholas Hoult fits in the nerdy role he's given well, but revels in his more Beastly moments; Evan Peters is largely underused but brings about the most fun the franchise has ever had alongside being the better Quicksilver (sorry Age of Ultron!); Peter Dinklage really doesn't suit the 70s tache but plays the role straight; and finally Josh Helman is sorta there being all stern and bland-faced. Still no match for Brain Cox. 

As for the future bunch, there is a lack of focus on that aspect; occasionally we get brought back to it all, but it's mostly absent (I expect The Rogue Cut to have extra sequences in that time period). Stewart and McKellen remain a delight as the older iterations of the main characters, and Halle Berry as Storm is given plenty of future screentime despite not having much to do outside of fight the future Sentinels. Ellen Page is as fine as ever; Shawn Ashmore is good enough as helpful boyfriend; Anna Paquin is in there somewhere; and the ensemble of new characters, such as Omar Sy's Bishop and Fan Bingbing's Blink, are fine enough in their minor supporting roles. They do make for some tension-filled action sequences, especially in the final act when it all comes to a head, but there's so little focus on the future that it's somewhat questionable as to why they even bother with so many cast members. 

With Bryan Singer returning means a return to the feel of the first two films – and much like X2: X-Men United there's a stronger set of visual effects and cinematography at hand. While it's disappointing that, despite his successful work with massive casts like this one in the past, he struggles with the monumental size of the one at hand here, he still brings about a strong effort filled with the best of the past and none of the Ratner-esque blandness that preceded it – even if Matthew Vaughn's take would have been an interesting viewing. 

X-Men: Days of Future Past is a return to the highs of X2, as it appears that finally getting their hands back on director Singer (who was asked repeatedly to return to the series) has helped fix the errors of the past and, together with the more recent efforts of First Class and The Wolverine, builds upon it to create a highly entertaining production. With a superb large cast which sometimes doesn't get all the attention it deserves and action beats which are very well choreographed, Days of Future Past does what it was meant to do: fix the past to create a better future. And with the success of Deadpool after that, here's hoping X-Men: Apocalyse continues the trend come May. 8/10.