After the success of X-Men: First Class, rumors flew around the water cooler that the next installment would involve the notorious Sentinels. When it was confirmed, I got very excited. The Sentinels have been one of my favorite adversaries in the Marvel universe. They are big, powerful, and cool to watch, making the mutant lives a living hell. The question that I felt that needed to be addressed is how to modernize the design of these monstrous metal giants so that the audience can enjoy them. To all the comic book and cartoon fans; we know, love and recognize the big purple and black robots that terrorized the mutants on the pages and on the small screen. But by bringing them to the big screen, the more logical thing to do is give them a major overhaul so that everybody can enjoy them. Even though the design of these robots is more streamlined and aerodynamic, there is a hint of the original design in it. I’ll let you find out what that is.
The story-line remains the same from the comics, but there are minor differences to make the movie a success. You’ll have to go and see the movie to find out, but as a comic book fan, you’ll know immediately. Nevertheless, the movie flowed well. From the beginning, there was a sense of desperation and hopelessness. This post apocalyptic world was probably the worst scenario I have seen, when comparing it to various versions from The Terminator to the Walking Dead. I felt like there was no hope, no light, for anybody, even the mighty X-men were struggling to stand there ground. But by being a mutant, they have an advantage over their oppressors. Kitty Pryde has a talent that can change the overall outcome of this horrific war. By preventing a major event from happening, it can alter their timeline and bring balance to the Force (sorry, wrong universe!!!). Nevertheless, the mutant heroes must do something. I believe that bringing back Wolverine to the past is a strategic maneuver from the director, and to not use what the original story line proposed. Regardless, it worked, with Bryan Singer at the helm, the story made sense and logical.
We get to see our favorite badass, Magneto, along with a few other cool mutants displaying their tremendous abilities. Mystique is back; cooler, and sexier than ever. Her fighting skills have improved much since we last saw her. Also her demeanor and confidence has given her a personality that rivals Magneto, and that’s not a good thing. Charles Xavier has gone the opposite. With the aftermath from the battle between Sebastian Shaw and the U.S. and Russian military in the previous film, he is but a shell of who he was, and it didn’t seem like he is getting any better. This was something I had never seen coming from this character. Honestly, it was a little uncomfortable.
Watching Wolverine try to be peacemaker between Charles Xavier and Magneto was hysterical and entertaining to watch. His use of diplomacy is like watching a grizzly bear teaching a mongoose and a wolf to work together to catch their prey. I don’t know if that makes sense, but it sure sounds down right insane. The performances of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Patrick Stewart, and Sir Ian Mckellan are great. Their presence gave this film a stellar quality that you would expect from them. Bryan Singer, who directed the first X-men, definitely gave us a well orchestrated plot with dramatic flair, and intense action sequences that boggled the mind and senses. He definitely honored the essence of what X-men is all about? Seeing Storm, Colossus, Iceman, return is a real treat, and to watch them use their ability to the highest level gave me goose bumps. Other mutants like Blink, Sunspot, Warpath, Kitty Pryde, and Bishop, finished up the ensemble of mutants that are fighting an uphill battle against the terrifying Sentinels. I loved each and every one of them, and they performed beautifully in their role. Every time they fought the Sentinels, it was like watching a warrior ballet. It was fluid and fit together perfectly.
There are several villains in this film: Magneto, Bolivar Trask, the U.S. military, and the Sentinels. Although the Sentinels alone are not evil, it is the drive of men that created them to be evil. Peter Dinklage is one of my favorite actors and the facts that he is in this film made me want to see it more. It is ironic though, that he being a person with dwarfism, puts a somewhat twist to his character determined to oppress people who are different. Nevertheless, his performance is magnetic as always. He gives the character a steel determination to do whatever it takes to achieve his ultimate goal; the systematic and total control over the mutants, and he manipulates the U.S. government to help him. But I also think the true villain in this film is bigotry, fear, and power. We live in a world where the unknown, the misconception, and the misunderstanding take a front seat in our lives everyday. The X-men universe is the perfect example of two worlds that collide into one another everyday. Where being different can start a war, create hatred, and oppress what we don’t understand, simply to feel safe.
The movie had awesome special effects; the music is beautifully created to synchronize the artistic action scenes done by the characters in the film. The soundtrack definitely made the movie more alive and dramatic. The scenic background in the beginning of the film gave you a bleak and hauntingly beautiful depiction of a world gone mad. I know this is just a movie, but in reality, the fear of being different, and the people who act upon that fear are out there. We have one world, we live in a finite time, take what we have and live every minute like it is your last.
In conclusion, I believe that this film is not just a story about Sentinels, and the wonderful cast of mutants. It delivers a message with moral values, dire consequences of ones action, and the never-ending hope that there will always be a better world if we open our minds and hearts. Great film, great cast, great story, I want more. I look forward to next installment.
I will give this three a half movie stubs out of four.
~The TruthSayer
