X-MEN, APOCALYPSE

US, 2016, 144 minutes, Colour.
James Mc Avoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Peters, Ty Sheridan, Oscar Isaac, Kodi Smit Mc Phee,
Directed by Bryan Singer.

Critics seem to hate it. Bloggers and fans have been enthusiastic. It seems to depend on tolerance for superhero and action movies. Critics seem to get weary. Bloggers and fans relish the next episode.

The X- Men franchise has been going for 16 years, at least seven films including two on Wolverine himself (who does make a brief appearance here and hurries off to the frozen woods where we know he took refuge).

One of the principal difficulties for those who are not like those diehard fans who could go on Mastermind and answer quite detailed questions on the series, is to locate the time of the action, how it already relates to what we have known from the earlier films, the younger versions of so many characters – some of whom turn out good in the end but some of them go over to the dark side.

This one is set in 1983 with a smiling Ronald Reagan as president – a scene at the end with a telephone call from the Pentagon indicating that the president knew of all the dire nuclear destruction, let alone the fury from Magneto, that was destroying the world (including the destruction of Sydney's Opera House).

But, to go back to the beginning, which is what this screenplay does with an extraordinary recreation of Egypt, 3600 BC, and a megalomaniac who thinks he is God but, as events turn out, seems more like a Satan. With lavish and extraordinary special effects, and glimpses of a cast of thousands, the god (better lower case g) transfers his powers to a new body but, a military uprising against him buries him until archaeologists (including Rose Byrnes’ Moira Mc Taggart) and devotees release him in 1983. He will be the archvillain, Apocalypse, recruiting mutants to his side, even Magneto, and wants to connect to the mind of Charles Xavier in order to control the world – his idea is to create a new one because he is, one may say, hell-bent on destroying the present one. It is a bit hard to recognise Oscar Isaac under the blue colour and heavy make up.

Charles Xavier, James Mc Avoy again, is running his school for mutants, with the skilled assistance of, Hank Mc Coy/ Beast, Nicholas Hoult and young Scott (Tye Sheridan), bullied at school, but gradually releasing his extraordinary firepower from his eyes, is taken by his brother, the hero Alex, to be a student at the school. Here he encounters the young Jean (Sophie Turner) who has the power to read minds. also doing good around the world is Raven/Mistique, Jennifer Lawrence, who is able to save a very strange mutant, Kurt, the Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit Mc Phee) from wrestling bouts against an angel mutant (obviously going over to the dark side) and bringing him to Charles Xavier.

One surprise is to find that Erik Lensherr is working in a factory in Poland, with a wife and daughter, remembering the death of his parents in Auschwitz, but exposed by the local police which draws his revenge and his being headhunted by Apocalypse. There is another character, Quicksilver, Evan Peters, who turns out to be Magneto’s son who also gets into the action, a gum-chewing layabout rather than heroic figure until it goes into action.

The acting is very effective, so many of the cast being familiar with their characters. the special effects, from Egypt at the beginning to the extraordinary world destruction to the final combats are outstanding – although the massacre from Wolverine seems to be far too much.

This one seems to end well – but the mind then goes back to those earlier films and the various confrontations between good and evil, especially between the old friends Charles Xavier and Magneto.

And, it should be said again, the fans have liked this one a lot.


1. The impact of this film? The apocalyptic tone? Its place in the series? With reference to the previous films, the later times, the characters as young, then older?

2. The title, the apocalypse, destruction and rebuilding? The role of the mutants in this scenario?

3. The background, the mutants, their role in society, the Egyptian background and some mythology? The mutants in the 20th and 21st centuries? Their gifts, exercising them, in the world, concealing them? Charles Xavier’s school for mutants?

4. The director, his role in the original films, the cast, young and old?

5. The special effects, the elaborate opening in Egypt, cast of thousands, the scenes of destruction in the 20th century? The fights between the teams of mutants? The musical score?

6. The problem, the ritual, lavish, Apocalypse, the transfer of powers into the other body, his appearance, the mask? Being seen as a god? The revolt of the military, the destruction and the burial of Apocalypse?

7. The 1983 sitting, President Reagan, the world situation, the Cold War about to end?

8. Scott, being bullied at school, the fire coming from his eyes, going home, his family, Alex taking him to the school, the meeting with Charles, with Hank, the interactions with Jean, the situation at the school, the friendship with Jean? The role of Hank and his skills?

9. Raven/ Mystique, her past, on the outer? In Germany, the encounter with Kurt, the Angel and their both being mutants? The wrestling matches, the championships, the people watching? Kurt, fighting the Angel? Raven saving him, the decision to take him to the school? His being the Night Crawler?

10. Moira Mc Taggart, the past relationship with Charles, her work at the CIA, the memories erased? Going to Egypt, going into the pyramid, watching the reappearance of Apocalypse?

11. Charles Xavier in himself, his powers, ability to know minds, contacts, the situation and Apocalypse wanting to share his powers?

12. Apocalypse, his revival, finding himself in the 21st century, the various disciples, his watching the television and absorbing knowledge? The women in Cairo, Angel becoming one of his minions?

13. The story of Erik, in Poland, wife and child, working in the factory, happy life? The memories of his parents’ death in our streets? His saving the worker, people observing? The report to the police, the people’s fears, the confrontation, the death of his wife and child? Decapitating the police with his powers? Wanting revenge? Apocalypse coming to recruit him and transform him?

14. Apocalypse, the plan for world destruction and rebuilding, the visuals of destruction in New York City, also in the world, the Sydney Opera House?

15. The meetings in the Pentagon, strategies, contact with the president?

16. Apocalypse, communication with Charles, taking possession of him? Apocalypse sharing his knowledge, communicating with others? The resistance, the mutants using their powers, not?

17. Erik becoming Magneto, his power, the destruction, confrontation?

18. Apocalypse, with Charles, Charles being overcome, yet his contact with Jean and her knowing where he was? Hank, the Beast, using his knowledge? The mutants appearing in their mutant form?

19. The prison scene, the appearance of Wolverine, the massacre, his going out into the snowy mountains? The helicopter, Scott and Jean stowing away, in the prison, exercising their powers?

20. Charles, losing control, the fight, his becoming bald, the rescue, his gradual recovery?

21. The apocalyptic fights, the confrontations between the various mutants, destruction? Magneto and his better nature being appealed to?

22. The destruction of the school, its being restored, the significance of Jean and her powers? The restoration, the students, Magneto
leaving? Opening the way to the future stories?