Phil sees X-MEN: APOCALYPSE in 2D from 20th Century Fox - August 20, 2016

It's been interesting to see the X-MEN franchise grow to its current popularity. With five films, two WOLVERINE entries (with a third movie currently in production) and this year's R-rated hit DEADPOOL, the series has garnered worldwide acclaim, legions of fans as well as a little bit of criticism. Now director Bryan Singer has revealed the latest chapter in the mutant saga. Based on the story that comic book fans have been waiting a long time to see, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE unleashes one of the most popular and powerful villains ever.

Theatrical Movie Poster

The film's official synopsis: Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a God. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel's X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto, to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven with the help of Professor X must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

Created by writer Louise Simonson and artist Jackson Guice, Apocalypse made his appearance in X-Factor #5 in 1986 and since has gone one to become one of the most feared villains in the Marvel Universe. Malevolent, unmerciful, relentless, he is the stuff that nightmares are made of. I've lost track how many times he has wrecked havoc among the X-Men in the comics that I read in my youth. To see him on the big screen was amazing! Actor Oscar Isaac turns in an awesome performance as our antagonist, however, I have one gripe that I need to get off my chest. I didn't like Apocalypse's face design. Yup, I said it. I went there. Now I've seen the original face and make up design when it was leaked online and it looked damn good! It looked just like the comic! But for some reason the studio went in another direction and the end results weren't that great. Still a great performance!!

And speaking of performance, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jenifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult all come back to portray their respected characters once again (and if you don't know by now who they play in the movie then you need to go watch the previous installments). Actress Rose Byrne returns as Moira Mactaggert, who we last saw in X-MEN: FIRST CLASS. I was very happy to see her return to the series as her character was very important into the development of both the X-Men group as well as the franchise. And let's not forget Evan Peters as Quicksilver, whose scene was even better than in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST! Seriously, it is freaking outstandingly cool!! Oh, and look for the expected cameo by Stan Lee and one from that Hugh Jackman guy.

Seeing how I just talked about all the returning actors and actresses, let me talk about the newbies in the film. Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones) shows a lot of believability as Jean Grey. She proves that she was born to play this character. Tye Sheridan (SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, DARK PLACES & MUD) is the best Cyclops/Scott Summers ever!! He should've played this role since the beginning of the relaunch! Olivia Munn (ZOOLANDER 2, RIDE ALONG 2 & MAGIC MIKE) looks identical to her comic book counterpart Psylocke! Her casting for this part was spot on perfect!! Kodi Smit-McPhee brings both vulnerability and raw anger to his portrayal as Nightcrawler. Really outstanding job from all the mutant newbies!

Singer's directing style has really changed over the years. He made his directorial debut with 1993's PUBLIC ACCESS but he gained notoriety the next year with THE USUAL SUSPECTS and 1998's APT PUPIL. Then in 2000 he made X-MEN which really took him to a whole other level. He directed X2 but then he jumped ship to make the DC Comics and Warner Brothers 2006 flop SUPERMAN RETURNS (which wasn't that bad of a film people). He made a couple more films before returning the franchise with 2014's X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. When you compare his first film to this one, his style has become much more dynamic, much more visually grand, much more elaborate; basically, he's a major Hollywood director now who's got the budget to make major Hollywood blockbusters. Which is totally fine and dandy, but I'd like to see home make a small, character driven film that he excelled at originally.

Overall X-MEN: APOCALYPSE is another superhero summer extravaganza that will surely thrill you and make you wave your fist in the air wishing that Wolverine claws would come out! It totally satisfies your need for Marvel based mutant heroes until the next DEADPOOL movie comes out but this deserves your time of seeing it on the big screen!! 4 out of 5 stars!! Recommended viewing!!

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE is playing in 2D, Real 3D and in IMAX theaters nationwide, including the Century Greenback 16 in Sacramento. Check your local listing to see if it is playing at a theater near you.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!