I'm going to love the hell out of this movie.
-After waiting for the past 9 years, on TOP of the time I've spent the rest of my life before these 9 years just waiting for an X-Men film period, I will finally get to see Gambit in the flesh on the big screen. And he might only have a short amount of screen time (my biggest gripe with Gambit PERIOD, he's always in the background to every other character and never given enough time to shine), but the time is obviously quality. I could not have asked for a better portrayal of my favorite character EVER. Not just in X-Men, but in fiction, PERIOD.
-After seeing Cyclops get limited screentime in the main trilogy (I won't say shafted, because I think he only got shafted in X-Men: The Last Stand), I get to see him one last time in this movie.
-William Stryker is one of my favorite characters from the main trilogy, and he seems to be done brilliantly in this one as well. Plus, it's great to finally see the story told that was hinted at in X2.
-Sabretooth, a character I've never cared for, seems to have a portrayal that even I can get behind.
-Never been a fan of Deadpool (not because I dislike him, but because I'm unfamiliar with him). I know most people seem to be upset with his supposed portrayal, but what I've seen of him I think actually looks pretty badass. Of course, this is again coming from a non-fan. Although, giving him Cyclops' optic blasts is very weird.
From the beginning I was very skeptical of a Wolverine spinoff film. I didn't really like the idea of it. But from seeing what I've been seeing (and yes I admit a lot of it is having Gambit involved, but it is also more than that) I'm beginning to think that this is a much needed addition to the series. And with the way it's being done (adding in characters like Gambit and Cyclops, and giving other cameos to Emma Frost and The Blob), it does feel more like an X-Men movie than a Wolverine "spin-off". It doesn't feel so much like a spin-off as it does a needed addition to the series.
This really is X-Men 4 for me, it just takes place BEFORE X-Men instead of AFTER X-Men: The Last Stand.