Days of Future Past What you didn't like about X-Men:DOFP - Flaws/Critiques

[Havok83]

Well you said we don't know why he has it in your last post, hence the explanations

 

[BETArayBill]

Mystique just not a fan of the character never have been especially in the movies haven't we spent enough time with her in the movies at this point? She's just not an important enough character to justify it it's only because they lucked out in getting Jennifer Lawrence before she blew up, and definitely could have used more beast don't like they he can change back and forth. Other then that loved the movie

 

[Hamill-Joker]

I’ve gone over several different forums and listened to several different podcasts, and in doing so I have come up with a list of the most popular complaints about the movie. I will go about explaining them using only what has been observed within the movie or X-Men series

Also, this post is loaded with Spoilers. So if you don't want to be spoiled, don't read it. But then again, I am not sure why you would be in this thread.

The first two complaints are with the beginning of the movie:

These are the only two questions that have no actual answers within Days of Future Past. Whatever happened that caused these to happen took place prior to the events in the movie.

- How does future Wolverine have his adamantium claws after losing them in The Wolverine?

There is no answer for Wolverine’s claws. That information is not given to the audience.

- How is Professor Xavier alive?

The answer is within the button scenes after the credits of X3 and The Wolverine. X3’s button scene shows that Xavier did move his consciousness into the body of man born without a conscious mind, which was discussed earlier in the movie. So that scene ends with him alive. He shows up again in the button scene of The Wolverine in a wheelchair looking like his old self. There is no explanation of how he got back to looking like himself; it remains a mystery.


Next are technical details:

- Why didn’t they take Quicksilver with them to stop Mystique?

It was never about just physically stopping Mystique. That is the main reason why they broke Magneto out of prison, is because he was the last person to have influence over her. If they stop her once, she can just make another attempt, just as she did later on at the White House. It was more about changing her mind than physically stopping her.

- How does Mystique’s genetic material influence the abilities of the future sentinels?

The uniqueness of Mystique’s mutation is what allows for these abilities. X-Men: First Class set the stage for this with Hank talking about the tremendous potential of her DNA, for which he accidentally turned himself into Beast. The serum derived from this in Days of Future Past he is able to use for the one he takes and the professor takes.

Mystique is able to form inanimate objects from her own body, things like clothes, glasses, and hats, and even Wolverine’s claws in X1. But as scene in X1, she cannot duplicate these things exactly, which is why Wolverine is able to cut through her claws. So X1 shows that she can already mimic the physical abilities of mutants, but cannot duplicate it exactly. Unlocking her DNA, they were able to use that as the key to the sentinels’ ability to adapt, making it more focused so it could have the actual physical traits of other physical mutant abilities.

People get the false impression within the movies that the sentinels are absorbing powers of mutants. The sentinels are not absorbing the mutant’s powers, they are simply learning and adapting. The sentinels only use physical abilities. If they could absorb powers, then they could have things like Blink’s ability to create portals, which they do not. The sentinel that grabs Colossus does not absorb his mutation, the sentinel is learning from his mutation, adapting to it.

Some have suggested that they used Rogue’s power, but again, they do not absorb powers. When Rogue touched Wolverine in X1, she never got his claws (bone or metal), only his healing ability. One of the sentinels had claws like Lady Deathstrike, and there is no way Rogue could absorb those because like Wolverine, Lady Deathstrike’s claws in X2 were artificially enhanced.


- How does Magneto control the past sentinels?

At the Paris Peace Conference, Trask is showing off the plans for the sentinels. After Mystique attempts to assassinate Trask, Magneto steals the plans and takes them with him. Knowing what makes them tick, he travels to Trask’s headquarters and follows the sentinels from there to the train from which he can implant metal within them.

Magneto never reprograms the sentinels, but using his infused metal, he is able to turn basic functions on like flying and shooting. When he sends one of the sentinels after Beast and Wolverine, he simply releases it to “do what it was meant to do”. Some have said that he is ordering the sentinel vocally at the point, but what he is doing is merely making an ironic comment considering how he now has control over these machines originally meant to kill mutants.

Because he never actually reprograms them is the reason why one of the sentinels attempts to attack him later on.


And finally are character motivations:

- Why does Mystique save the President and the cabinet?

One of the reasons is for her own survival. Remember, she is in the bunker too and is about to be shot along with everyone else. Another reason is that after Magneto tried to kill her in Paris, she didn’t really want anything to do with what he wanted. All she wants is Trask dead, not the President and his cabinet. She has seen first hand his extreme tactics (trying to kill her) and this time stops him.

- Why does Magneto surround the White House with a stadium at the end and plan to execute the President and the cabinet?

Because he is Magneto. Do not forget that that he said he agreed with everything Shaw said in First Class. He believes in mutant superiority and every time in the movie series that humans have come up with something to threaten mutants, it brings down his wrath.

I think people forget that the Magneto in the past is not a member of the audience. He’s not thinking about things in terms of a movie plot. Now that he is out, he is looking long picture and essentially decides to begin his campaign. Magneto’s tactics are about being a bully and creating fear to influence what he wants.

 

[josh8]

I’ve gone over several different forums and listened to several different podcasts, and in doing so I have come up with a list of the most popular complaints about the movie. I will go about explaining them using only what has been observed within the movie or X-Men series

Also, this post is loaded with Spoilers. So if you don't want to be spoiled, don't read it. But then again, I am not sure why you would be in this thread.

The first two complaints are with the beginning of the movie:

These are the only two questions that have no actual answers within Days of Future Past. Whatever happened that caused these to happen took place prior to the events in the movie.

- How does future Wolverine have his adamantium claws after losing them in The Wolverine?

There is no answer for Wolverine’s claws. That information is not given to the audience.

- How is Professor Xavier alive?

The answer is within the button scenes after the credits of X3 and The Wolverine. X3’s button scene shows that Xavier did move his consciousness into the body of man born without a conscious mind, which was discussed earlier in the movie. So that scene ends with him alive. He shows up again in the button scene of The Wolverine in a wheelchair looking like his old self. There is no explanation of how he got back to looking like himself; it remains a mystery.


Next are technical details:

- Why didn’t they take Quicksilver with them to stop Mystique?

It was never about just physically stopping Mystique. That is the main reason why they broke Magneto out of prison, is because he was the last person to have influence over her. If they stop her once, she can just make another attempt, just as she did later on at the White House. It was more about changing her mind than physically stopping her.

- How does Mystique’s genetic material influence the abilities of the future sentinels?

The uniqueness of Mystique’s mutation is what allows for these abilities. X-Men: First Class set the stage for this with Hank talking about the tremendous potential of her DNA, for which he accidentally turned himself into Beast. The serum derived from this in Days of Future Past he is able to use for the one he takes and the professor takes.

Mystique is able to form inanimate objects from her own body, things like clothes, glasses, and hats, and even Wolverine’s claws in X1. But as scene in X1, she cannot duplicate these things exactly, which is why Wolverine is able to cut through her claws. So X1 shows that she can already mimic the physical abilities of mutants, but cannot duplicate it exactly. Unlocking her DNA, they were able to use that as the key to the sentinels’ ability to adapt, making it more focused so it could have the actual physical traits of other physical mutant abilities.

People get the false impression within the movies that the sentinels are absorbing powers of mutants. The sentinels are not absorbing the mutant’s powers, they are simply learning and adapting. The sentinels only use physical abilities. If they could absorb powers, then they could have things like Blink’s ability to create portals, which they do not. The sentinel that grabs Colossus does not absorb his mutation, the sentinel is learning from his mutation, adapting to it.

Some have suggested that they used Rogue’s power, but again, they do not absorb powers. When Rogue touched Wolverine in X1, she never got his claws (bone or metal), only his healing ability. One of the sentinels had claws like Lady Deathstrike, and there is no way Rogue could absorb those because like Wolverine, Lady Deathstrike’s claws in X2 were artificially enhanced.


- How does Magneto control the past sentinels?

At the Paris Peace Conference, Trask is showing off the plans for the sentinels. After Mystique attempts to assassinate Trask, Magneto steals the plans and takes them with him. Knowing what makes them tick, he travels to Trask’s headquarters and follows the sentinels from there to the train from which he can implant metal within them.

Magneto never reprograms the sentinels, but using his infused metal, he is able to turn basic functions on like flying and shooting. When he sends one of the sentinels after Beast and Wolverine, he simply releases it to “do what it was meant to do”. Some have said that he is ordering the sentinel vocally at the point, but what he is doing is merely making an ironic comment considering how he now has control over these machines originally meant to kill mutants.

Because he never actually reprograms them is the reason why one of the sentinels attempts to attack him later on.


And finally are character motivations:

- Why does Mystique save the President and the cabinet?

One of the reasons is for her own survival. Remember, she is in the bunker too and is about to be shot along with everyone else. Another reason is that after Magneto tried to kill her in Paris, she didn’t really want anything to do with what he wanted. All she wants is Trask dead, not the President and his cabinet. She has seen first hand his extreme tactics (trying to kill her) and this time stops him.

- Why does Magneto surround the White House with a stadium at the end and plan to execute the President and the cabinet?

Because he is Magneto. Do not forget that that he said he agreed with everything Shaw said in First Class. He believes in mutant superiority and every time in the movie series that humans have come up with something to threaten mutants, it brings down his wrath.

I think people forget that the Magneto in the past is not a member of the audience. He’s not thinking about things in terms of a movie plot. Now that he is out, he is looking long picture and essentially decides to begin his campaign. Magneto’s tactics are about being a bully and creating fear to influence what he wants.

Great job! I really like the rationale for Quicksilver's departure. I felt the same way... he did his part, no more need to involve him with their personal drama crap.

As for the Sentinels gaining their powers... it's hard to say. I think it's a combination of them having retained powers from the experimentation and absorbing powers. There's the rumor that Rogue's subplot involved having been experimented on. But then the Sentinels using Iceman and Sunspot's powers when they're fighting the opposites is more evidence towards the adapting thing since they didn't come into contact with said opposite opponents. And just a side-note: Rogue can technically obtain Logan's bone claws if she absorbs his powers... it's happened in the comics many times.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

Well you said we don't know why he has it in your last post, hence the explanations

I meant the majority of the audience watching the movie.

 

[Majik1387]

I doubt the audience cared enough to want to know where the M came from considering they had already shown it prior to showing Bishop. They probably put two and two together and didn't need verbal explanation...

 

[Human Torch]

I just figured Quicksilver was a minor (he was living with his mum) and they didn't think she'd allow him to take the trip to DC.

 

[Havok83]

I just figured Quicksilver was a minor (he was living with his mum) and they didn't think she'd allow him to take the trip to DC.

Didn't he live near DC? I thought the same thing but about taking him to Paris with them after they got Magneto out

 

[Human Torch]

I meant Paris. I gotta get me some sleep.....t:

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

I doubt the audience cared enough to want to know where the M came from considering they had already shown it prior to showing Bishop. They probably put two and two together and didn't need verbal explanation...

Keep on doubting it. I doubt anyone even paid attention to the M's like that because it was such a quick moment. Bishop's story of suffering and escaping a camp would've been a powerful, emotional and memorable moment for the future instead of us just seeing mutants we barely care about dying. Any way you slice it, it was a missed opportunity. If the audience didn't care like you say, that scene would've made them care. Seriously, just ask a person who doesn't read the comics what they thought about the M's on their eyes, just that simple question, and I bet you they won't even recall it.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I think complaints like that are more based on character loyalty than actual flaws in the movie. This movie didn't need Bishop's story told. The DoFP movie itself tells what stories it must to serve its themes, and it does a good job at doing so without over staying its welcome. Same with Rogue's cut sequence. The film didn't need it, hence why it was cut.

I know it sucks when your favorite character finally sees the screen and the role is small, but objectively, it doesn't do any disservice to the film.

 

[Great Mind(s)]

The film didn't need Rogue sure, but you could say the film didn't need young Magneto either.

 

[Spider-Fan]

The film didn't need Rogue sure, but you could say the film didn't need young Magneto either.

Young Magneto was important to the story. So, yes it did.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

I think complaints like that are more based on character loyalty than actual flaws in the movie. This movie didn't need Bishop's story told. The DoFP movie itself tells what stories it must to serve its themes, and it does a good job at doing so without over staying its welcome. Same with Rogue's cut sequence. The film didn't need it, hence why it was cut.

I know it sucks when your favorite character finally sees the screen and the role is small, but objectively, it doesn't do any disservice to the film.

He's not my favorite character. I am saying it was a missed opportunity to not have his story told, especially when he's the only mutant there that's been in one of those camps. It doesn't matter if it's about a character or not, I see it as a flaw in the movie and that's what this thread is about. I do think the movie needed it to give the future mutants(at least one of them) more emotional resonance that I thought was severely lacking which is why I didn't care when they died.

 

[BlackFox]

I think complaints like that are more based on character loyalty than actual flaws in the movie. This movie didn't need Bishop's story told. The DoFP movie itself tells what stories it must to serve its themes, and it does a good job at doing so without over staying its welcome. Same with Rogue's cut sequence. The film didn't need it, hence why it was cut.

I know it sucks when your favorite character finally sees the screen and the role is small, but objectively, it doesn't do any disservice to the film.

I have to agree, I would love it if the film was 6 hours long with every characters back story and origin fleshed out to full but you cant do that sensibly and have a film that is watchable for any audience let alone a hardcore fan base. There's 50+ years of comics, cartoons and stories to fill in the blanks if somebody wants to know these details, thats the point, if you just a member of the GA you wont care and just get on with your life or if your intrigued you can dig in and find out.

Did Hawkeye and Black Widow get any sort of history or back story in the Avengers, they went to Budapest once was about it, does it matter, no not really to the GA, unless you were a hardcore fan but thats just something we had to put up with at least he was in the film using his bow and arrow and stuff.

I mentioned in another thread that the use of these future mutants is far better than what we got in the past X films like Psylocke, where she was just thrown in with no purpose, no powers used just a name check, that to me is pointless.

 

[Great Mind(s)]

Magneto was more important to the movie than Rogue probably would have been yeah, but if her scenes were not cut, I'm sure people would be saying "how could they do this movie without the Rogue scenes? She was important to the story!"

I'm just saying a cool subplot can only add to a movie not take anything away. We know they took something away from the movie and that upsets some fans like myself. I just wanted more future scenes, and that rescue sequence would have satisfied that craving. Maybe the producers thought it was too much for casual viewers to have two stories happening at the same time, but I feel sci-fi/fantasy/comic-book fans like all of us would be able to take it.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

I have to agree, I would love it if the film was 6 hours long with every characters back story and origin fleshed out to full but you cant do that sensibly and have a film that is watchable for any audience let alone a hardcore fan base. There's 50+ years of comics, cartoons and stories to fill in the blanks if somebody wants to know these details, thats the point, if you just a member of the GA you wont care and just get on with your life or if your intrigued you can dig in and find out.

Did Hawkeye and Black Widow get any sort of history or back story in the Avengers, they went to Budapest once was about it, does it matter, no not really to the GA, unless you were a hardcore fan but thats just something we had to put up with at least he was in the film using his bow and arrow and stuff.

I mentioned in another thread that the use of these future mutants is far better than what we got in the past X films like Psylocke, where she was just thrown in with no purpose, no powers used just a name check, that to me is pointless.

Yes, because one character sharing his backstory would've shot up the film's runtime to 6 hours. It takes 2-4 minutes at minimum for a scene like that.

It's not about, "Does the audience care?". It's about making them care with character development and exploration.

 

[Great Mind(s)]

Yes, because one character sharing his backstory would've shot up the film's runtime to 6 hours. It takes 2-4 minutes at minimum for a scene like that.

It's not about, "Does the audience care?". It's about making them care with character development and exploration.

Also characters like Black Widow and Hawkeye got plenty of development more than Bishop. A line of dialogue like "I escaped from that camp, I saw what they did to mutants" would be pointless? Some quiet scenes would really hurt this movie? They likely cut the "fat" which we would call character development for a shorter run time and a tighter film. But if these FOX guys wanted to compare this to Avatar, they should have given it the same respect. A little longer of a runtime so the future could breathe and we could at least spend more than a few shots of what would be the "final farewell" to the original cast.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

Also characters like Black Widow and Hawkeye got plenty of development more than Bishop. A line of dialogue like "I escaped from that camp, I saw what they did to mutants" would be pointless? Some quiet scenes would really hurt this movie? They likely cut the "fat" which we would call character development for a shorter run time and a tighter film. But if these FOX guys wanted to compare this to Avatar, they should have given it the same respect. A little longer of a runtime so the future could breathe and we could at least spend more than a few shots of what would be the "final farewell" to the original cast.

Yeah, imagine Bishop sharing his experiences in that camp and Magneto empathizing with him because of his past in a concentration camp. What a powerful, yet missed, opportunity. And yeah, I do wish the future would've had more shots and time spent in it. I would've loved to see that Rogue sequence, btw.

 

[CyclopsWasRight]

As for why Magneto moved the stadium I think the reason was two-fold.

#1 show of superiority. He wanted to show the Pete the power of Mutantkind and why they should fear them.

#2 prevent or at least delay any rescue attempts. There was no way in except by Chopper.

I think complaints like that are more based on character loyalty than actual flaws in the movie. This movie didn't need Bishop's story told. The DoFP movie itself tells what stories it must to serve its themes, and it does a good job at doing so without over staying its welcome. Same with Rogue's cut sequence. The film didn't need it, hence why it was cut.

I know it sucks when your favorite character finally sees the screen and the role is small, but objectively, it doesn't do any disservice to the film.

The thing is with so many characters and stories it's unrealistic to expect too much in a movie.

ASM2 tried to tell too much and became unfocused and messy as a result

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

I just figured Quicksilver was a minor (he was living with his mum) and they didn't think she'd allow him to take the trip to DC.

I meant Paris. I gotta get me some sleep.....t:

Quicksilver probably could've speeded and forth between Paris and DC to make it seem like he never left the house.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

The thing is with so many characters and stories it's unrealistic to expect too much in a movie.

ASM2 tried to tell too much and became unfocused and messy as a result

It's not unrealistic to expect Bishop's story to be told. It fits within the story perfectly. I get that you guys are defending the film, but at least make sense. A TASM2 comparision? Really?

 

[Havok83]

I have to agree, I would love it if the film was 6 hours long with every characters back story and origin fleshed out to full but you cant do that sensibly and have a film that is watchable for any audience let alone a hardcore fan base. There's 50+ years of comics, cartoons and stories to fill in the blanks if somebody wants to know these details, thats the point, if you just a member of the GA you wont care and just get on with your life or if your intrigued you can dig in and find out.

Did Hawkeye and Black Widow get any sort of history or back story in the Avengers, they went to Budapest once was about it, does it matter, no not really to the GA, unless you were a hardcore fan but thats just something we had to put up with at least he was in the film using his bow and arrow and stuff.

I mentioned in another thread that the use of these future mutants is far better than what we got in the past X films like Psylocke, where she was just thrown in with no purpose, no powers used just a name check, that to me is pointless.

Black Widow's opening scene where she was abducted and later recruiting Hulk were much more than Bishop and the other new future characters got as they were mainly cannon fodder. Besides she had already been featured in IM2 as a supporting character so they didn't need to introduce or explain her character in Avengers as her previous outing already served that purpose

And you may want to check out TLS again bc Psylocke did use her powers in the film

 

[BlackFox]

Yes, because one character sharing his backstory would've shot up the film's runtime to 6 hours. It takes 2-4 minutes at minimum for a scene like that.

It's not about, "Does the audience care?". It's about making them care with character development and exploration.

Well I've seen plenty of people say they did care without the need for further development and exploration of the future characters, if you needed more thats fair enough but I think plenty of other films that have a massive range of characters all have this issue and DOFP is not alone.

Also characters like Black Widow and Hawkeye got plenty of development more than Bishop. A line of dialogue like "I escaped from that camp, I saw what they did to mutants" would be pointless? Some quiet scenes would really hurt this movie? They likely cut the "fat" which we would call character development for a shorter run time and a tighter film. But if these FOX guys wanted to compare this to Avatar, they should have given it the same respect. A little longer of a runtime so the future could breathe and we could at least spend more than a few shots of what would be the "final farewell" to the original cast.

I'm not sure they did really honestly, but as I said it didnt matter in that film either, watching the film gave me no clue where Hawkeye came from or how he came to be there.

More of a good thing is always great but if it starts to bog things down and slow the whole thing down, I imagine its a tricky thing as a film maker to balance things out.

 

[Great Mind(s)]

I loved DOFP, there wasn't anything IN the movie that I didn't like. I just wish there were MORE things in the movie. It felt like it was missing a lot.