No, it's not X2 or First Class, and it was never going to be. Hard pressed to see those two unseated from the top of the mountain. But it is another solid installment courtesy of Bryan Singer. Initially I was back-and-forthing between Days of Future Past and this as his second-finest entry but the former wins out upon reflection. That said, I will harp on this once again. As a longtime fan of his, I really hope he moves on. Said just about everything he can with the property now. I'd rather he dictate his time to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea or stuff like his King Arthur film, the Battlestar Galactica redo, another thriller, etc.
Throwing Wolverine into the mix was the kind of BS fan-service Singer actively avoided during his run on the originating two films. Stupid, pointless and an extra 5 minutes to the running length that could (and let's be frank, should) have been used elsewhere. It goes back to the problem of having him cameo in First Class... but that's another topic for another day.
And the big Quicksilver showcase is an odd-duck. On the one hand, an absolute blast (the audience lit up when it happened, just as his scene in Days of Future Past two years back) and yet... baffling (It comes right on the dramatic moment of the mansion blowing up, Charles being apprehended by Apocalypse and Alex's death). But... I did laugh. Still a strange transition that I'm not sure completely worked.
Ditto the sequence of all the world's nukes being launched. Genuinely chilling, and I'm sure a callback to The Day After. Then Stan Lee shows up as one of the people looking on in horror... and the moment is ruined. You go from "Oh my God..." to "IT'S STAN THE MAN!" in seconds.
As for the title character (the film's villain), not to mention, the year's worth of bad online press. What? Fandom overreacting and Singer proving them wrong for the umpteen time? Unheard of. When Oscar Isaac isn't giving loud monologues (I kept thinking of Mystery Science Theater 3000 the Movie - "ACTING!"), he's a menacing antagonist.
No one else among the newbies stands out in a good or bad way (No, even the oft-despised Munn). They're fine but could I see a whole film about them without the First Class cast? Ehhhh. But this was Michael Fassbender's movie, and the moment Erick stands up to Apocalypse at the end is the definition of a "Get up and cheer!" moment. Ever since First Class, you (read: me) have been waiting for the moment when the guy can finally heal and kiss & make up with Xavier. Thank God.
