Next year is going to be a really X-citing year! I'm absolutely X-static! Can't you feel the X-citement in the air? Ok, ok that's enough X puns. Last week Bryan Singer gave us our first look at the latest installment of the X-Men franchise. This film looks to be bigger, scarier, and darker than the previous X-films. Singer has said that we're seeing a full on disaster movie and the trailer does give us a glimpse of some world wide destruction courtesy of Apocalypse.
Actual scene from the film . . . Well . . . a film . . .
I have high hopes for this film. I've always been a big fan of the X-Men films. I kind of grew up with them. When the first X-Men came out it showed the world that superhero films didn't have to be campy and goofy. Despite a couple of misfires, it's safe to say that the X-Men films have been pretty bad ass. Given the busy-ness of next year's blockbuster films, X-Men: Apocalypse has to stand out among the rest. Also it has to be a worthy follow up to the awesomeness of X-Men: Days of Future Past, regarded as the best of the X-films. Well . . . to me at least.
Anyway, I'd like to share with you my hopes for what X-Men: Apocalypse will bring us next summer.
FOLLOW UP TO MYSTIQUE AS STRYKER
One of the coolest twists at the end of Days of Future Past was definitely seeing Stryker retrieving Wolverine's body but wait! It isn't Stryker at all! It's Mystique! What is she planning to do with the body? Was Mystique involved in the Weapon X program? Was she just there to rescue Logan from military experimentation? The latter seems likely given that Jennifer Lawrence has stated that since the ending of DOFP, she's been running around saving mutants, similar to what she did in her opening scene in that film. I think we should get an answer in this film or possibly the next Wolverine film. Why include a cool twist if there is no follow up? That's just mean, Bryan!
CYCLOPS DONE RIGHT
One of my main complaints from the original X-Men films is the little to no focus on Cyclops. Which is a shame for a few reasons: First because James Marsden is a fantastic actor and a great choice for the role, second because Cyclops is a wonderful leader for the X-Men, third because Cyclops, especially in the past few years, has proven to be a much more complicated and rich character than previously thought. In the recent comic books Wolverine has taken on the role of teacher and Cyclops has been a leader rescuing persecuted mutants. In a way, Cyclops has become the new Magneto and Wolverine is Professor X. Well, at least they were before they were both killed off in Death of Wolverine and Secret Wars. I mean, they'll probably be back soon . . . But still! Cyclops was portrayed well in the first X-Men film. I look forward to seeing a great arc for this character in Apocalypse.
A NEW KIND OF VILLAIN
For the majority of the X-Men films, Magneto has been the primary antagonist. Even if other characters were introduced they were overshadowed by Magneto. That's partially because Ian McKellan and Michael Fassbender are such strong actors that they can carry the film effortlessly. It's also because the creators haven't fully explored the amazing villains that the X-Men comics regularly feature. Luckily, this film seems to be shaking things up and is bringing in a brand new, unseen X-villain. Apocalypse has a bit of a confusing history in the comic books but it looks like his basic story of being a former Egyptian "god" and super-powerful mutant is being kept intact for the film. I think he's exactly the kind of character these films need to stay fresh and exciting. We can't just have another Magneto-hates-humanity-climax like we have for the past few films. I'd rather see a totally unpredictable, truly terrifying new antagonist. Speaking of which . . .
RETURN TO FORM FOR MYSTIQUE
I mean this literally and figuratively. It's not too surprising that in the first trailer for the film we only see Mystique in her human disguise given Jennifer Lawrence's star power. However, it's kind of annoying because it goes against what the character stands for. She makes a point to say "Mutant and proud" but still feels the need to disguise herself all the time? Out in public is one thing but she's shown standing next to the X-Men as an attractive blonde. Maybe in the film she'll appear more in her blue form but it's a little irritating from a fan's perspective. Also, I like Mystique better as a villain. Granted, she did have a redemption story in X-Men: Days of Future Past but in the comics she's Magneto's right hand. She's fully capable of leading the Brotherhood of Mutants in his absence. Why keep her as one of the good guys when she's far more suited to be the villain? I mean technically she's not the villain because she's fighting for mutant rights, just in an extreme way. You know what I mean! I kind of hope by the end of the film she and Magneto rekindle their relationship and form a new Brotherhood of Mutants.
RETURN OF THE SENTINELS
This may come as a shock to you, but my favorite X-Men villains are the Sentinels. Technically they're just robots programmed to kill mutants but that to me makes them so interesting and exciting. In multiple different incarnations of the X-Men from the movies, to the comics, to the cartoons, the Sentinels at some point gain artificial intelligence and wipe out not just mutants but the humans that created them as well. True it's the plot to the Terminator films but it's an effective story for X-Men. First, it shows that we shouldn't be too reliant on technology to do all the dirty work in the world. Secondly, it's another great racism metaphor for the X-Men stories. It shows that humanity is so afraid of another species that it's willing to build robots to kill them. Can you imagine that? What if robots were created to destroy or police all Muslims or anyone that might be suspected of being loyal to ISIS? Plus, given the power that Apocalypse has, it makes sense that the Sentinels would play a part in the story to stop him. It was done on an episode of X-Men: Evolution. Made sense to me then, it makes sense to me now!
MORE QUICKSILVER
Much to everyone's surprise, Quicksilver was one of the highlights of X-Men: Days of Future Past. He's actually one of my least favorite characters in the comics because he always seem so whiny and searching for daddy's love and approval. It was nice to see him portrayed as a confident young man. It helped that the special effects on the character and the scene in the Pentagon kitchen were very well handled. Clearly, Singer and his crew are working hard to top that scene and I am anticipating something spectacular. I'm also hoping he'll be in more than just a handful of scenes. It would be nice if Magneto was revealed as his father and he joined the Brotherhood at the end of the film, but it's also not necessary. Like I said, I don't want the character to turn into a whiny bitch.
BAD ASS FIGHT SCENES
While X-Men: the Last Stand was not my favorite one in the series, it did have a really great fight scene at the end of the film. We need to see the X-Men fighting together as a team against a common enemy. In the Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron we see the Avengers fighting as a team and showcasing their individual talents and powers. It's part of what makes these films so much fun to watch. Especially nowadays where the technology is much more advanced, we can see Cyclops lasering one guy while Storm calls down thunder and lightning while Quicksilver runs around beating up ten or twelve guys. Seeing the X-Men fight (and die) against the Sentinels in DOFP was pretty cool but this time let's see them all try, and fail, to take on Apocalypse. The film has a huge budget - let's spend it on showcasing awesome superpowers! Speaking of which . . .
MUTANTS NOT JUST FOR DISPLAY
One thing that's really frustrating about the X-Men comics is that there are thousands of mutants. The films have done their best to showcase as many as possible, but given that the film already focuses on 8-10 characters and their arcs it's difficult to give every mutant their day in the sun. However, it's frustrating seeing so many great characters like Colossus, Bishop, and Jubilee given supporting roles with no real arc for their characters. Given the weird relationship between Marvel and Fox there are no X-Men toys released with the films. It's strange to me that the films would want to show off all these cool mutants and their powers if only for a minute or two of the film. We've seen Wolverine, Magneto, and Mystique do cool and interesting things with their powers and get great character development. Let's see what these other characters have to offer not just with their powers but to the overall story. And while we're adding mutants . . .
WHERE ARE THESE GUYS?
Before Apocalypse is released we will have already seen the Deadpool film and later on we'll be seeing Gambit. I mean, right? It didn't get cancelled did it? Well, for the purposes of this article, we'll say it's still on. What we don't know for sure is if Deadpool, Wolverine, and Gambit will be making an appearance in this film. While I don't think that any of them are essential to the plot or marketing, I do think that they should get a nod of some sort (like my Wolverine/Mystique suggestion). These are important, popular, fan favorite characters in the X-Men universe. They should get some screen time with their fellow X-Men. I think that all three of their solo films will take place in the present while Apocalypse takes place in 1983. Knowing that, it might be difficult for the characters to appear since it's 30 years ago for them and they are probably not born yet. I still think it's important to have these characters cross paths at some point. It helps make the films seem more cohesive and exciting.
STAN LEE
One of the most fun things to do during a Marvel movie is to find Stan Lee. He's like the Alfred Hitchcock of the Marvel films. He has a brief but memorable cameo in almost every film. However, he is noticeably absent from a good chunk of the X-Men films. It's not like he is necessary to the film's success, but it is great to see him in every film. He's guaranteed to get a laugh out of the audience. Plus I mean come on! He may not have created every one of these characters but the X-Men exist because of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee! Let's get him back in the films!
These are simply my hopes for this new X-film. As I said, I'm a huge fan of the X-Men movies and can't wait to see what Bryan Singer and company have in store for us next summer.
Till Next Time!
JJ - The Comic Junkie!
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