X-Men: Apocalypse
Director: Bryan Singer
Talent: Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Oscar Isaac
Release Date: 20th May
X-Men: Apocalypse sees the ancient titular villain – played under several layers of prosthetics by Oscar Isaac – awakening after thousands of years of sleep and immediately embarking upon a mission to save the world by destroying what he perceives as our feeble and stagnant modern civilisation. James McAvoy’s Professor X and his team of young recruits, including Tye Sheridan and Sophie Turner respectively as Cyclops and Jean Grey, set out to stop him, with predictably destructive results.
This is competent enough superhero fare; it also has the feeling of a missed opportunity. Unlike previous entries in the series, its time-specific setting – the 1980s – is used to little or no effect, and the always watchable Isaac is wasted in a role that ultimately amounts to scarcely more than shouting nonsense in a computer-modulated voice. Michael Fassbender and Jennifer Lawrence are also mostly anonymous. The new additions to the cast acquit themselves fairly well, however, and it could be enjoyable to watch them grow into their roles when the next outing inevitably rolls along.
Words: Felipe Deakin
