X-Men: Apocalypse (5/27/2016)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, action and destruction, brief strong language and some suggestive images.

Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Peters, Oscar Isaac, Tye Sheridan and Sophie Turner

Directed by Bryan Singer (X-men, Superman Returns, The Usual Suspects)

It’s the third film in a trilogy…how good could it be?

Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-MEN: Apocalypse. Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

There’s a scene in the film where several mutants decide to ditch school and catch a matinee of Return of the Jedi. Yes, this is actually in the film. And as they exit the theater they debate which Star Wars film was best. That’s when super-psychic Jean Grey says, “Well at least we can all agree that the third movie of a trilogy always sucks”…interesting.

X-Men: Apocalypse doesn’t “suck.” The Fantastic Four sucked, but it failed to measure up to the Marvel Studio films or even the latest Batman vs. Superman film. There are several very real problems with this film, so let’s check them out.

First of all, there is a cluttered cast of random mutants (most of whom have been played by other actors somewhere along the way). At times it almost felt like a reboot and not the third film in a trilogy. Most of them are ok, but Sophie Turner and Tye Sheridan are way too whiney.

Secondly, Oscar Isaac is pretty great as the almost invulnerable ancient supervillain, Apocalypse. I say almost because he becomes very vulnerable just in time for the final showdown without any real explanation.

There’s also another Quicksilver scene where he’s laughing and running around while the school is exploding. I knew this was coming because it was “such a big hit” during the last film. By the way, did you picture me actually doing air quotes? (Because I was totally doing that.)

There are some things about X-Men: Apocalypse that are genuinely terrific, and show off Singer’s gift for directing blockbusters. There’s also Michael Fassbender playing Erik Lehnsherr aka Magneto – he’s so good.

Singer also shows off his skills as a storyteller. He weaves into the story a perfect cameo of Huge Jackman and set up the next “X” story as he closes the chapter to the trilogy.

It’s not my favorite superhero film, but it does at least score a “Rental.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is one F-word and there are several other profanities. There is no sex or nudity.

There is a lot of violence and most of it is pretty graphic. My wife and I were sitting next to a family with a child (my guess is, a 5 year old) and he covered his eyes on more than one occasion.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. What are some of your favorite mutant abilities?


2. How were the X-Men able to defeat Apocalypse?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.



3. What does this passage tell us about working together?


4. How can you work with the others who are different in order to accomplish great things?