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X-Men: Apocalypse was a disaster for its titular villain. Here's how

X-Men: Apocalypse was a disaster for its titular villain. Here's how

The movie forgets to imbue Apocalypse with anything resembling originality
Updated 25 May, 2016

There’s a scene in X-Men: Apocalypse, where Professor X’s young new recruits sneak off to watch The Empire Strikes Back (the movie is set in 1983). On the way out, Jean Grey (Game of Throne’s Sophie Turner) snidely remarks, “At least we can all agree the third one is always the worst”.

Though intended as a dig at Brett Ratner’s disastrous X-Men: Last Stand, Grey's dialogue proves ironically prescient: Bryan Singer’s third film in this semi-rebooted universe is its weakest, often stumbling upon its series' strengths, taking too long to do not very much with far too many characters. Apparently, Sansa Stark knows things.

First, some plot

X-Men: Apocalypse revolves around the godlike titular villain attempting to destroy humanity and guide his “lost children” aka all mutants, back to the right path; Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac in blue-face) is the original mutant, also referred to as En Sabah Nur. Worshipped as a deity in Ancient Egypt, he rules through four powerful acolytes dubbed the 4 Horsemen.

Betrayed by his followers in the opening scene, he is trapped under the ruins of a pyramid. That is, until he is accidentally re-awoken 6000 years later, by CIA agent Moira McTaggert (Rose Byrne, returning in a forgettable turn as Professor X’s love interest).

Soon Apocalypse sets about recruiting new Horseman, including the seemingly retired Magneto to help him conquer the world and put mutants in charge. The X-Men obviously, must come together to stop him.

The setting

Apocalypse possesses multiple powers which he has enhanced with alien technology —Photo courtesy: comingsoon.net
Apocalypse possesses multiple powers which he has enhanced with alien technology —Photo courtesy: comingsoon.net

The set-up harkens back to the very first X-Men, where super powered individuals who find themselves shunned by society at large, must overcome their isolation and unite to save the very people who ostracize them. Apocalypse ditches the time-hopping of the two previous films and thankfully sticks to one time period, namely the 1980s.

Though it certainly puts the setting to good use aesthetically, drawing skilfully from the era's fashion and music, (one character adopts Michael Jackson's jacket from 'Thriller' as his uniform), it ultimately lacks the sexy intrigue and political overtones of the 60s and 70s era.

One notable exception was Magneto’s powerful return to the Auschwitz Concentration camp, in one of the movie's most stirring sequences. However, for the most part, the setting ultimately has little impact on the movie's direction.

Who had it worse: the super villain or the superhero crew?

The movie unfortunately forgets to imbue Apocalypse with anything resembling originality. And so one of the comics’ most compelling villains becomes more of a reason to toss what feels like a hundred more mutants into the mix. Storm! Cyclops! Nightcrawler! Arch Angel! Purple lady? Wait, who? The sheer number of characters makes them difficult to keep a track of, let alone care deeply about.

Jean Grey and Cyclops are just a couple of the new recruits featured in the flick —Photo courtesy: comingsoon.net
Jean Grey and Cyclops are just a couple of the new recruits featured in the flick —Photo courtesy: comingsoon.net

Also read: Captain America: Civil War might be this year's biggest superhero hit. Here's why

Unlike Civil War, the movie manages them inefficiently; sacrificing them at the altar of spectacle, even while displaying promising sparks of dynamism.

Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) and Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) play well off each other providing some of the movie's comic relief. Professor X (James McAvoy) and Beast (Nicholas Hoult) fall right back into their comfortable dynamic. Neither of them have much time to shine though, as the show must go on.

Even Jennifer Lawrence couldn't be the saving grace
Even Jennifer Lawrence couldn't be the saving grace

Sophie Turner is serviceable as Jean grey, though her arc feels entirely unearned by the end of it. Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique is consistently grim, and consequently one note. Worse still, fan favourite Wolverine is reduced to the X-men equivalent of a carnage-filled item number. However, Evan Peters makes a welcome return as the infectiously fun Quicksilver. Unfortunately, he too, is let down by some odd plotting choices, particularly concerning his relationship with Magneto.

The biggest problem though lies with Apocalypse's chosen followers, dubbed his Four Horsemen. The new Storm (Alexandra Shipp inheriting the role from Halle Berry) though promising, is ultimately given little time to develop. Psylocke (Olivia Munn), for all her physical prowess, is more of a bouncer for Apocalypse rather than a fleshed out character. Arch Angel is present, which is about all I can say.

The Four Horsemen, pictured above. —Photo courtesy: comicbookmovie.com
The Four Horsemen, pictured above. —Photo courtesy: comicbookmovie.com

Magneto (Michael Fassbender) is the one true saving grace here. He gives us a vulnerability to match his gravitas, adding a new dimension to a now familiar character, imbuing him with a tragic sense of purpose. One wishes him and Professor X had more time together.

The whole enterprise moves forward rather unevenly. We jump from Upstate New York to Berlin to Frozen Tundra to Cairo with little regard for coherence or audience interest. The structure, an echo of the original X-Men, doesn’t hold well when overburdened with so many characters and events. The film’s supposed centre, Apocalypse lacks what it takes to keep it all together.

This dulls the impact of the otherwise gigantic action pieces to the point of numbness. At times, it feels like a Transformers movie, complete with giant pyramid destruction scenes. Don’t get me wrong though, this isn’t a Michael Bay level fiasco. It’s just disappointing to see from Bryan Singer, a man behind films such as The Usual Suspects.

In conclusion

Singer deserves due credit for playing a big role in resurrecting the flagging superhero genre, giving it maturity. He understood the allegorical heft of The X-Men as a case for civil rights. But here his familiarity and respect for the enterprise let him down. Even an updated version of the beloved Quicksilver slow motion sequence from the previous movie, though entertaining, fails to give us the same thrills as the first time around. It’s still pretty cool to behold, if nowhere near as thrilling.

Evan Peters appears in the movie as Quicksilver —Photo courtesy: uk.yahoo.com
Evan Peters appears in the movie as Quicksilver —Photo courtesy: uk.yahoo.com

All told, it’s the cinematic equivalent of a once great 80s band trying to stage a comeback, complete with substitute members, hoping to capture its former glory. Unfortunately, what it ends up feeling like is a pale imitation of its best days, familiar and yet lacking that old magic, burdened by the weight of its former greatness.

Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Comments

Y May 25, 2016 01:39pm
"Unlike Civil War" and I almost stopped reading. Way to ride the Disney hype train dude. Though I myself won't rank Xmen: Apocalypse among the top 5 CBMs, this article itself lacks originality. I enjoyed all the good comic book based movies coming out this year, with a grain of salt, but can not understand the worship status that forced comedy-centric Marvel movies have attained while demonizing every other comic based movie that is coming out, and that too for about the same shortcomings that Marvel movies have themselves in abandon. Well, to each their own I guess, its all subjective anyway what movies you like, Just try to make sure your opinion is your own and not influenced by the plethora of bias that Disney propaganda machine is churning out.
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FaZ May 25, 2016 02:12pm
Terrible review. This movie rocked!
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Zak May 25, 2016 02:20pm
I don't watch these children movies.
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Y May 25, 2016 03:15pm
"The film’s supposed centre, Apocalypse lacks what it takes to keep it all together." Same as the titular character of CW, Captain America, is continuously overshadowed by Ironman. From BvS review: "Do Batman and Superman have any good reason to hate each other?" Does Stark really have any good reason? First for trying to imprison all his comrades that won't sign Sokovia accord, and later completely losing all his judgment to ignore that Bucky has continuously been in mind control situation that Cap was so painstakingly trying to explain? For all his analytical skills, talk about out of character behavior. But hey can't we ignore all that and just try to enjoy the nice fight scenes? - cont'd
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Y May 25, 2016 03:15pm
"Why did Superman say ‘Martha’ in the first place?" Why were there not only one, but two cameras to document Bucky's mission as he killed Stark's parents, in the middle of nowhere, two decades ago? That conveniently dropped in Zemo's hands later on. Don't even try to rationalize Zemo's "Master plan" where scene after scene throughout the movie it depended heavily upon things to happen totally out of his control. Including the accurate timing where he got Stark, Cap and Bucky, no one else mind you, trapped in the same building, with the murder scenes to be played. I am surprised he didn't cater for popcorns for his spectators. Compared to this, Lex's plan, with its own holes, comes out as a master stroke. "Why is Batman's mask just plain dumb?" Seriously dude, you are going to criticize that mask, where you have a walking American flag as the star of CW? Can't we just enjoy the fact that these silly dressed people from our childhood comics are now gracing the big screen? - cont'd
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Y May 25, 2016 03:16pm
I like all these three movies, which are meant to be watched with a suspension of belief. But this sheep mentality of worshiping Marvel movies like sacred text, while deeming all others as heretic untouchables, needs to stop. I liked Civil War, but it is not Marvel's best movie in my opinion, nor the best of all other movies of this year. Though everyone's is entitled to their own opinions. However I do feel the official 'reviewers' need to be taken to task, just to make sure they have not fallen in the pitfall of silly biases, often induced by big movie industries. On that note, hats off to Marvel publicity tactics. - cont'd
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Y May 25, 2016 03:17pm
(I have a mix in my top 5 CBMs: Superman 2, Blade 1, Watchmen, The Dark Knight, Winter Soldier. For the sheer worth of how much I enjoyed these movies. As I don't really care about the manufactured artistic value. BvS, though not in top 5, has a special place in my heart for showing the three iconic characters together in an epic fight scene. Also kudos to Avengers 1 being the first to bring multiple big superheroes together on the big screen.) Anyway, in the end, author, nice effort buddy. Good writing skills as well.
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Angry May 25, 2016 03:22pm
I actually really enjoyed X men
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Arsalan May 25, 2016 03:46pm
@Y The movie was a waste of time, prob as worse as the third part.....
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Raza May 25, 2016 03:49pm
@Zak : you don't watch children movies? Why bother reading the reviews? X men and all Marvel comics are counter culture in their themes, always been... It allows you to connect to marginalized / or people who fear marginalization in contemporary society. Marvel stories are always carry a burning societal theme to be visited using imagination. That is why it is liked by all and has survived so far in 21st century. They present universal binary conflicts, always present in our consciousness.
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Ash May 25, 2016 03:52pm
@Zak you don't watch Hollywood movies and hate bollywood then what do you watch. Arabian movies.
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Ahmer May 25, 2016 04:15pm
@Zak But you like to read the articles about them.
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Ahmer May 25, 2016 04:17pm
Every superhero movie these days is a flop. Civil War, Batman vs Superman and recent X-men movies, all are pathetic and boring. Good but mindless action without a proper story line. But this sells, people flock to watch them, so why not, far as the producers are concerned.
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Hammad May 25, 2016 05:12pm
They went to see Return of the Jedi, not The Empire Strikes Back.
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Y May 25, 2016 05:17pm
@Arsalan we are all entitled to our opinions. I enjoyed Apocalypse as well as BvS more than Civil war, that the author raves about. I personally like villains to exhibit a real threat ala Apocalypse and Doomsday, as compared to the giggle-fests that CW airport fight scene was, or evil plans to make some kind of sense as compared to fortunate series of events that Zemo so conveniently had. I like CW too but what is hilarious is that this article criticises Apocalypse and earlier BvS for issues that are more glaring in CW.
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andheaventoo May 25, 2016 10:03pm
@Y Let's see. An irrational reaction to any mention of Civil War, salty allusions to Marvel worship, and the words: Disney propaganda machine. You must be one of the many people who think that just because something is popular and well-liked, that it must have some fatal flaw. Talk about lack of originality, bro. Civil War has done extremely well critically. It's probably going to be the highest grossing super hero movie this year. Simply by virtue of this fact, comparisons of other superhero movies to Civil War are simply inevitable, yet you're acting as if this perfectly rational mention of Civil War (which was also the third installation in a trilogy and also, featured an ensemble cast and also showed conflict between characters already acquainted with each other in previous movies - things also present in Apocalypse) is something absurd.
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GK May 26, 2016 04:18pm
@Y All well and good, but I would take it up with the person who wrote that review. Also, Disney's entire marketing muscle couldnt hide the fact that the last Avenger's movie was a well shined turd.
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GK May 26, 2016 04:22pm
@Y No, Stark comes across as paranoid, but that's a character trait that's been reinforced post The first avengers. Tony loses his rationality, in increasingly more complex ways. The way Xavier loses his will in the last X-Men. Its called character depth.
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GK May 26, 2016 04:23pm
@Y Didn't write it, can't defend it. Particularly the crack about Batman's mask. Also, Superman doesn't hate Batman, though Bats clearly hates blue boy
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GK May 26, 2016 04:26pm
@Y for me the best MCU movie is probably still Iron Man 1, despite its meh Villain. I rather liked Guardians too. it was a pleasant surprise. If we're talking Pre-MCU, then its gotta be Blade II
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GK May 26, 2016 04:33pm
@Y I don't think anyone is watching these movies for "Artistic value", though they can occasionally raise interesting questions. Watchmen certainly did, though I think it owes that entirely to its Source material, which truly was a was a work of art. The fight scenes were the best part of BVS for me, especially Batman taking on the dozen+ thugs. That was beautiful. Top 5 for me: Dark Knight. 2. Batman Begins. 3. Iron Man 4. Spider-man2 5. Watchmen (The Directors cut though. I thought the theatrical version was disappointing)
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GK May 26, 2016 04:36pm
@Y Also, thanks. In the end its just my opinion. It really isnt a MCU bias. They've made plenty of crap. If anything, I'm predisposed to love DC, because well Batman. But these movies inevitably invite comparison because they're all released so close together and have the same overriding ambition. Also, Mask of the Phantasm. If we include Animated movies, then that would easily be my favourite Comic Book movie of all time. Also, American Splendor was pretty good
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