MOVIE REVIEW: X-Men Apocalypse will annihilate the opposition

I’M not generally a fan of super hero or comic book movies but the new X-Men offering, it has to be said, is damn good. 

Compared to Batman Vs Superman for example, it’s streets ahead. It has a believable story, great set pieces, plenty of laughs and enough fight scenes to keep the action junkies happy.

The seventh instalment in the franchise (if you don’t count ‘Wolverine’) tells the story of Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) who, since the dawn of civilisation, has been worshiped as a god. 

He’s the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, who has amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. 

Upon awakening after thousands of years, Apocalypse 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. 

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.   

The film is directed, as most X-Men movies are, by Bryan Singer (‘The Usual Suspects’) and he really is a master of his craft. Singer also has a writing credit as does Simon Kinberg (‘The Martian’). 

The film begins in ancient Egypt with a gripping opening scene that catches the attention and introduces us to the evil Apocalypse. 

It jumps around in time and place, catching up with Magneto who has settled down in Poland, Raven who is mutant hunting in Berlin and finally checking in at Xavier’s school in upstate New York. The film takes place in the 1980s, so watch out for references to, and memorabilia from, that time. The best scene, for example, is set to the very ‘80s track ‘Sweet Dreams’, and features the mutant quicksilver using his lightning speed to save the day. 

This is a movie that has something for everyone and will keep you entertained throughout. We score it an heroic, 4 out of 5 stars. 

Paul O’Rourke