X-Men: Apocalypse

Director: Bryan Singer
Writers: Simon Kinberg, Bryan Singer
Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Sophie Turner
Runtime: 144 mins
Strength:  CGI, Cast, Action 
Weakness: Makeup
Rating: 3.5/5

Plot: The X-Men must unite to defeat the world's first mutant, Apocalypse, and its emerging plan to destroy the planet and start a new era of civilization.

Review: The story picks-up the long-running series threads, making it a strong chapter in the X-Men filmography. En Sabah Nur A.K.A Apocalypse, hacks into Xavier's mind in an attempt to transfer his consciousness to Professor Charles Xavier's body and fulfil his destiny of burning the world down and start a new civilization, while being reborn in another vessel. 

There are a couple of newcomers this time and some of who have made quite an impact. Scott Summers A.K.A Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Kurt Wagner A.K.A Nightcrawler are the latest additions to the team with Jean Grey taking the spotlight with her innocence and dexterity throughout the film.  Alongside is the return of one of the most liked characters in the trilogy, Quicksilver who is given some form of an arc to explore with a more substantial part and emotional complexity. 

The movie's world-destroying, god-like mutant, Apocalypse, struggles to be even the least bit menacing. This is solely due to the non-intimidating make up used on the oldest-mutant-on-the-planet, forcing the character towards failure in displaying the expected charisma. The action scenes have been well choreographed with the help of CGI. The battle has been played out on fields both physical and psychic making the sequences intriguing. The clever rescue sequences pulled off by Quicksilver with his impossibly fast moves makes him one of the wittiest, if not the wittiest character in the film. 

At its core, there is a neat story of mutant power and evolution in this installment of The X-Men. The movie has been hollow at times where it should have had more impact and stifled where it should have been the most thrilling. Nonetheless, the movie provides enough reasons to look forward for future sequels.

Reviewed by Syed Ahnaf Sadeed