The UnPopular Opinion: X-Men Apocalypse

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

THE UNPOPULAR OPINION is an ongoing column featuring different takes on films that either the writer HATED, but that the majority of film fans LOVED, or that the writer LOVED, but that most others LOATHED. We're hoping this column will promote constructive and geek fueled discussion. Enjoy!

****SOME SPOILERS ENSUE****

Just a few months ago, 20th Century Fox's X-MEN franchise came to a disappointing close with the release of DARK PHOENIX. Barely mustering $250 million globally, DARK PHOENIX was the worst reviewed film in the series and eclipsed it's maligned predecessor, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE. The final X-MEN film helmed by Bryan Singer, X-MEN APOCALYPSE grossed $543 million worldwide, riding on the success of DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. While fans and critics did not warm to the global destruction on display in X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, the film is far better than it is given credit for and works far better in hindsight. If anything, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE is a satisfying conclusion to the prequel saga and serves as an appropriate introduction to the next generation of X-Men characters including Jean Grey, Cyclops, and more.

After adapting the iconic trime travel event DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, Simon Kinberg and Bryan Singer needed something substantial for their next film. By bringing one of Marvel Comics' most powerful supervillains to the screen in the form of Apocalypse, it seemed virtually impossible for fans not to flock to see the mutant equivalent of Thanos on screen. Continuing the trend of updating each sequel to a successive decade, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE gave us a 1980s flavored Marvel movie before CAPTAIN MARVEL did it as well as showcased a cast of characters long absent from the big screen. From Storm to Jubilee to Psylocke and Angel, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE filled every frame with X-Men goodies and easter eggs while taking the spectacle to the next level.

X-MEN: APOCALYPSE is destruction porn of the highest caliber. While other studio blockbusters have ventured into non-stop CGI overload, Singer's film manages to balance an intricate story involving multiple characters on both sides of the battle between Charles Xavier's X-Men and the quest of the ancient Apocalypse himself. Played by Oscar Isaac, Apocalypse is pure bombast and mustache-twirling evil. While he may not be as layered as Josh Brolin's take on Thanos, Isaac fully inhabits his character through make-up and prosthetics. Apocalypse absolutely could have been realized using motion-capture technology, but by enhancing practical effects with CGI, Isaac is able to lend traces of humanity (or what remains of it) in his performance. Even though early images from the film drew disdain from fans who likened Apocalypse's character design to that of Ivan Ooze from MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: THE MOVIE, the finished film casts Oscar Isaac's performance much more in line with an equal match for the heroes he shows down against in the film.

There was also a lot of hate thrown towards the returning main cast including James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, but mainly towards Jennifer Lawrence. The Oscar-winner was riding high on a series of critical and awards-worthy nominations as well as the recently concluded HUNGER GAMES saga, but was repeatedly looked at as sleepwalking her way through X-MEN: APOCALYPSE. With the scope so much larger on this film, many of the established players did have less screen time, but no one puts in a half-hearted effort. Lawrence, Fassbender, and McAvoy have fully inhabited their characters after two films and bring the same energy. Michael Fassbender, who is given the most gut-wrenching arc of anyone, here delivers his most layered performance as Erik Lensherr/Magneto. The loss of his wife and child in such a brutal fashion should have been mined for more than it was, but it makes his allegiance to Apocalypse all the more believable and bittersweet.

But what this film does do well is introduce us to Tye Sheridan as Scott Summers and Sophie Turner as Jean Grey. Stepping into the shoes of James Marsden and Famke Janssen, respectively, Sheridan and Turner take their screen time and make a valid case for taking over the franchise from the previous generation. Sheridan brings a rookie feel to his performance that we never saw in Marsden's cocksure take on Cyclops where Turner also makes Jean Grey far less controlled than Janssen which made it easy for DARK PHOENIX to be the next chapter in the saga. Evan Peters also gets the chance to reprise his scene-stealing appearance as Quicksilver in DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, once again being one of the rare actors who did something better than what Marvel Studios did with their AGE OF ULTRON take on the same character. There is also Olivia Munn, a physically perfect fit for Psylocke, who I would have loved to see on screen even more.

Cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel (THE USUAL SUSPECTS, DRIVE) manages to give X-MEN: APOCALYPSE a cinematic feel that also provides some powerful and artistic imagery that echoes his frequent projects with Bryan Singer while composer John Ottman, another Singer staple, takes advantage of the existing X-MEN film themes while also using the fun 1980s background to give this film some edge. The globe-trotting locales also aid in making this movie feel less like another American hero epic and more of a worldwide affair with Egypt, past and present, truly evoking the massive timeline of Marvel's mutant history. 

While the X-MEN franchise has has some box office and critical hits in X2, DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, LOGAN, and the DEADPOOL films, many of the rest have either been underwhelming or underrated. Of all the films, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE is by far the most under-appreciated chapter. Balancing a huge cast, a distinct time period, an iconic vlllain, two generations of heroes, and the biggest scale of any X-MEN film, APOCALYPSE deserved to be a much bigger hit with fans. As it stands, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE is an entry in the mutant saga that grows better with successive viewings and even manages to sneak some under the radar performances that stand out, like from Kodi Smit-McPhee and Nicholas Hoult. If you remember disliking this movie, I highly suggest you give it another go and you will find it is much better than you may recall.