5/27/2016 0 Comments 'X-Men: Apocalypse' Movie ReviewOf all of the superhero franchises that dominate the current film industry, few have seen more variety and more ups and downs than the X-Men series. After departing from the series for several entries, original director Bryan Singer has returned to continue the saga with X-Men: Apocalypse. But is it the signature Singer version that fans have come to expect?
For those not versed in the series, here's a little bit of background: society is now shared by humans and mutants, people who have been bestowed with genetic mutations that are interpreted as superpowers. Some mutants are good, and they are led by Professor Charles Xavier (Wanted star James McAvoy). Xavier runs a "School for Gifted Youngsters," as he calls it, where he trains his students to harness their powers to protect the humans. Other mutants are bad, led by Magneto (Steve Jobs' Michael Fassbender). Magneto harbors a vengeful grudge over the way that mutants have been harshly prejudiced against by humans, which has led to a multiple-decade-spanning ideological conflict between himself and Xavier over right and wrong, and whether or not people can change. But nothing can prepare them for the arrival of Apocalypse (Star Wars star Oscar Isaac), the first and most powerful mutant. Originally hailed as a pharaoh of ancient Egypt, Apocalypse has been asleep for centuries and is displeased with the world he awakens to. Believing himself to be a God whose "children have followed blind leaders" in his absence, Apocalypse seeks to reestablish a new world order under his rule, and the only thing that can stop him are Xavier and his X-Men. A strong part of the allure of this series has always been its wide variety of characters, and a lot are present here. Sometimes, so many that some get more attention than others, leaving the characters you may want to see spotlit left in the shadows. For example, I was told that Jubilee would be making her screen debut in this film, and I wasn't lied to. She was there...with less than ten lines of dialogue and no action in the plot. Likewise, fan favorites Storm, Psylock, and Angel play major roles in the plot, but you don't make a great investment in their characters. Although, in all fairness, if every character had a developed arc and backstory, the final cut would be well over three hours, so some cuts understandably had to be made. This has become a noticeable issue in recent superhero films, though: so many characters are introduced in one movie, and when not all of them are fully developed, it's a segway to explore in future sequels. Some movies are very hasty and lazy about it (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), but Apocalypse manages to give the right amount of depth to the core characters, while having some good fun with the rest. However, for every character who gets sidelined for the sake of time, there are even more who get the proper amount of focus, namely Magneto. For the first time in several films, the audience is able to truly feel the amount of loss that the character has endured and strongly empathize with him. He's never fully good or bad, which adds a layer of depth to Fassbender's nuanced performance. In addition, McAvoy and series regular Jennifer Lawrence as the shape-shifting Mystique give expectedly excellent turns in their roles, playing off of each other with natural ease. Strong X-Men fans can expect highlight scenes for new additions Nightcrawler, Quicksilver, Cyclops and Jean Grey, each with their own editing style to add a bit of flair to the action. If there's any new addition to the cast that I didn't much care for, it's unfortunately Apocalypse, and to be honest, I have mixed thoughts on the matter. On the one hand, the script offers a lot of complexity on his part, drawing on a great deal of Biblical references to build his character. For example, he has four followers whom he imbues with power (the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, straight out of Revelation), and whom he gives the choice to follow him, given that he sees himself like God. On the other hand, Isaac's performance sadly offers hardly any further weight to the character; it's a very standard, monotone delivery, which is a crying shame, given his artistic and varied performances in the past (see Drive and Ex Machina). And while character and acting are all good and fine, what's a superhero movie without a bit of action? And if it's action you're looking for, this is the X-Men film to see. There are several sequences of massive destruction at Apocalypse's wrath, which, while it's pretty impressive to see, incur a bit of superhero fatigue in me; I've seen so many comic book films in recent years where the climax revolves around preventing the destruction of the world, and this hardly feels any different. To make up for that, however, amid all of the chaos are tightly-shot, one-on-one battles that feel very intimate, almost like a fight scene out of Spider-Man 2 or Sin City. Every punch is genuinely felt, and it's a nice contrast from the cataclysm occurring around it. For me personally, I've found that the X-Men films have always been character and story-driven, serving as an examination of what the characters can represent, while the action is a nice added bonus. But here, the effect is reversed, and the spectacle seems to take center stage. While I certainly was never bored with the result, and I'm sure most fans will recieve exactly what they're looking for, it left a tad more to be desired for me. In the end, Apocalypse isn't necessarily the best X-Men film, but it's far from being the worst. The music and costume design gleefully embrace the early '80s setting, and characters, while not as fully developed or well-rounded as in previous installments, are all entertaining to one degree or another, and the action is enthralling when it takes advantage of tight editing. But there's also the matter of a so-so villain and a massive-scale conflict that's been done so many times before, so there's some good and some bad. Overall, however, I do think that there's enough well-handled material to offer long-time X-Men fans a good time, and I can safely recommend it. I'm giving X-Men: Apocalypse three out of four stars.
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As much as I typically enjoy superhero entertainment, I do have to admit, it's pretty much everywhere. That means that a certain standard has been set by audiences, and filmmakers have to really go the extra mile to make their comic book adventures all the more memorable. Fortunately, directing brothers Anthony and Joe Russo seem to do that with ease, as demonstrated by Captain America: Civil War.
If you've seen any of the recent Marvel films, you've probably started to notice a pattern developing: a massive climax that results in city-wide destruction. Well now, a lot of angry civilians have risen out of the rubble, demanding that the Avengers show accountability for their actions. As a result, the United Nations have passed an act that forces the costumed heroes to answer the call to action only when the government deems it necessary. This causes a schism in the group and forms two factions: those siding with Captain America (Chris Evans), who see the act as limiting their ability to help people; and those on the side of Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), who believe, "if we don't answer to some limits, we're no different than the bad guys." Now, split apart and fighting themselves as well as the law, the Avengers must find a resolve on how to properly be a superhero in today's political world...or tear themselves apart trying. As far as the acting goes, this is the third film wherein all of the core Avengers are gathered together onscreen, and you can really tell from the way that the actors play off of each other. Downey, Jr. and Evans have already long-cemented themselves as the perfect personalities for their characters, and their variety of costars, including the likes of Scarlett Johannson, Elizabeth Olsen, and Sebastian Stan, and he ever-comedic Paul Rudd can practically play their heroic roles in their sleep. But the real standouts that everyone is sure to be talking about are the two new entries, Chadwick Boseman (42) as Black Panther and Tom Holland as cinema's newest Spider-Man. Both of the introductions to these characters are done quite well and integrated smoothly into the overarching story, particularly Boseman's turn as Black Panther. Normally, a hero's origin is saved for their own movie, but since it was lightly covered here, I'm all the more excited to see where his solo film will go. As for Spider-Man, I'm already a huge fan, and while I'm going to have to wait to see Holland in his own Spider-Man film to fiarly judge his performance against his predecessors, I can say from his little screentime here that he perfectly nails Peter Parker's charming comic book mannerisms. It's really a testament to the Russo brothers' writing ability to balance strong character dynamics that this film contains Captain America, Iron Man, Ant-Man, as well as the intros of Black Panther and Spider-Man, and it never feels jumbled or unfocused. All of these vibrant and contrasting personalities come to an enthralling head with exuberant energy manifested in the form of the action and excellent cinematography. My favorite aspect of last year's Ant-Man was the epic cinematography, putting the audience into the perspective of the bite-sized superhero, and the effect is much the same here, as well as being applied to each of the other heroes. It's almost as though each individual Avenger has their own style of film editing, such as Spider-Man's fast-paced swinging camera angles and Iron Man's aerial views. I can honestly say that Civil War has every bit as much action and energy as the Avengers films, but keeping it within the context of the plot (so as not to go overboard, as in the case of Avengers: Age of Ultron). And the action is only as epic as it is because of the well-handled story. This is not only the sequel that The Avengers deserves, but it also brings the right layer of political intrigue that made Captain America: The Winter Soldier the best Marvel movie up to this point. The message this time around can be interpreted in a few different facets: on the one hand, it's a film about government involvement in our day-to-day operations, and how big or small a role in such action is necessary. On the other hand, it's an examination on the "political correctness" of modern society, as it pertains to the freedom of choice and the notion of equality. Here's what I mean by all of that: if there are too many boundaries in the world, then the definition of "freedom" is controlled; but if there are no boundaries, then society will unravel itself. Because there's no black and white solution, there's right and wrong elements to both arguments, which makes it very difficult to pick a side and stick to it. If you don't flip-flop at least once while watching this movie, then you're probably a robot. If I have anything to complain about here, it would be that the film has a rather weak villain, when a villain in general isn't really necessary. While I don't necessarily think the actor did a bad job in the role (he was the right amount of intimidating and motivated), I think that the conflict is an interesting enough one to carry the film by itself. The world isn't in jeopardy as usual, but rather we're watching the very intimate and personal conflict of the collection of Earth's mightiest heroes being driven to their wit's end with no guaruntee of long-term resolution. This is a story that can perfectly tell itself, and while the villain certainly isn't a bad one, I think that the worst that could have happened from cutting him from the film would be the loss of maybe one action scene. Overall, Captain America: Civil War has managed to outdo its predecessors by combining the best of both worlds in terms of Marvel's cinematic elements: on the one hand, it offers all of the political intrigue and spotlight of contemporary issues from Winter Soldier; on the other hand, it brings the fireworks extravaganza from The Avengers, and then it bridges the two with an exciting story that's versed in both areas. As a result, it's the most well-rounded of the Marvel films, and perhaps even the new best. I'm giving Captain America: Civil War three and a half out of four stars. "Through Him, all things are made; without Him, nothing is made." John 1:3
If it's true that all things derive from God, then if you look at the entertainment industry, you'll come to the conclusion that just about every story, whether or not it embraces it, has some roots in the Bible. And no greater is this evident than in perhaps the most well-known and universally acclaimed film series of all time, Star Wars. While George Lucas's space epic certainly stands on its own, there's no denying the spiritual influence at the root of the galaxy far, far away. The series' seventh installment, The Force Awakens, follows in many traditions set by the original classics, and Christian theming is no exception. Today, I'm going to examine a few aspects in detail, so beware: spoilers ahead (as though you haven't already seen it). Fate & Destiny If there's any one compalint that the majority of fans have in common, it's the similarity in plot strucutre that The Force Awakens bears to A New Hope. For example, the protagonist, Rey, leads a dull existence amid an even duller and foreboding desert planet, Jakku. The expanse of sands stretch out endlessly beyond her, reflecting the flat, predictable future that awaits her. This mirrors the introduction to the original trilogy's hero, Luke Skywalker, who was called to action by an inviting force that he didn't fully understand. But what's even more important is that both of these characters have their origins rooted in "ordinary" people chosen by God, such as Noah (whose destiny was to preserve the world's future animal population after the great flood); or Mary, whose calling was to concieve the one and only Messiah. We may not know exactly what God has in store for us as of yet, but like Luke and Rey, like Noah and Mary, if we just trust in Him and take that first step, you're guarunteed to find a path more fulfilling than one you can forge for yourself. Another character who follows this principle is Finn, and good-hearted Stormtrooper who defects from the sinister First Order in favor of a more righteous cause. This showcases the film's Biblical message that the circumstances of your past don't have to define your future, and anyone's past can be redeemed by God. "You intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done: the saving of lives." Genesis 50:20 Strength in Spirituality One of the most prevalent elements of the Star Wars saga has been the inclusion of the Force, but what exactly is it? In the original film, Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi describes it as "an unseen energy field that surrounds and flows through all living things." Because the origins of the Force is undisclosed, the audience is led to the conclusion that it's something that has no origin, but rather simply exists. It simply was and is, and anyone can learn more about it and gain strength from it. Does that sound familiar? In the same way that a mastery of the Force is the source of a Jedi's spiritual strength, it's symbolic of a person's connection with God and the power that one brings. And if any Force Awakens character is a good symbol of this motif, it's surprisingly the charismatic smuggler, Han Solo. In the original films, Han thought the Force to be nothing more than fabricated superstition. But after witnessing Luke's commitment to his spirituality and the positive results of it, he now acts as spiritual mentor to Rey and Finn. This parallels the tale of King Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel, whose world view was changed for the better after witnessing God's protection of His people. Han even goes as far as to sacrifice himself to allow Finn and Rey to escape the destruction of Starkiller Base and finish their mission (sort of like another person who made a sacrifice for the good of a group of people). Not to say that Solo directly resembles Christ or anything, but the parallel is definitely there. Kylo Ren and Earthly Turmoil Finally, one of the most fascinating aspects of The Force Awakens is the villain, Kylo Ren. It seems like the thing that everyone hates about this character is what I love about him: he's not nearly as strong as he thinks he is. There's a lot of emotional turmoil brewing under that menacing mask, but why? Well, here's a little background on him (at least, as much as the script gives us): born Ben Solo, the son of Han and Princess (I mean, General) Leia, Ben was seduced by the Dark Side of the Force and became the malicious Kylo Ren. But as we see in his unmasked confrontation with his father, Ren is almost heartbreakingly torn apart, pleading, "I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I have the strength to do it." Now, I have a Biblical-rooted theory for this explanation: as Christians, we are called to do God's work and delight in the fruits of His labors. But as humans of Earth, we are equally driven by urges to fulfill sinful impulses. From the moment that we decide to follow God's law, we unwittingly open the door to an unseen force dedicated to driving us away from God. In the same way, Ren feels himself being called to the Light Side of the Force (in other words, God's Word), but finds himself answering the call of the manipulative Supreme Leader, Snoke (a figure whose devilish traits really speak for themselves). The fact is that we have Earthly impulses, and as long as we try to better ourselves by following God's path, there are forces that will always try to appeal to our impulses. The result can feel like a tug of war over the mind and spirit, and for someone not as strong in their principles, it can lead to a villain as richly complex and tragic as Kylo Ren. "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." Romans 7:19-25 Credit to blogger John Weirick's article, Force For Good? How Star Wars Eplores Big Questions About Faith, Power, and Morality, whose insight I used as inspiration for this piece. Link here: https://newspring.cc/articles/force-for-good-how-star-wars-explores-big-questions-about-faith-power-and-morality |
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