X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

So I recently saw the latest X-Men movie (date-ish?). When I first heard it was coming out I was very excited, but put off going since I really wasn't too sold on another movie with Wolverine as the star player (even though it makes sense). Luckily, I was lulled into the theater at 9:40 pm because of my love for James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence.

I was confused at first. Didn't Charles die? Why is Young Charles walking? It probably did not help that we were a few minutes late. After a while, though, things began to make sense. I had never been a huge X-Men fan. I disliked the whole Jean + Logan story. This movie was definitely a change of pace for Logan, who has always been against the idea of united mutants. Seeing the younger generation of mutants working together with the older generation was incredibly rewarding because it reminded you of their struggles from the beginning. Presently, these sentinel things are at war with the X crew as the sentinels try to destroy their existence. Logan, Charles, Erik, Kitty, Bobby, Storm, and company are pushed onto a mountain trying to escape these machines. The only way they can possibly win this war is for Logan to go back in time and stop it.

So he does. Kitty puts Logan's mind back to the 1970's to find Charles, Erik, and Raven. His mission is to unite them against Dr. Bolivar Trask, who wants to take over the power of mutants (he's responsible for the whole sentinel debacle). I had a hard time getting over the fact that Trask is played by Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister). See, after the very first Erik, Raven, and Charles incident (X-Men First Class), Charles lost everything. He lost Raven, the students from the school (Vietnam), and his best friend (Erik). When Logan went back to 1972, he found a Charles that had lost hope for people and mutants alike. Long story short: they all banded together for the good of the future. Even though Erik still basically betrayed everyone.
Yes, the action was good. There was just enough to keep it rolling, yet not enough to make me fall asleep. The 1970's setting was fabulous (the curtains, the suits, the pants legs) It pissed me off that all the previous movies were basically all for nothing, but the fact that everyone lives free from conflict is pretty nice. Even for those who are not X-Men movie fans need to see this movie because of that hope. I forgot that Charles Xavier's life was devoted to showing people that we can believe in one another. In the first few X-Men movies we saw that his wisdom had allowed him to mentor others to live free from hate and violence although it may be justified. In X-Men: First Class, we saw that the same perspective from his old age applied to him in youth. The goal of those who make these "hero" movies is not to wow the audience with fight scenes, justice, and getting the girl. The goal is to show the noble perseverance of good- of doing the right thing even in the face of defeat. I was nearly beside myself emotionally when old Charles told young Charles to hold on and remember that it wasn't all about this vs this, but trying to be the influence of understanding. It was all very Optimus Prime at the end of one of the Transformers movies/the whole ideal to strive towards of Man of Steel. Look for those on one of the pages. It really was a good movie. I loved being reminded of the true purpose behind the characters we always wanted to be when we grew up.

What's next? Got season four and five of True Blood to keep me occupied while reading Pride and Prejudice. Also, working on getting an outdoor theater thing together with a pocket projector (hopefully get up to speed on Wes Anderson). Heard there was a Rene Clair tribute on TCM today so might head over there. Looking forward to Yves Saint Laurent coming out soon.