Movie: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

X-Men: Days of Future Past
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

I love X-Men... need I say more? I don't think so but of course I will...

So many awesome characters, so many awesome actors. We got to see everyone we wanted to see, even if the main X-Men we're used to didn't get that much screen time. I'm a little peeved Anna Paquin got cut to a bare 3 seconds at the end of the film but I'm sure we will see more Rogue in the extras when the DVD is released. Shawn Ashmore as Bobby/Iceman, Daniel Cudmore as Collossus, Booboo Stewart as Warpath, Lucas Till as Havok... and I haven't even brought out the big guns yet!

So the story revolves around Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) of course. I have no idea where Kitty (Ellen Page) got the send-someone-back-in-time power from. Did she have that in the comics? I can't remember... But anyway, she sends Logan back because apparently he's the only one who can handle it. Young Xavier, played by the amazing James McAvoy, is in a bit of a slump after Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) left him for Erik/Magnito (Michael Fassbender/Ian McKellen).. oh, yeah, and Erik crippled him... So this film is (mostly) set after the events of First Class. Logan has to pull Xavier out of it with the help of Beast (Nicholas Hoult) in order to save both the mutant and human populations from destroying themselves with giant killer robots called Sentinels (seriously, The Matrix again anyone?) designed by antagonist Dr. Trask (Peter Dinklage). Like giant sentient robots are ever a good idea!

Quicksilver was one of the best things about this film. I remember when the trailer came out some people thought he would be lame.. but no, he is awesome! The small part he plays in the film really stuck in my mind and when I watched it recently for the second time, he was just as good. He's played by Evan Peters from American Horror Story who does a fabulous job. Hope we see more of him in the next films. I also thought the meeting of the two Xavier's was excellent, how cool to meet your future self... and who else would be able to kick young Xavier's ass back into gear but older, wiser Xavier (Patrick Stewart)? Stand out performance was definitely James McAvoy.

I'm a little disappointed that Taylor Kitsch's role of Gambit hasn't reappeared. Gambit was always one of my favourite X-Men and the little teaser we got of him in Origins: Wolverine just wasn't enough for me. I would have thought the timeline would be perfect for him too... Bring back Gambit! Also, the reappearance of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and Cyclops (James Marsden)! I did a little swoon there but we all knew they were both coming back didn't we? Yes, I watched the cartoons as a kid... And you can't have an X-Men film without Storm (Halle Berry).

I love X-Men. Keep 'em coming. Which X-Men is your favourite? Who do you want to see in the next film? Let me know in the comments!

4 out of 5 Marvels...

TV: American Horror Story SE3 EP13

American Horror Story

Drama, Fantasy, Horror

Ok, I've heard good and bad things about this finale and I have to agree with both. The Stevie Nicks music video at the very beginning of this episode is overkill. She's already had a feature in an entire episode, stop being so greedy! Yeah, yeah, she's like massively famous and rumored to be a witch so it's kinda smart I suppose but like I said, one episode is enough Stevie. Plus, that lip syncing was terrible!

This season - Coven - started off really slowly, I was actually very disappointed at first but it's really picked up in the last few episodes. I was so excited when I saw Kathy Bates (Misery, Fried Green Tomatoes) was guest starring in this season, that was huge! And what a character she played, fantastic. I hope she will be in next season too.

Poor Misty Day (Lily Rabe), what a sweet girl and I did so hope for her to be the new Supreme. I did not expect her to die that's for sure... actually I'm surprised at how many of them did die this episode. Once Misty was out of the running I thought for sure that Zoe (Taissa Farmiga) would be the Supreme... then she died too. Just when we thought that Madison (Emma Roberts) - the bitch - was going to be the Supreme. Thank goodness she wasn't! I'm not surprised that Kyle (Evan Peters) killed her, I wanted to strangle her too. Cow. 

I'm not at all surprised that the Supreme turned out to be Cordelia (Sarah Paulson), or that Fiona (Jessica Lange) was still alive. I knew that when Cordelia saw the vision of the Axeman (Danny Huston) killing Fiona that it wasn't quite right. Then when they were hugging I thought for sure Fiona would stab Cordelia in the back... oh well, I suppose it had to end somehow.

I was totally surprised about Myrtle (Frances Conroy) burning at the stake - again! I thought for sure after half the coven had been killed that she would stick around just to make up the numbers. But of course she was right and Cordelia had already put the word out about the coven, so more witches would be joining soon. Still, who would volunteer for that?!

Three seasons and I think season two - Asylum - is my favorite so far. We've had murders and ghosts, crazy people and more ghosts, and finally witches and voodoo; what will be next do you think? I love how this show changes every season and recycles most of it's cast. It's good to see that they can actually act and continue to convince us of their characters each season.

4 out of 5 cauldrons...

Honorary mention to Denis O'Hare as the help, the demented butler, Spalding. I didn't recognize him!

TV: American Horror Story SE2 EP5

American Horror Story
Drama, Horror, Mystery

This is one of my favourite shows on at the moment. I love a good horror/thriller and I've been trying to figure this season out. I know from last season that this episode was where everything changed for me and I think it will be the same with this season too. This episode definitely revealed a few things that I was wondering about.

I supposed I'll start by talking about Anne Frank (Franka Potente; you might recognise her from Run Lola Run!) and how I actually believed she was Anne Frank... she was very convincing. Then once the reveal came that she really was insane, I was thinking that she might still have seen Dr. Arden (James Cromwell) somewhere... and I was right! Just because she was a bit kooky didn't mean she hadn't seen him while she was researching Anne Frank and Nazis, the rest very well might be made up but she did recognise Arden! I thought her being lobotomised would kill her and it's just a little freaky that she's gone all Stepford Wife now.

Speaking of Arden and his crazy surgical adventures... how about what he did to the sex crazed Shelley (Chloe Sevigny from American Psycho)? I knew right away that the demon possessed Sister Eunice (Lily Rabe) had cleaned up after him... yeah, remember the demon possession? I have a feeling that's going to be terribly important to the rest of this season. What I want to know is why Eunice dumped what was left of Shelley near a school? I was highly amused at all the screaming and running though.

So Dr. Thredson (Zachary Quinto) is the real Bloody Face and he's taken Lana (Sarah Paulson) and no one knows she's even there... I never saw this coming, I thought he was honestly trying to help Lana. Is he even a real doctor? He did seem like he knew what he was talking about when he diagnosed Anne...

But what about Kit (Evan Peters)? When they were doing the recording I actually did think what a terrible idea it was and low and behold it was used against him as his confession. So now he gets the electric chair right? But Grace (Lizzie Brochere) saw Alma (Britne Oldford) alive! What the? I'm so confused. If Bloody Face AKA Thredson set Kit up, then who was the headless body if it wasn't Alma? and where is she now? Pregnant as well. Is it really aliens or has Bloody Face jacked them up on drugs to make them see things while he has his way with them? and if that's the case then how did he get to Grace and why wasn't she killed?

Finally; Sister Jude (Jessica Lange) has lost the plot and taken off. But she was right about Arden! I hope the guy she hired to find out more about him, actually does find out the truth. Wonder what's going to happen to Jude now...

4 out of 5 chomping teeth...

TV: American Horror Story SE2 EP1 & 2

American Horror Story
Drama, Horror, Mystery

This is another show I loved last season. I admit that the first few episodes are a bit boring and that's why I'm not counting on this ep as being the setting for the rest of the season, but as the season progressed it became pretty darn awesome... so I think anyway. I'm considering reviewing first season separately - stay tuned - because it looks like there has been a cast and scene change for this second season and so far I can't tell whether they are connected at all.

This show has possibly the worst introduction I've ever heard! Every time it comes on I have to mute it, it just does my hear in. Most of the cast from last season are back for this season, plus a few newcomers. It did take me a little while to recognise each of them though as their characters have changed.

Without talking about first season too much, this season is based around an asylum. The timing of the plot is split, which confused me a little at first but then I just had to remember that Adam Levine (front man of band Maroon 5) is in the present and the rest is the past. It's pretty cool that Levine introduces the characters from the present point of view and then we get to know them in the past. Rumors and truth... very interesting.

I'm assuming Evan Peters (Kick-Ass, Tate in season one) is the focus character again, as Kit Walker AKA Bloody Face, the worst serial killer known to the asylum... but as we gathered from last season, not everything is as it seems. Kit believes that aliens committed the murders and it looks like he's telling the truth...Of course no one believes him when they find him covered in blood, holding the murder weapon and his wife skinned. He's then admitted to Briarcliff Mental Institution for a psych evaluation by none other than Zachary Quinto (Heroes, Star Trek). Dr. Thredson is the sympathetic visiting psychiatrist who shows a little too much interest in the inner workings of the asylum.

Set in 1964 the asylum is home to a plethora of oddballs, not just limited to the patients! The doctor, James Cromwell (The Green Mile, The Artist) is terribly unorthodox using methods such as electro shock therapy (seen a bit of that around lately eh?) and keeping what I'm assuming is zombies in the forest... very strange. Then there's the head nun, Sister Jude (the amazing Jessica Lange, Constance in season one) who once was the complete opposite of a nun and apparently still has those unholy urges and a spiteful temper to boot. I'm thinking she's got a few bolts loose after she locked up the reporter, Lana - Sarah Paulson (Serenity, What Women Want, Constance's psychic friend, Billie Dean Howard in season one) for being a lesbian and then had her treated with electroshock therapy.

Seems like everyone is a little crazy and everyone has something to hide. Can't wait to see how it plays out. Love a good horror too so I'm a fan.

4 out of 5 haunted houses...

[Quote]

Leo (Levine): Oh my god, you're so demented, I love you.