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...

Movie: Rise of the Guardians (2013)

Rise of the Guardians
Animation, Adventure, Family

I might gush a little over this film, I lurrrrrved it! It's fantastically animated by the people who did How To Train Your Dragon (which I also loved!) and even though the idea has kinda been explored before, I don't think I've ever seen a double sword wielding Santa (voiced by Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock)!

The big four; Santa, the Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman - The Wolverine, Les Miserables), the Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher - Now You See Me, Confessions of a Shopaholic) and the Sandman (who doesn't talk), are protectors of children's happiness. Pitch Black (Jude Law - Sherlock Holmes, Repo Men) is the monster hiding under your bed and his goal is to suck all the happiness out of the world and envelope it in darkness. The Man in the Moon decides that the Big Four will need help, from non other that Jack Frost (Chris Pine - Star Trek). I love the tale of Jack Frost, in fact I was a little swoony over him... much like the Tooth Fairy.

I wanted to watch this movie again right after I finished it. The animations are fantastic and I chuckled a lot at the antics of Santa's elves. I loved Santa's full sleeve tattoos of Naughty and Nice, the Yeti's being the ones that make the toys but Santa letting the elves think they are the ones who do it and of course the sleigh. Everyone loves the sleigh! The Easter Bunny is bloody hilarious! Love that he's an Aussie with a boomerang and all the Australian colloquialisms. Then when the kids stop believing in him, he turns into this tiny cute little bunny; adorable! The Tooth Fairy's obsessiveness over teeth, especially Jack's and all the baby teeth! Sandy talking in shapes made by his sand and kicking Pitch's ass!

This is such a great movie, I'm going to go watch it again. I think I've mentioned before what a sucker I am for kids movies and books. I just love them and this is one of the best ones I've seen lately.

5 out of 5 snowballs...