I didn't know there was a post credits scene or I would've stayed longer. What did it show?
Spoilers X-Men: Apocalypse - Grading & Discussion
- Thread starter Dream
- Start date
Check your PMs.
I just realized they gave zero explanation to the advanced soul switching technology that Apocalypse had in ancient Eygpt. So I'm safe to just assume that alien Celestial technology right? I'm really glad they threw that in there and kept it close to the comics, even if they didn't bother going into it.
Marvel I think based on their mention in GoTG and their first appearance in a non X-men, FF property.
We actually saw a couple of Celestials in Guardians of the Galaxy. There was one in the historical display that the Collector showed the Guardians, and Nowhere itself is built into the head of a deceased Celestial.
Yes, I felt Apocalypse was too passive. I would not have minded if this movie had dealt with his rise, an initial confrontation, and the recruitment of his horsemen ready for the second half of this movie in a sequel. Harry Potter did it; Hunger Games did it.
I would really have loved the Marauders to have featured in this movie I guess. Them killing and maiming other mutants, including Angel, would have been cool, ready for the 4 horsemen in the next one.
With Sinister's cloning, Banshee, Angel, Emma, Havok, any characters could be back on thje table, including Apocalypse, since Cable was intended to be a vessel for the big guy. Hell, the Angel we see in this movie could be a clone of Warren Worthington.
I forgot about that. That bugged me while I was watching the movie but I completely forgot about it until you mentioned it.
Some kind an explanation would have been nice since it was such a big part of the movie, and since the Celestials appear to be a Marvel Studios thing we can assume it didn't come from them.
Maybe it was somehow tied to one of Apocalypse's old Horsemen's powers.
There was a priest guy who seemed to be controlling the soul transfer process, which I found odd at the time. Maybe he was literally just telling the workers to pull the tarp on the capstone?
BTW, the credits list the cult that wakes up Pocy as Cult Akkaba! Great comics reference!
So, how come Jubilee goes to the mall with Scott, Jean, and Kurt, yet when the soldiers attack she isn't with them?
Also, how the hell did Stryker's copters get there within a minute of the telepathic message going out? Isn't he based in Alkalai Lake, in CANADA? They would have had to have been lying in wait just outside the school grounds. Maybe there was a cut scene explaining he was there observing them or something?
Also, since when do the bad guys have a mutant dampening field? How come they didn't use it on Magneto's prison or Mystique's prison in the old movies? This is the 80s. Where the hell did that come from? Felt like a plot contrivance.
Also, Kurt bamfs Scott and Jean into the Stryker copter and into the dampening field. They all loose their powers. Yet when the copter arrives at Alkalai Lake, they manage to get out of the copter without anyone seeing them? How? They were literally locked in a cage with the other captives.
BTW, the credits list the cult that wakes up Pocy as Cult Akkaba! Great comics reference!
So, how come Jubilee goes to the mall with Scott, Jean, and Kurt, yet when the soldiers attack she isn't with them?
Also, how the hell did Stryker's copters get there within a minute of the telepathic message going out? Isn't he based in Alkalai Lake, in CANADA? They would have had to have been lying in wait just outside the school grounds. Maybe there was a cut scene explaining he was there observing them or something?
Also, since when do the bad guys have a mutant dampening field? How come they didn't use it on Magneto's prison or Mystique's prison in the old movies? This is the 80s. Where the hell did that come from? Felt like a plot contrivance.
Also, Kurt bamfs Scott and Jean into the Stryker copter and into the dampening field. They all loose their powers. Yet when the copter arrives at Alkalai Lake, they manage to get out of the copter without anyone seeing them? How? They were literally locked in a cage with the other captives.
I just got back from seeing X-Men: Oscar Issac is a Blue Man.
Anyway, this was my favorite superhero movie of the summer. IMO it's the best X-Men movie. If I had one nitpick, I felt it was overly long but the build-up to the final battle was worth it. I'll probably be going back to see this one again.
Anyway, this was my favorite superhero movie of the summer. IMO it's the best X-Men movie. If I had one nitpick, I felt it was overly long but the build-up to the final battle was worth it. I'll probably be going back to see this one again.
It's possible that Stryker keeps some copters posted nearby since he knows about the school.
One could argue that Stryker used a dampening field on the captive new mutants/Jubilee in X2 since they couldn't escape without help despite having powers that would allow them to do so (although didn't Nightcrawler teleport them all out? That would be incongruous unless there was a reason why it was shut down). Silly thing is that the characters are so green, they probably would not have needed the field. Couldn't use it on Magneto since it needs metallic and electrical components. I would say it is most likely an electrical field that prevents connection to the part of the brain that consciously activates their powers so in other words it wouldn't work on Scott or Logan but on most of the others.
I just saw X-Men: Apocalypse. I enjoyed it, though my first impression is that it's not quite as good as DOFP. I gave X-Men:Apocalypse a solid "B" on this poll.
I wished they had given more character development and background to Poe-pocalypse. Without a little exposition, the consciousness-transfer stuff basically looks like magic. And some of the "new" characters felt kind of tacked on, without much development either.
Wolverine's inclusion felt kind of tacked-on to me, too. But it was cool to finally see Wolverine with the Weapon X headgear like in the comics.
Erik helping rebuild the mansion at the end was a nice gesture. And as part of that work, he must have had a hand in putting Cerebro back together... so that kind of fits with what he said in the first X-Men movie.
Also, people seem to age really slowly in this universe... even the regular humans.
Kor
I wished they had given more character development and background to Poe-pocalypse. Without a little exposition, the consciousness-transfer stuff basically looks like magic. And some of the "new" characters felt kind of tacked on, without much development either.
Wolverine's inclusion felt kind of tacked-on to me, too. But it was cool to finally see Wolverine with the Weapon X headgear like in the comics.
Erik helping rebuild the mansion at the end was a nice gesture. And as part of that work, he must have had a hand in putting Cerebro back together... so that kind of fits with what he said in the first X-Men movie.
Also, people seem to age really slowly in this universe... even the regular humans.
Kor
I liked the movie and the epic scale of the mutant shenanigans. After Civil War, I also appreciate really being able to follow the action without all the quick shot/speed up edits. Public fear of mutants will be quite justified after this.
I was distracted because Oscar Isaac's Apocalypse looks like a blue Jeffrey Tambor.
Maybe it's just his apoca-lips...
If you had asked me as a teenager if it would be more likely to get an X-Men movie or a movie featuring Four Horsemen by Metallica, not sure what I would've picked. It might've been a bit on-the-nose but it actually is appropriate for the movie's timeframe.
I was distracted because Oscar Isaac's Apocalypse looks like a blue Jeffrey Tambor.
Maybe it's just his apoca-lips...
If you had asked me as a teenager if it would be more likely to get an X-Men movie or a movie featuring Four Horsemen by Metallica, not sure what I would've picked. It might've been a bit on-the-nose but it actually is appropriate for the movie's timeframe.
Simon Kinberg has revealed that Logan originally had a bigger role in Apocalypse. Apparently in one of the earlier versions he was going to be the "drill sergeant" and was going to end up taking over, but they decided that would be getting to close to the role they wanted Mystique to.
As others have said, it's a good, enjoyable film, but it's not on the same level as the last two films or X2. It might have been a bit overstuffed and flawed on some minor levels, but overall it's not a bad film. Charles, Erik, Raven, and Hank all continued to have solid to great storylines (Hank was a bit light, but what he got was good), while the additions of Jean, Scott, and Kurt, and the reintroduction of Peter, were all excellent and I look forward to seeing more of them. However, as others have noted, Psylocke and Angel were largely wasted, which is a shame, particularly with Psylocke considering all of the training Olivia Munn put into the role but she didn't get much action and very few lines. And like The Incredible Hulk and The Wolverine, it had two strong acts, followed up by a largely weak third act, which really hurts the overall film.
It's too bad he feels that way. I feel like some characters, particularly Angel and Psylocke suffered from what felt like missing footage.
However, I do like this bit:
"While there won't be an official "extended cut," Singer said they're toying around with an option on the home release to insert the cut scenes into the film where they would have fit."
I really like this idea and I think it should be implemented with all superhero films (and others, too).
Another problem is being told to believe that nothing hasn't happened to them in ten years, either in character growth or how the world is operating. The changes we do see are believable over a course of several years, certainly, but not 10 each time.
On the flip side, the film already had plenty of characters running around.
I generally don't have any problems with the continuity between the X-Men movies but I do agree that this is annoying. Sure, ten years have passed, but what was Mystique's motivation for retrieving him in the first place. Hell, she doesn't even meet him properly (aside from the deleted scene). There was every reason for Stryker to retrieve him, considering Stryker looked intrigued by Logan at the peace talks.
I got the joke right away, as well as jab at itself. Great little moment. Too bad they cut out the other mall scenes (the brain freeze and the record store at least).I did like the little movie discussion injoke "Either way I think we can all agree the third ones are the worst." At first I thought it was a little tongue in cheek to this being the third in the prequel trilogy, then I realised maybe it was more a nod to The Last Stand
Indeed. I get tired of fans bitching about Jennifer Lawrence's difficulty with make-up. The human body isn't intended to be completely covered up in make-up for many hours a day, multiple days at a time. It's not very healthy. While I don't think Lawrence has any allergies against it, others have (most notably Farscape's Virginia Hey). It's unfortunate but completely understandable.
Then what was the Rogue Cut? Chopped liver?
It's too bad he feels that way. I feel like some characters, particularly Angel and Psylocke suffered from what felt like missing footage.
However, I do like this bit:
"While there won't be an official "extended cut," Singer said they're toying around with an option on the home release to insert the cut scenes into the film where they would have fit."
I really like this idea and I think it should be implemented with all superhero films (and others, too).
This bothers me, too. While it's great to have the trappings of each decade for each film, it's very hard to believe that Charles, Alex and Moira haven't aged that much in 20 years (or 10 years for Peter). Mystique is believable because of her powers and I can let Hank slide because of his treatments could have some effect on his cosmetic appearance (but eventually he has to age in the direction of Kelsey Grammer). I can almost believe it with Erik just based on Michael Fassbender's general grizzled look. And if the next film is in the 90's, I will have a very hard time believing Scott, Jean, and Ororo haven't aged that much.
Another problem is being told to believe that nothing hasn't happened to them in ten years, either in character growth or how the world is operating. The changes we do see are believable over a course of several years, certainly, but not 10 each time.
I disagree on this point. It makes sense that one of his major abilities is to enhance other mutants' abilities. For one, it gives credence to his claim of godhood and why mutants would worship him. Secondly, this plays into his believe that all technology should be abolished, which is one of his biggest talking points throughout the film.
On this count, I agree because of its role in Apocalypse's ability to switch bodies and his reliance on it to survive.
I'm sure what the priest was doing was largely showmanship. That's a big part of how religion works, especially in ancient times.
This bugged me as well, especially since I thought Jubilee was going to be one of the new important characters. Jean running after Scott makes sense, but Kurt less so other than the fact he's the new friend, but so was Jubilee.
On the flip side, the film already had plenty of characters running around.
After what happened in 1973, I'm sure that pushed Stryker into creating technology to fight against mutants, especially considering he lost Trask as an ally and resource.
That really bugged me, too, and was really annoyed that they didn't bother to show the copter arriving. Bad editing and plotting, unfortunately.
Yes! I thought the same thing! Of course, it helped that I just watched both seasons of Transparent in the last couple of days, so he's been on the brain.I was distracted because Oscar Isaac's Apocalypse looks like a blue Jeffrey Tambor.
Last edited:
I figure, at most, Mystique just helped Logan locate Victor Creed, who was probably lying low after that mob boss that they were working for found out about what Logan had done to his daughter and to his men. At that point, Mystique would have parted ways with them, and it's still entirely possible that Logan & Victor would have both gotten recruited to be part of Col. Stryker's team in the late 1970s, just as before.
I did like the little movie discussion in-joke "Either way I think we can all agree the third ones are the worst." At first I thought it was a little tongue in cheek to this being the third in the prequel trilogy, then I realized maybe it was more a nod to The Last Stand
If this movie weren't itself the 3rd movie in the prequel trilogy, I don't think the filmmakers would have had the chutzpah to slag off on threequels like that. Sure, X-Men: The Last Stand wasn't great but threequels are notoriously hard in general-- Alien 3, Batman Forever, Blade Trinity, The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Spider-Man 3, Superman III, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
Best thing about the movie? Psylocke. Man is her outfit hot. Haha if you're ever bored just look at her
Amen!
Although, I would have also liked for her to have done more in the movie. Even if they didn't do much with her from a character perspective, I think she should have had at least one good "signature" fight scene, similar to the Wolverine/Mystique fight in X-Men or the Wolverine/Lady Deathstrike fight in X2.
Heck, I think the movie could have used a lot more action in general. There was a lot of special effects and a lot of general destruction but not enough fighting. Even the final fight against Apocalypse mostly seemed to consist of Magneto, Cyclops, & Jean Grey just shooting stuff at him, plus the psychic fight inside Professor Xavier's mind.
There's a lot of stuff that seems like it will always need some off-screen excuse made. Just the way of the X-Films I guess. I'd be pretty surprised if Wolverine 3 tells us how he got his claws back, let alone clarifies where/which timeline we're in.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, I'm assuming that Wolverine 3 will take place in the new timeline created after X-Men: Days of Future Past. In that case, it's entirely possible that The Wolverine never happened and Wolverine never lost his claws. (Although it's also entirely possible that most of the events of The Wolverine did happen in pretty much the same way in the new timeline. The beginning would be different because Yukio would have found Logan at the mansion instead of living in the woods but the rest would have been pretty much the same after he arrived in Japan, minus the haunting Jean Grey dream sequences.)
I was a bit confused about how much of Moira's memories got wiped. At the end of X-Men: First Class, it was implied that she remembered meeting Professor Xavier and the original mutant team and remembered everything else up until they returned from Russia to see the aftermath of Sebastian Shaw's attack on the CIA building. He just erased everything afterwards so that she wouldn't remember Xavier's mansion. So it was weird that, this time, they said she didn't remember meeting Xavier or Raven at all. What about her earlier investigations of the Hellfire Club in Las Vegas when she first learned about mutants? How far back did Xavier's wipe go?
I agree that it was a violation and kind of a tone deaf handling of the storyline. However, I'm enough of an Xavier/Moira fan to let it go because I just love seeing those two together!
On a related note, I wish the movie had done more with the lingering bits of the Mystique/Beast romance.
Poor Havok. First he gets relegated to a brief cameo in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Now he gets killed off halfway through X-Men: Apocalypse.
I really liked the X-team that was assembled in X-Men: First Class and I've always been really bummed that so few of them came back for the sequels. I still can't watch any of the prequels without thinking, "I miss Darwin." 
Agreed. What would have been a good early/mid 1980s historical event for them to use?
Agreed. This was one of my least favorite parts of the movie. (And I hated it in Man of Steel and Batman v. Superman too.)
Aww, what about Nicholas Hoult?
My official order is:
X-Men: First Class
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men
X2
X-Men: The Last Stand
The Wolverine
X-Men: Days of Future Past
X-Men: Apocalypse
Although, I ran out of time during my most recent rewatch, so I skipped ahead from X-Men to X-Men: Days of Future Past. You don't really need any of the others for this one except for First Class and Days of Future Past.
I think people really did like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). I'm enough of a purist that I can't get past the new look of the Turtles, but a lot of my friends like it, both the ones that grew up with the Turtles like I did and ones that didn't watch them as kids.
I'm much more skeptical about Alice. It seemed like the only reason why Alice in Wonderland did so well was because it was one of the first big 3D movies to come out after Avatar made 3D popular again. (Clash of the Titans was the other big movie to ride Avatar's 3D coattails and its sequel--Wrath of the Titans--made considerably less money than the first one.)
Agreed. Not even Daniel Jackson thinks the pyramids were built that early!
I was just thinking about that and I was looking up the ages of the various William Stryker actors just to get some rough estimates. Brian Cox was about 57. Danny Huston was about 47. Josh Helman was about 28 when he did X-Men: Days of Future Past and is 30 now.
I'd say Josh Helman was about the right age in Days of Future Past but is way too young now. Meanwhile, Danny Huston, though great in the part, looked a bit too old at the time to play a 15-years-younger version of Brian Cox. Also, it seemed like Brian Cox had a vaguely Southern accent which neither Huston nor Helman have attempted.
As for the other characters, Alex Summers looks the most ridiculously young. He's supposed to be about 40 now but barely looks like he's out of his teens. Michael Fassbender stretches credulity but, with the stubble, at least looks like he could barely pass for being a very fit, youthful 50something. It seemed like they tried to give Moira a touch of gray & other age lines here & there, plus the old lady glasses that she wears when Xavier & Alex meet her in her office. Nicholas Hoult has at least filled out a little since the last movie. He doesn't look a full decade older but it's something. Xavier actually looks younger now that he doesn't have the beard from the last movie.
I think so too. He's done great work but he's repeating himself too much. Particularly when some of the dialogue from the end of this movie was lifted directly from the Xavier/Magneto scene from the end of the original X-Men movie.
I was wondering that too.
I got the impression that an electric field could block certain kinds of mutant powers. It doesn't remove their powers entirely. It just confines them within the field. So, Nightcrawler could still teleport within the cage but not outside it. Similarly, Jean Grey could probably use her powers on people & objects within the cage but couldn't reach outside people & objects while in it. When the cage is open, the circuit is broken and their powers work but the cage traps them once it closes. Nightcrawler said that, when they went in, the door was open. Presumably, once the helicopter landed, the door was opened again and Jean could once again use her powers to prevent anyone from seeing them. The danger would be if anyone had bothered to look in the cage while the door was closed. (Lucky them.
)It seemed like they used this same electric field principle at the end of the movie when Apocalypse tried to teleport away and Storm stopped him by surrounding him with lightning.
This principle wouldn't have worked on Mystique's powers since her powers are purely internal, not external. And since you need metal to generate a field like that, putting one around Magneto's prison would be stupidly counterproductive & insanely dangerous!
Overall, I think I need to see this movie again to know for sure what I think about it. But overall, I think it's a bit too unfocused. Nothing felt particularly well developed or very interesting. I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to be focusing on Mystique or Beast or Quicksilver or on the new characters. And as much as I liked seeing Moira back, she didn't do much except give some exposition towards the beginning.
The Four Horsemen felt like they needed more development. Magneto's stuff was well-done but I'm kinda getting sick of his constantly switching sides. Storm didn't really make sense. At first, it seemed like she was allied with Apocalypse because she misinterpreted his motives. She thought he was trying to save the world, not kill everybody. But then, his agenda got pretty dark pretty fast, yet it took a long time for her to move against him. That would be fine except she's suddenly supposed to be one of the good guys now?
Psylocke & Angel didn't do much besides look cool. And their powers seemed like a big step down from the other 2 Horsemen. Controlling metal or controlling the weather are both huge powers with global implications. In contrast, Psylocke's powers seemed poorly defined and Angel was just a flying guy with metal wings.
The Borgified Corpse said:
The problem with it being the late 1970s is that the recruitment needs to happen at a point when combat operations in Vietnam are still taking place.
The Borgified Corpse said:
^ My thoughts exactly. I had made this same argument on another website but I ended up deleting the post because my less-than-great recollection of the details of the film was preventing me from getting to the specifics.
