X men : apocalypse

X-Men Apocalypse is one of those films that feel like watching an episode in a whole season which the studio is desperately trying to sell. If you are a fan of the x-men series you will enjoy the experience this movie trys to take you upon. It is a nice addition to the x-men universe.

With the emergence of the world’s first mutant, Apocalypse, the X-Men must unite to defeat his extinction level plan. Set in the 1980s – several years after the events in Days Of Future Past that revealed the existence of mutants to the world – we find Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) continuing with his School For Gifted Youngsters, as he welcomes new students (Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan’s Cyclops, and Kodi Smit-McPhee’s Nightcrawler) who are coming to terms with their powers. Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) is still conflicted as she seeks out other mutants, while Magneto (Michael Fassbender) is hiding in Poland with his wife and child. Soon, however, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) wakes from a centuries-long sleep to find weak, blind leaders ruling the world. He gathers together Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Psylocke (Olivia Munn), Archangel (Ben Hardy) and Magneto, using their fear and anger to convince them that humanity’s time is up.

With so much going on, it’s incredible how Singer’s cast of young and old fit so well together. Several of the returning characters are given time for emotional scenes, while new mutants are given room to breathe as the young, vulnerable yet heroic students. On top of the characters already mentioned we have Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy/Beast; Evan Peters as Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver; Lana Condor as Jubilee, Lucas Till as Alex Summers/Havoc, Josh Helman as William Stryker; Rose Byrne as CIA agent Moira MacTaggert and last but not least, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine gives a show stealing scene to remember. All the cast deliver performances ranging from good to great. Michael Fassbender once again portrays his intense inner struggle perfectly. Jennifer Lawrence, on the other hand, looks and sounds like she’d rather be elsewhere. It looks like she is trying too hard to fit the part. Stressing on the dialogues which don’t really have much importance.

For the most part, the movie isn’t afraid to take it’s time, setting up the young heroes and catching up with the old guard. With a runtime of 2 hours and 24 minutes, i certainly felt the pace drag at times. It’s kind of expected since the X-Men movies are known to be more talky and intellectual than others. Overall the tone is dark, dealing with heavy themes of loss and inner conflict. And yet, unfortunately, there is goofy comic relief crammed in for those who fall asleep too easily. Although in the third act the CGI felt overblown, the action scenes are stunning visual eye candy. Nightcrawler vs Archangel, Cyclops vs Storm, and Beast vs Psylocke are OK but they should have got more screen time as these actors (not the characters) are just being introduces. No shaky-cam or over editing here, just intelligent, well framed direction that’s easy to follow without trying too hard.

X-Men: Apocalypse feels like an end and a beginning. It ties up what’s came before with what’s ahead. Bryan Singer and Matthew Vaughan continue to inject fresh ideas with familiar elements, building an unpredictable universe with deep stories, creative visuals and fantastical characters.

It is a good movie  7.5/10
One time watch for sure.
Recommended :3D , imax

Hope is a good thing!!

Misery and Stand By Me were the best adaptations up until this one, now you can add Shawshank to that list.

This is simply one of the best films ever made and I know I am not the first to say that and I certainly won’t be the last. So I’ll just skip all the normal praise of the film because we all know how great it is. But let me perhaps add that what I find so fascinating about Shawshank is that Stephen King wrote it.

King is one of the best writers in the world. Books like IT and the Castle Rock series are some of the greatest stories ever told. But his best adaptations are always done by the best directors. The Shining was brilliantly interpreted by Kubrick and of course the aforementioned Misery and Stand By Me are both by Rob Reiner. Now Frank Darabont comes onto the scene and makes arguably the best King film ever. He seems to understand what King wants to say and he conveys that beautifully.

What makes this film one of the best ever made is the message it conveys. It is one of eternal hope. Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins, has been sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. But he never loses hope. He never gives up his quest to become a free man again. His years of tenacity, patience and wits keep him not only sane, but it gives his mind and a spirit a will to live. This film has a different feel to it. There has never been anything like it before and I don’t know if there will again.

I’m not going to say any more about this film, it has already been said, but just suffice to say that I am glad that Forrest Gump won best picture in 94. I would have been equally glad if Pulp Fiction or Shawshank would have won. It is that good of a movie and one that will be appreciated for years to come.

If you like a slow movie this is for you. If you like an inspirational movie this is for you. Shawshank redemption is a basically a story about a man who is wrongfully sent to prison, the relationships he builds up and the very reality of our society, about how the prisoners are isolated from the very society they are intended to be rehabilitated.