In “X-Men: Apocalypse,” an ancient cyber-mutant, Apocalypse, awakens, doesn’t like what he sees and decides to take over the world and destroy the human race, so the more peaceful X-Men decide to stop him and defeat his team. The cyber-mutant goes to the far reaches of the world to identify, recruit and train what will become his team—and the battle is on.
Frankly, I have never been a fan of the X-Men series. It stretches credibility that these mutants, each of whom has his or her own unique superpower, are somehow rivals to humans who lack such powers. And also, as I point out in every review, cast diversity is important and the X-men conspicuously lacks it. There’s Storm (Alexandra Shipp) who is Black, but even she turns blond at the point in which she comes into her own and fully embraces her mutantism. Also, the other mutants are discovered around the world are engaging in noble pursuits, whereas Storm has to be rescued from a street vendor she has just stolen from.
But for those of you who are X-Men fans, you won’t be disappointed. The same plots that make the series popular are in full bloom here, in the battle between the mutants who advocate peace with the humans and those who embrace a more confrontational attitude. There’s plenty of action. Characters are beaten to pulp, but then amazingly brush it off and are up and around again in few minutes.
“X-Men: Apocalypse” gets a split review. If you are an X-Men fan by all means See It! If you are not an X-Men fan, don’t bother.
“X-Men: Apocalypse” is 144 minutes in length. It’s rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, action and destruction, brief strong language and some suggestive images.