Now Showing: X-Men: Apocalypse

Now+Showing%3A+X-Men%3A+Apocalypse

Hannah Lee, News Editor

Seven X-Men films later, enduring what is the longest running on-screen adaptation of a comic, it’s become apparent that the series is suffering from “superhero fatigue.”

Set in 1983, “X-Men: Apocalypse” follows the members in their daily lives ten years after “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” Simultaneously, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), believed to be the first mutant on Earth, awakens from thousands of years of dormancy enraged with the world’s development without him, and plans a purge to make the world pure once again under his rule. He begins gathering his Four Horsemen, the most powerful mutants that he can find, through promises of power and glory.

Former X-Men member Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) hides in the shadows, helping mutants after being deemed a hero since the events from “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) continues to establish his school for young mutants, and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) lives humbly under a new identity with his wife and daughter in Poland. Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) and Scott Summers (Tye Sheridan), two new teenage characters introduced into Xavier’s school, attempt to control their mutant abilities rather than shy away from them under Xavier’s guidance.

Despite each having their own set of conflicts, they all manage to find themselves with the same goal to stop Apocalypse from obliterating their planet.

“X-Men: Apocalypse” has a familiar taste, roughly following the same conflicts and clichés as the other X-Men films. For the past few films, the world was threatened to be turned into dust, and the mutants all needed to get past their own personal struggles to group together for the greater good. There was never even a split second where the tables were turned; everything was flatly laid out and predictable.

The plot is overstuffed with both old and new characters, all fighting to share the screen, yet the film still remains underwhelming. As a result of the well-known characters from the past, introducing two new characters, especially students, seemed trivial in comparison to original characters such as Mystique and Magneto.

After a long  break from “X-Men” films, director Bryan Singer made a strong return with “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” However for “X-Men: Apocalypse,” it seems as if Singer was less focused on the progression of the series, but  simply wanted to satisfy X-Men fans’ hunger for another film. The film proves that the series is pleading for a serious break to re-establish what has become the tedious, dragged out lives of the X-Men.