7.16.2015

X-Men: Apocalypse: First Look, Predictions & Thoughts

EW's First Look:

     Entertainment Weekly has followed up the San Diego Comic Con's X-Men: Apocalypse trailer hype with some wonderful "First Look" pics from the upcoming film.


     For those unfamiliar readers, EW gives the scoop on the cinematic version of the ultimate X-Men villain:
     "Apocalypse is coming for the X-Men. Or, more specifically, a giant 5,000 year-old Egyptian mutant who goes by that very unfriendly name and is the focus of the latest installment in Fox’s X-Men franchise.  'He’s believed to be the first mutant, whatever that means,' says star Oscar Isaac. 'He is the ­creative-slash-destructive force of this earth. When things start to go awry, or when things seem like they’re not moving towards evolution, he destroys those civilizations.' Think of him as a god who does gut renovations."
     From this he sounds a lot like the High Evolutionary (the character) as opposed to Apocalypse.  But it makes sense for the film version, due to the fact Marvel Studios has the film rights to the Celestials and cannot really use them for Apocalypse's backstory.  It would also be of note that 2 Celestials were shown in Guardians of the Galaxy.  One in The Collector's circular movies, and also the skull of a dead one is the location called Knowhere in that film.

Thoughts & Predictions:



     Honestly, with the 80's vibe I believe the characters all have an interesting aesthetic.  It's an absurd look, but because I grew up with it, I have a soft spot in my heart for their classic costumes.  Mohawk Staowm and the strange, but accurate, Psylocke costume are spot-on.  My doubts about Psylocke are actually more to do with actress Olivia Munn's limited range as an actress, than with the character.  Her awesome X-Force incarnation was stupendous, and she really is a great character through most of her history, and if handled well, could be amazing in the movie.

     As for Storm, I like how they've tied Apocalypse's Egyptian heritage to the story of her origin.  She was a thief in Cairo, so it makes sense to combine them for one easy transition to film.  Apocalypse leaves room for improvement.  My chief complaint with him are the tubes on the sides of his head look awkward.  Move them to the back of the skull and they'd look less like straggley old-man hair and more like a necessary tube-based connection.
     For my predictions, while they are usually hopes that never reach the levels that they could- are things that SHOULD happen for sheer cinematic pleasure and nerdly homages.  In X-Men: Days of Future Past, I was quite angry they didn't use the Ultimate X-Men scene involving Quicksilver and Magneto.  The family dynamic would've been lost, but the impact of someone acting to stop a horrible incident would've been maintained.

     Anyway, what I really, REALLY hope happens is that Apocalypse's Horseman, Magneto in this case, turns against him with a vicious anger.  Particularly in the fashion Magneto stopped him in the massive X-Universe crossover event The Age of Apocalypse.  A fitting end for one so entrenched in Darwinistic thought. (see pic below)


     Think of how badass this would be with Fassbender and Isaac in the roles!  Fox might be able to create a scene to rival Marvel Studios grip on the movie theaters awe-factor with these properties.  

     A little part of me hopes Apocalypse is actually a small person in a big suit like he was in the Books of Askani'son comics (the En Sabah Nur of Earth 4935).  I hope we might also get a time traveling Bishop again at some point as well.  But, being a long-time reader and fan, he would be much more likely to show up in the Gambit film with a strange tale to tie them together, but either way, it seems like a long shot.  Although, if he does show up, it'd probably be because he was tracking Trevor Fitzroy the chronoporter...

     Regardless, I'll be seeing X-Men: Apocalypse when it hits theaters May 27th, 2016.

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