X-Men: Apocalypse

The 2016 film X-Men: Apocalypse serves as the ninth installment in the X-Men film series and is the sequel to 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past. The film sees the return of fan-favorite actors such as James McAvoy portraying the mind-reading Professor Xavier, Michael Fassbender as the metal-manipulating Magneto, Jennifer Lawrence as the shape-shifting Raven/ Mystique, and Nicholas Hoult as the superhumanly strong Hank/Beast. Other primary characters also include the likes of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, and Quicksilver, characters that are well beloved in the X-Men comics and animated shows.

Set in 1983, a decade after the events of Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse introduces us to a new, formidable nemesis known as Apocalypse. Considered the first Mutant, Apocalypse (En Sabah Nur), played by Oscar Isaac, has godlike powers, making him the film series' most dangerous antagonist yet. Awoken after thousands of years, Apocalypse is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and aims to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign.

The narrative of the film circles around the formation of these two clashing teams – one lead by Apocalypse, who recruits disillusioned mutants to forge his new world order, and an X-Men team rallied by Professor Xavier to stop him. Interestingly, where Apocalypse uses the mutants' anguish and anger to his benefit, Xavier binds them with the belief in a harmonious cohabitation of humans and mutants, elevating the narrative from being a mere display of fantastical powers to a deeper commentary on unity, trust, and faith.

James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence all return with performances just as, if not more, incredible as their previous outings. Lawrence's Mystique becomes more complex, exploring her role as an inadvertent public figure, dealing with the fame that arises from her exploits and how it weighs on her. McAvoy's Professor X is more confident than before, yet faced with impossible odds and challenging situations, while Fassbender’s Magneto confronts personal tragedies that compel his motivations in this movie.

Newcomers to the series include Tye Sheridan as a young Cyclops/Scott Summers, Sophie Turner exploring a younger, more terrified Jean Grey and Kodi Smit-McPhee as an endearingly awkward Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner. These young mutants grappling with their powers adds a layer of heart to the film, keeping the time-honored essence of the X-Men comics alive - almost every mutant trailer sees their powers as a curse initially, before learning to use them for the betterment of humanity.

Visually, X-Men: Apocalypse is breathtaking, serving up both intimate battles and immense showdowns that make full use of the mutants' diverse powers. Director Bryan Singer, having helmed most of the X-Men franchise, clearly has a good grip on what makes these characters work and finds numerous ways for them to shine amid the action.

Adding to this, X-Men: Apocalypse gives plenty of satisfying nods to the wider X-Men series, building on the soft reboot of 2011’s X-Men: First Class. Fans of both the movies and the comics will find plenty of callbacks and references to enjoy, making for an experience that is both fresh and familiar.

In conclusion, X-Men: Apocalypse is a gripping journey that marvelously weaves together the individual story arcs of multiple characters while also managing to introduce and develop a world-ending threat. Even with the large ensemble of characters, no one feels overlooked - each actor is given a chance to shine, and the audience is delivered motivations that are clear, sympathetic, and compelling. Far from being just another comic book movie, X-Men: Apocalypse offers a rich, well-executed story that is sure to engage fans of the franchise and newcomers alike.