New ‘X-Men’ installment pulls off excesses with panache

FASSBENDER. Affectingly palpable back story.

WHEN WE watch a film about mutants with superpowers, we expect it to be a big, brash, over-the-top production that requires suspension of disbelief—bigtime!

Suitably primed, we enjoyed viewing “X-Men: Apocalypse” last week, and took its “excesses” in stride, because they were to be expected and were pulled off with suitable panache and frisson.

This time around, we’re introduced to the most powerful mutant that ever lived, Apocalypse, who ruled for many years and even generations by expediently transferring his powers and soul to serially young bodies.

Alas, at one point in his series of self-reincarnations, the process was foiled by a secret rebel force during the epoch of the pyramids—and Apocalypse was “killed.”

Fact is, however, mutants don’t die, they just patiently wait for their time to reemerge, more powerful than ever. So, Apocalypse bided the passage of many more years, before he was finally liberated to rule over the world once more.

This penultimate and ultimate time around, however, he had nothing less in mind than the utter return of the entire planet to his time of absolute glory and power—even if it means forcibly erasing most vestiges of intervening civilizations from the face of the earth!

This is completely unacceptable to the world’s leaders, of course, so Apocalypse and his more than four mutant “horsemen” have to force them to their knees, and subdue any and all other objectors.

They include other mutants—those already known to fans of the X-Men franchise, plus younger superheroes still being honed at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.

The older mutants like Magneto, Raven and Beast keep their latest film reunion reliably eventful. But, what really “makes” this latest cinematic super-showcase is its cast of younger mutants, especially Quicksilver, a frisky chap who can make time stand still!

This unique power enables him to pull off incredible feats, like saving many people from a huge explosion meant to decimate the entire school.
Despite these novel surges of energy, inventiveness and excitement, however, there comes a time in the movie’s storytelling when predictability inexorably sets in.

That’s when the production effectively falls back on the urgently and deeply involved portrayals of its best actors, led by Michael Fassbender as Magneto, who is given a daunting back story that makes his tragedy and pain affectingly palpable.

It has to be said, however, that Jennifer Lawrence is not able to do the same with her assigned mutant character, Raven.