Extra DVD: X-Men: Days of Future Past (12)

Starring: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, Evan Peters, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Ellen Page, Halle Berry, Shawn Ashmore, Josh Helman, Mark Camacho.
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine.

In a dystopian 2023, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his kin including Magneto (Ian McKellen), Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry) and Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) stand on the precipice of extinction. The Sentinel programme, conceived by scientist Dr Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage), has almost wiped out the mutant population using an army of highly skilled automatons attuned to mutant DNA. One glimmer of hope remains: if Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) can propel Wolverine’s consciousness back to 1973 to join forces with the young

Professor X (James McAvoy), Beast (Nicholas Hoult) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender), they might be able to stop shape-shifter Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from assassinating Trask, which lights the fuse on the Sentinel programme.

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X-Men: Days Of Future Past is a solid and highly enjoyable chapter in the long-running mutant saga that doesn’t get too bogged down in bamboozling science, letting protagonists do the talking with their claws and amazing abilities.

Undated Film Still Handout from X-Men: Days Of Future Past, Pictured: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, PA Photo/Handout/Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature DVD DVD Reviews.Undated Film Still Handout from X-Men: Days Of Future Past, Pictured: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, PA Photo/Handout/Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature DVD DVD Reviews.
Undated Film Still Handout from X-Men: Days Of Future Past, Pictured: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, PA Photo/Handout/Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature DVD DVD Reviews.

Familiar faces and new additions to the mutant fold jostle for attention in Simon Kinberg’s script, which strengthen ties between the X-Men and Wolverine franchises. Jackman’s hirsute brawler provides the narrative glue between parallel time frames and he shamelessly panders to fans with gratuitous nudity.

McAvoy and Fassbender trade physical and verbal blows while Oscar-winner Lawrence performs impressive gymnastic feats in figure-hugging blue make-up that leaves little to the feverish imagination.

The blitzkrieg of slick digital effects melds seamlessly with live action elements, although there are few concessions to the 3D format, available exclusively on Blu-ray.

A seven-disc box set comprising X-Men, X-Men 2, X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men: First Class, The Wolverine and X-Men: Days Of Future Past is also available.

Rating: 4/5