The follow up to 2014’s “Days of Future Past” and the ninth X-Men feature film, is an action packed, visual spectacle, but lacks going into more depth of telling a story. The performances in the film are great but can be a little too dramatic for the situation at hand: defeating the bad guy.

The cast led by: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Sophie Turner, Jennifer Lawrence and Evan Peters, is a wonderful team effort to destroy Oscar Isaac’s En Sabah Nur otherwise known as Apocalypse, the title character and the world’s first mutant.

Isaac’s turn at being the bad guy is good but also annoying in some circumstances. His voice as the terrifying character has voice enhancers to make it sound really eerie and utterly creepy.

A dry tone screenplay crafted by Simon Kinberg and useless  non-action parts in this film do make up for the film to show its glory.

Evan Peters shines as the speed demon mutant and the film’s comic relief Quicksilver.

Other enjoyable moments that make up for Apocalypse’s mediocrity is a surprising cameo from Hugh Jackman’s adamantium clawed character Wolverine.

John Ottman scores the film which makes the it less dry than it already is. The score in the movie has eerie, sinister and haunting qualities.

Being set in the 1980’s, the costumes are dazzling. Perfect depiction of that era. Especially the hairstyles shown in the film.

Apocalypse gives audiences a fresh look at different actors portraying some of the same characters from previous X-Men films, as well as new characters who are introduced. Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner plays the powerful Jean Grey. She does a fantastic job, becoming another breakout role to add to her credits.

Viewers also get to see other coming to fame actors like: Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Alexandra Shipp blast through their roles as: Scott Summers/Cyclops, Nightcrawler, and Storm. All of these fresh new faces you see on display here excel in the action with traits of being powerful and dramatic.

Apocalypse was helmed at the hands of Bryan Singer, who is no stranger to the X-Men franchise. The problem audience members will have when taking in this mediocre installment is the anticipated action that brews between both sides, good and evil. Also with its factor of excitement being not as great as other of the X-Men films.

Apocalypse just doesn’t seem to have all the energy as its predecessors Days of Future Past & First Class had to keep audiences fully engaged. Although it’s not as merely thrilling and vital of a movie as expected, X-Men: Apocalypse is the exact opposite of thrilling and entertaining for the most part.

Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Peters, Sophie Turner, Rose Byrne, Oscar Isaac, Hugh Jackman, Alexandra Shipp, Lucas Till, Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Nicholas Hoult, Olivia Munn

Director: Bryan Singer

Synopsis:

Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshiped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible. Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign. As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

Runtime: 2 Hours and 27 Minutes

Rate: C-