Three years ago, I wrote about X-Men: First Class, “I felt like I was watching one of the finest comic book, superhero movies I’ve ever seen.” There have certainly been many more since then that have given me that same feeling (both Captain America movies and The Avengers, for example), and now we have the sequel to X-Men: Days of Future Past, which also serves as a prequel to X-Men and a sequel of sorts to X-Men: The Last Stand. So where does it stand in the pantheon of X-Men movies (which include both Wolverine outings)?

The plot of X-Men: Days of Future Past is much too complicated to explain in a brief review … and there are too many plot twists to possibly ruin as well. Briefly, the story takes place in a future time (after X-Men: The Last Stand) where giant robots called Sentinels have wreaked havoc in the mutant community by wiping out any mutant they find. A small band of mutants who are constantly on the run – including Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Ian McKellan), Storm (Halle Berry), Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) and Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) – are traveling to the near past to try to outrun the Sentinels and find a way to stop them.

Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is contacted and brought into the group to help, and he volunteers to be sent 50 years into the past because he’s the only one of them who can physically recover from the perilous psychic journey. His mission is to convince a young Charles (James McAvoy) to partner again with his former friend Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) to stop Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinklage), the effect of which proves mutants are a threat to society and the Sentinel program is launched using her DNA to create machines that can change and adapt to any mutant power. The problem is Charles and Erik are not on the best of terms (after the events of X-Men: First Class) and Erik is in the most maximum of maximum security prisons – deep underground in the center of the Pentagon.

This scratches the surface of the story, and even though it gets a bit complicated with the shifts back and forth in time, it’s all done to give viewers the biggest bang for their buck by reuniting the First Class cast (well, the ones who survived) and the original X-Men (including Colossus) while adding some new mutants like Blink, Bishop, Sunspot, Warpath and Quicksilver (Evan Peters). Much is being made over the appearance of Quicksilver in this and the next Avengers movie, but it looks like these will be completely different takes on the character (one of the few that Marvel jointly owns with another studio). Here, Quicksilver is introduced in the 1970s part of the story and has one of the most entertaining scenes in the movie as he is enlisted to help spring Erik from his prison. Unfortunately, we don’t see him again until the very end of the movie, so we’re left to wonder how he’ll play into future films, if at all. (And since the next film has already been announced as X-Men: Apocalypse — be sure to stay for the post-credits tease — which features the First Class characters, Quicksilver certainly could return.)

Of course, the real draw of the movie is seeing the new and classic cast together in the same movie. Logan is the only character who gets to interact with both sets of Charleses and Eriks, but there is a rewarding moment when both Charleses have a psychic connection. It’s also nice to see Nicholas Hoult return as Hank McCoy, who has become the caretaker of the younger Charles, who has become addicted to the serum which quells his powers and gives him back the use of his legs. We are also introduced to a young Bill Stryker, whose presence nearly puts an end to Logan’s mission when he realizes who the young man is.

Director Bryan Singer juggles all of the plot threads and keeps it all flowing smoothly and it’s rip-roaringly entertaining. Even if the ending opens up a few more questions than gives us answers (did the events of the movie ultimately erase The Last Stand?), it unquestionably stands up there with First Class as a fine example of a superhero movie done right. The film also looks gorgeous, featuring some of the sharpest, clearest, most colorful 3D I’ve seen on the big screen probably since The Great Gatsby. It helps that the film was shot in native 3D and is not a cheap conversion, so if you have the extra bucks I’d highly recommend the 3D option. As for the story, I’ve heard that the film could have used another hour to fill in some plot holes, but I was along for the ride and I loved every minute of it. As much as I enjoyed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I am more excited to see X-Men: Days of Future Past a second (and third) time.

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ALL PASSES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED. STAY CONNECTED TO CLIQUECLACK ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK and GOOGLE+ FOR CONTEST ALERTS AND BREAKING NEWS!

CliqueClack has partnered with Twentieth Century Fox to offer readers in the Baltimore and DC areas an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the highly anticipated X-Men: Days of Future Past starring Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Nicholas Hoult, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Shawn Ashmore, Omar Sy, Evan Peters, Daniel Cudmore, Bingbing Fan, Adan Canto, Booboo Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart.

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The beloved characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class, in an epic battle that must change the past — to save our future.

The screenings will take place Tuesday, May 20, 7:00 PM at the following locations:

• Cinemark Egyptian, 7000 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
• AMC Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC

A very limited number of passes are available on a first come, first served basis. To be eligible, you must read and follow these simple rules:

• Comment on the post with only HANOVER or DC. We will only be looking for one of these two locations and anything else may be overlooked.
• One comment per person/email address. Multiple comments will be discarded.
• Enter your name and email address in the form properly. Check your spelling! DO NOT put your name and email address in the comment box!

Any comments that do not follow these rules will be ignored.

Please note that passes do not guarantee seating at the theater. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes distributed, and is not responsible for seating arrangements at the theater. Seating is first come, first served so please plan to arrive early.

This offer will be valid until all passes have been awarded or on the day of the screening, whichever comes first. Have a look at the trailer below and tell us where you want to see the movie. X-Men: Days of Future Past opens in theaters May 23.

CliqueClack has partnered with Twentieth Century Fox to offer readers in the Indianapolis area an opportunity to attend an advance screening of the highly anticipated X-Men: Days of Future Past starring Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Nicholas Hoult, Ellen Page, Peter Dinklage, Shawn Ashmore, Omar Sy, Evan Peters, Daniel Cudmore, Bingbing Fan, Adan Canto, Booboo Stewart, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart.

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-Men: Days of Future Past. The beloved characters from the original X-Men film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from X-Men: First Class, in an epic battle that must change the past — to save our future.

The screenings will take place Tuesday, May 20, 7:30 PM at AMC Castleton Square.

A limited number of passes are available at GoFoBo.com. Simply visit the website and enter the RSVP code CLIQMGY2 to download up to two Admit One passes. Passes are available on a first come, first served basis.

Please note that passes do not guarantee seating at the theater. CliqueClack has no control over the total number of passes distributed, and is not responsible for seating arrangements at the theater. Seating is first come, first served so please plan to arrive early.

This offer will be valid until all passes have been awarded or on the day of the screening, whichever comes first. Have a look at the trailer below and get your passes before they’re gone. X-Men: Days of Future Past opens in theaters May 23.