Even the biggest fans of the X-Men franchise will admit that its continuity was a mess after six films. Now director Bryan Singer is back to clean up the mess and what a great job he does connecting the dots while juggling dozens of characters!

Loosely based on the classic story arc of the same name the mutants' fight for survival continues in two time zones. What could have turned into even more of a mess flows surprisingly even and culminates in an exciting and epic showdown in both the future and the past. As always with time travel stories, it helps not to think too much about it, but within the movie's logic it all actually makes sense in the end.

The unprepared movie-goer might end up a bit overwhelmed, it's true. The better you know this universe and its heroes and villains the more fun you'll have. But even though it is full of them, the film never feels crammed but instead makes four characters the center of attention.
Also very pleasantly surprising: even with the internet full of casting news over the last year they still managed to squeeze in a few cameos you didn't see coming and make the fanboy or -girl in you squeal with joy. One also would not have expected a certain character to be this much of a scene stealer. The actors clearly had fun doing this together and each one is at the top of their game.

A complex, funny, often spectacular summer movie that engages and entertains its audience in equal measures while bringing its franchise to a new climax. One that easily could have worked as the ultimate ending. But the apocalyptic post-credits scene already promises a whole new level of threat on the horizon.

9 out of 10 high-speed runners.