X-Men: Days of Future Past (The Rogue Cut)

Yes, this is even better than what we saw in the cinema. The theatrical version was very good, though we already knew that Rogue had been cut completely from the movie to make a more streamlined narrative (and possibly to meet studio demands over running time).Now the missing 17 minutes have been reinstated. We get a longer section in the future before the time travel takes place, a mission to rescue Rogue so she can take over from an injured and flagging Kitty, and a new section with Mystique visiting the mansion.The extended future section gives additional dialogue to Bishop and also Storm - many viewers wanted more from the dystopian future and this goes a good way to satisfying that. And although Anna Paquin's Rogue is reduced once again to a damsel in distress, the rescue mission is good and Paquin has a strong presence that's very promising if we ever get to see any more of her version of Rogue. It also indicates that, like Magneto, her powers did return after she elected to be cured in X-Men: The Last Stand. The scene with Mystique at the mansion doesn't feel so compelling, though it does continue the discussion with Beast over embracing one's true self.Both versions of the film are very good, but for me the Rogue Cut feels a little more rounded. The mission to rescue Rogue fits in fine amid the film's last act when everything becomes desperate and tense and the action really steps up, with parallels between past and future.This is a two disc set and it does also contain the original cinema version of the film. Disc 1 also contains a commentary by director Bryan Singer and writer/producer Simon Kinberg for the original cinema version, and a commentary by Bryan Singer and composer/editor John Ottman on the Rogue Cut. Disc 2 has special features including Mutant vs Machine (a 9-part making of documentary), X-Men Unguarded (informal conversations with the cast, it takes them a while to relax and get going but it's quite nice to watch and hear what they think), a sneak peak of the new Fantastic Four and some image galleries.As for this being double dipping or a 'shameless cash-in', no one is forcing anyone to buy this - and I wish we'd get more of these special editions of our favourite films. Quite often studios demand movies are shortened so there can be more screenings (= more ticket sales) in a day and this at least shows what the creative team had initially intended, without bearing that commercial aspect in mind. The studio went to considerable expense to complete special effects on the material that had initially been cut out and to give something back to Rogue fans who were disappointed she had been removed entirely from the theatrically-released edition. So I'm glad we get the chance to see this. If you're happy with the original Blu-ray/DVD release, then that's great. No one is forcing you to double dip, but this is here for those who want to take that opportunity.

This is the film as it should be - Singers fears of interrupting the tension buy inserting new scenes are unfounded because it brings a dull section of the film to life. In the theatrical cut the future is a boring bloody place where the kings of mutants - Magneto & Xavier do NOTHING. In this they go on a mission & it helps no end. It's not a hugely changed movie at all and Rogue is not on screen very long at all - barely 3 minutes I think more or less if even that - but what makes her important is that her addition adds an extra dimension allowing more action to be added.When you consider Rogue's ability to borrow other mutants powers she becomes important in the creation of the future sentinels ability to steal mutant powers - Mystique can only take on the physical appearance of others so she is only half of the story in how the robots can "change" their structure.I hope I don't spoil anything but there are a few extra FX shots in the 70's section of the film also - anyone with an eye for good structure will appreciate these brief additions but the casual viewer wont notice. I always found the scene where Magneto lifts the baseball stadium into the air to be visually bland but the director found a finished FX animation that was never rendered due to time pressure so he made the effects team render the final visuals & he added it to the scene and it just adds to the spectacle & removes the blandness.

I'm kind of torn with this review, after all I've waited a while to get this. After seeing it in the cinema it was just fractionally short of being my favourite X men movie of all time , the crown belonging firmly to X2 by a narrow margin at this point. Would the added footage be worth it and snatch the throne. Well the answer is no, it doesn't. And that's a bit of a disappointment given the hype about this.Apart from the fleeting (but still welcome ) appearance of Rogue in a couple of scenes towards the end ,overall the film feels almost identical to the cinema release, and is no way a whole "new film" version. Infact I had to watch the original the next night to spot all the differences so I'm very grateful they had the foresight to include the theatrical version on the disk. It really is completely up to the individual viewer, but the theatrical version belts along like a Grey Hound whilst the " rogue " version trots along like a Labrador at more even pace. Its not that the added scenes feel at all like they bloat it or deserved the cut from the original, they don't, they integrate perfectly well with the story but overall make little difference to it. The question really is does the added footage make the DVD an essential purchase?Well, the answer is, if you already have it and unless you are really an avid fan, not really.BUT if you, like me, have waited then its a big YES, particularly as you now have the two film versions option and of course all the additional extras on the second disc.And remember the film in what ever cut you choose is superb entertainment. Just watching the Quicksilver kitchen scene a half dozen times now was worth the cost of the DVD alone to me, and the brilliant mutant action start through to the beautifully thoughtful farewell still manages to bring a very hard lump to the throat. Its a five star movie in every way , its just that the rogue doesn't deliver more of the better elements of the story, like the new characters ,that I'd hoped for.