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 the past, “X-Men: First Class,” in order to change a major historical event and fight in an epic battle that could save our future.

Believe it or not, with this latest entry in the franchise we have 14 years of X-Men pics tucked under our cinematic belts. X-Men: Days of Future Past reunites director Bryan Singer, much of the original cast and newer characters—from earlier sequels and prequels—for one big hard-driving action flick.

This film has the same well-crafted flow of most of its predecessors, the same noble superhero exploits and electrifying spectacle. It has a recognizable struggle between Professor X and his longtime friend/nemesis Magneto. As their younger selves, the two metaphorically arm wrestle once again over the good and evil in the hearts of men.

This X-Men incarnation, however, also boasts the elusive and curious element of time travel. With ticking-clock urgency, we jump back and forth between the past and the future to see how each alternate world’s events unfold and how actions will impact the present. The right choice made long ago, after all, might just erase evil decisions, give the dead new life and change a universe for the better. It’s the sort of stuff that gives us something to chew on in relation to our real-world day-to-day. The film’s time travel adjustments illustrate how choosing well today can have a rippling positive impact for years to come.

X-Men: Days of the Future Past makes for an action-packed movie experience. But those time travel leaps come packed with problems, too. Certain short-term jumps, for instance, result in characters dying in a variety of ways. Impalements, decapitations and explosions take certain lives over and over before we reach a more satisfying conclusion. It’s all seen in a relatively bloodless superhero style. For this reason, I would recommend this movie for kids 13 years and older. Add in full rear male nudity and some profanity, let’s just say the kids and adults, can get an eye and earful of all sorts of things.

Run Time: 2 hours 14 minutes
Content Warning: Rated PG-13