My experience at the X-Men Apocalypse top secret screening last night
I was quietly typing away last week when Judy, LSF Manager and all-round awesome boss, announced she’s had an invitation from Bryan Singer to attend a special X-Men screening.
Hello, what?
When Judy told us that in fact she couldn’t make the screening, and perhaps Zsofia and I would like to go instead, I all but hit my bonce on the ceiling.
DOYOUKNOWHOWBIGANXMENFANIAM?
And so it was that last night, Zsofia and I headed, with a skip in our step, to Odeon Leicester Square for an advance screening. The little green stickers on our tickets meant that we also skipped the queues, and we were soon shimmying up the backlit staircase to our seats in the VIP section of the 1,600-seat cinema.
We had to hand in our mobile phones at the entrance – they are taking great care to prevent any piracy. However, when you have colleagues with Odeon connections (like Zsofia does), you can still snap a photo or two in the strictly-no-phones zone (or ask one of her very friendly connections to – hence the pic).
Of course, I can’t say much about the film itself, because (a) I don’t think I’m allowed to, and (b) I don’t want to spoil the ride.
What I can say is that there is:
- A cool baddie
- Some super sad moments
- Inspired use of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7
- LOTS of CGI explosions
- The most hilarious slow-mo scene EVER
- A hilariously meta joke referencing the Star Wars trilogy
- Hair loss! (Sorry, should there have been a spoiler alert there?)
I do have my qualms about the ever-bigger, ever-badder superhero action movies, and this film does live up to its apocalyptic name. However, I also admit that I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish, and experienced some hair-tingly moments (did they turn the aircon down at points?).
I always leave X-Men films with a renewed desire to become a ninja. My mind will normally go to montages of me pummelling punchbags and doing one-handed press ups. This time, however, I just came out thinking: I want to do THAT (“that” being filmmaking).
So… go see X-Men: Apocalypse, because it will give you goosebumps and make YOU want to be a filmmaking superhero. And then come to LSF, where Chris will imbue you with Wonder Woman powers of persuasion and perseverance.
We can take over the world, guys, one screenplay at a time.
Emma Heath
Team LSF
Posted by a member of the London Screenwriters’ Festival team.
