20. Kitty Pryde
Hard to believe, but at one point Kitty Pryde was one of the most popular “X-Men” characters, maybe even the most popular. The movies certainly haven’t acted that way: the character makes brief appearances in the first two films before Ellen Page stepped in for the third film and now “Days Of Future Past.” Credit must be given to perfectly ace casting, since the forever-young Page makes a superb Kitty, all plucky intelligence and resourcefulness. Unfortunately, during the over-crowded third film, she’s given two dubious tasks: one, to break up Iceman and Rogue, giving Rogue the motivation to spring for the mutant cure. And two, battling Juggernaut, a one-on-one decision that makes no sense and demeans both characters (while allowing her to be called a “bitch”). ‘Days Of Future Past’ ends up even more crowded than “The Last Stand,” and ultimately Page is left in the on-deck circle while other characters steal the spotlight.
19. Colossus
One of the most beloved X-Men, Colossus has nonetheless drawn the short stick as far as the movies. He first appeared briefly in “X2: X-Men United” where he gets to show off his powers as well as the character’s artistry, doodling drawings of Rogue and Iceman making out. Sadly, at the midway point he departs. He returns in the third film, but doesn’t really get much to say or do there either, though at least he gets to join the main team. What’s worse, he’s placed on the same battlefield as the Juggernaut and at no point do they fight. How criminal. Regardless, Daniel Cudmore returns for ‘Days Of Future Past’ and still looks as massive as he should, even if he’s no longer the heavily-accented Russian of the comics. And the metal effects don’t stray too far from the comics, which is to say it is totally awesome to see a dude become an all-metallic badass onscreen.
18. Iceman
Sorry, Iceman, but you just have got nothing going on. The character has popped up in the first three “X-Men” movies, and each time you needed to remind yourself he was in them. Shawn Ashmore’s characterization ended up being miles away from the more fun-loving version in the comics, as he became stuck to Rogue’s side as a love struck teammate frustrated that there was distance between them. In actuality, there was more chemistry between Ashmore’s Bobby Drake and Aaron Stanford’s Pyro, particularly as they duke it out a couple of times during the second and third movies. Ashmore’s stick-in-the-mud persona has softened for the new film, where he’s finally able to take the full-on ice appearance of the comics and pull off a couple of ice-related stunts. But he’s basically dead weight, particularly unlikable for basically cheating on Rogue in the third film, then coming back to her just because she took the cure.
17. Quicksilver
When pre-production photos were released showing fan-favorite Quicksilver, the silver-haired speedster played by Evan Peters who also appears in Joss Whedon‘s upcoming “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” (in that film, he’s essayed by “Godzilla” lead Aaron Taylor-Johnson), the character looked downright embarrassing. A truly awful burger commercial seemed to solidify this character’s place as one of the more laughable additions to “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” But the damnedest thing happened: he ends up being the movie’s undeniable highlight. Not only is Peters’ performance spry and spritely, full of humor and wit, but he’s also involved in the most thrillingly-constructed set piece in the entire movie: a breathless jailbreak sequence (the less said the better) that is punctuated by a gorgeous and hilarious moment scored to Jim Croce‘s “Time in a Bottle.” In a weird way, the Quicksilver character represents everything right about “X-Men: Days of Future Past:” a willingness to experiment, the introduction of beloved characters that doesn’t feel like fan service, and the presence of actual humor.
16. Cyclops
It’s not your fault, James Marsden. We like you — everyone likes you! — but there was just nowhere to go with an underwritten character and the lack of eyes to express yourself. It didn’t help that somehow these movies have never been able to figure out what to do with the visor-sporting leader of the team. The alpha-male one-upmanship with Wolverine in the first film crackled appropriately, and he even gifts Wolverine with an opportunity to have the best line (“You’re a dick”). But by the second film, he gets conked out and disappears from the narrative, only returning in the third act under mind control. By the time the third film came around, Cyclops was a boozy mess following the loss of Jean Grey, though why she ends up killing him remains something of a screenwriter’s secret, since nobody seems to know why that was necessary. Though he gets a gravestone next to Professor Xavier, no one ever mentions that he’s actually dead, no one mourns him… does he even get a funeral? Raw deal, Cyclops. Later a young version of him showed up in “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” where again he is unable to use his powers to the fullest extent and is basically led around in the darkness by Wolverine.
