While it is hard to figure out why the film is in 3D and there are bits which could have easily been edited, the film makes for a very satisfying watch on the whole and is a worthy addition to the franchise universe.

It’s hard to imagine fanboys having too much to grumble about here, as Singer has pulled together an ambitious, suspenseful screen chapter that secures a future for the franchise while facilitating continued reinvention. Audiences should sit tight through the end credits crawl for an enigmatic signoff scene that provides a taste of the next installment, X-Men: Apocalypse.

You have the enviable cast, the powerful premise and yet the end result isn’t as spectacular as it should’ve been. You can’t have everything.

It must be said that, despite these what-could-have-been niggles, X-Men: Days Of Future Past is a perfectly competent comic book movie that delivers the goods and admirably so. From its uniformly excellent cast (McAvoy is especially good) to John Ottman’s brass-laden score, this is your favourite restaurant serving up your favourite meal on an attractive platter. Don’t expect the world from the condiments and sauces and you’ll do just fine.

Mutant maniacs might just enjoy the significance of such knowing lines as “It’s good to see everyone” and “You and I have a lot of catching up to do”. Mutant agonistics might just feel like uninvited guests.

The many-layered narrative, which shifts back and forth in time and space, requires a mind-bend to grasp, not unlike Christopher Nolan’s Inception. But it is a tribute to director Bryan Singer’s finesse that he transports us on that epic journey without inducing motion sickness or getting us muddled.