X-Men: Dark Phoenix

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kneeblock

Drapetomaniac
Apr 18, 2015
12,435
23,026
Going to see it against my better judgement. It's probably the worst reviewed film I've seen in the last several years, but I need the closure to the X-cinematic universe. Will give my review once I come out.

It can't be worse than X3. Can it?
 

RaginCajun

The Reigning Undisputed Monsters Tournament Champ
Oct 25, 2015
36,970
93,842
Going to see it against my better judgement. It's probably the worst reviewed film I've seen in the last several years, but I need the closure to the X-cinematic universe. Will give my review once I come out.

It can't be worse than X3. Can it?
Heard it was enjoyable but not great. Let us know if it is worth a watch after.

 

Nemo?

Too weird to live, too rare to die.
Dec 2, 2015
4,714
7,898
Heard it was enjoyable but not great. Let us know if it is worth a watch after.

it's good but not great......a few power plot holes(how some characters use their powers from one situation to the next). But not horrible.

Dark phoenix and really x-men in general is made for a tv series not movies. Too many characters to fill out unless you go the avengers route and flesh them out in their own movies then bring them together.

6.5/10 nemo's.
 

kneeblock

Drapetomaniac
Apr 18, 2015
12,435
23,026
So I liked it despite its horrible horrible flaws. It was cheesy, trite, and overwrought, but in a way, that's what I liked about it. Unlike Avengers or Justice League, which mostly are about what would happen if you put all these super powerful characters in a room, X-Men is largely about family and melodrama. This film was cornily melodramatic, like all of its predecessors, but just less skillfully executed. Still, they nailed the melodrama of the Phoenix saga, albeit without turning Jean into a dominatrix like in the original story. There's also something palpable lost in the absence of Wolverine and his relationship with Jean. But for the first time in this entire series of films, Cyclops came across as likeable at least.

Chris Claremont, in hindsight, wasn't always the greatest writer on Earth, but he did make the comic X-Men seem like they were in a quirky opera. This film gave us some of that feeling even if several characters sounded a little off. Fassbender's Magneto is still the gem to the point where he looks like he was brought to life right out of a Jim Lee drawing. Beast gets some quality shine as well and did everything short of saying "oh my stars and garters."

Overall, this film is probably about a 11/20 on a normal movie scale. On the superhero scale, it's probably a 13/20. I feel critics have judged it against Avengers which isn't really fair because they're sort of different genres that both happen to feature super powered beings. I have such a soft spot for the X-Men that I'm likely to be more charitable to them. I didn't even hate Apocalypse or Days of Future Past. This was definitely better than X3 and more in line with the way the X-Men have been presented in the comics over the past 15 years. Charles has made mistakes, powerful mutants are out of control, Magneto is just willing to push things all the way, government is suspicious, but somewhat rightfully so, Nitecrawler is the heart and soul and has qualms about breaking his moral code despite being pushed, Beast is torn between smarts and savagery, and Storm is...well, kinda wasted, but we see hints that she's an important leader (someday). This was my X-Men I grew up with, albeit written by a fair to middling writer, which has been the case a lot. Like a Scott Lobdell story arc (though in fairness to him, he's much better today than he was in the 90s).

See it at a matinee or on Netflix later or with some other X-fans who you can grouse about the departures from Canon with later. Then go watch the Animated series and how they did Dark Phoenix to get the best rendition.
 

Nemo?

Too weird to live, too rare to die.
Dec 2, 2015
4,714
7,898
So I liked it despite its horrible horrible flaws. It was cheesy, trite, and overwrought, but in a way, that's what I liked about it. Unlike Avengers or Justice League, which mostly are about what would happen if you put all these super powerful characters in a room, X-Men is largely about family and melodrama. This film was cornily melodramatic, like all of its predecessors, but just less skillfully executed. Still, they nailed the melodrama of the Phoenix saga, albeit without turning Jean into a dominatrix like in the original story. There's also something palpable lost in the absence of Wolverine and his relationship with Jean. But for the first time in this entire series of films, Cyclops came across as likeable at least.

Chris Claremont, in hindsight, wasn't always the greatest writer on Earth, but he did make the comic X-Men seem like they were in a quirky opera. This film gave us some of that feeling even if several characters sounded a little off. Fassbender's Magneto is still the gem to the point where he looks like he was brought to life right out of a Jim Lee drawing. Beast gets some quality shine as well and did everything short of saying "oh my stars and garters."

Overall, this film is probably about a 11/20 on a normal movie scale. On the superhero scale, it's probably a 13/20. I feel critics have judged it against Avengers which isn't really fair because they're sort of different genres that both happen to feature super powered beings. I have such a soft spot for the X-Men that I'm likely to be more charitable to them. I didn't even hate Apocalypse or Days of Future Past. This was definitely better than X3 and more in line with the way the X-Men have been presented in the comics over the past 15 years. Charles has made mistakes, powerful mutants are out of control, Magneto is just willing to push things all the way, government is suspicious, but somewhat rightfully so, Nitecrawler is the heart and soul and has qualms about breaking his moral code despite being pushed, Beast is torn between smarts and savagery, and Storm is...well, kinda wasted, but we see hints that she's an important leader (someday). This was my X-Men I grew up with, albeit written by a fair to middling writer, which has been the case a lot. Like a Scott Lobdell story arc (though in fairness to him, he's much better today than he was in the 90s).

See it at a matinee or on Netflix later or with some other X-fans who you can grouse about the departures from Canon with later. Then go watch the Animated series and how they did Dark Phoenix to get the best rendition.
I would have preferred if Beast broke out 1 cheesy line for old time's sake.

Hopefully Disney is smart and makes x-men into a TV series with comic accurate story lines meaning we get to see the true first x-men and them being lost etc, really and truly it would be a powerful reminder of all the huge social topics they cover too.

Also need's more Gambit.
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
34,427
46,567
Thanks guys, I'll go check it out.
I was never into X-men as a kid, but liked X1, loved X2, & was there opening day for X3. It's turned out to be my favorite Marvel group. As critical as I've been about this one or that one, I can still pop any one of them in the player and be entertained.
 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
Then go watch the Animated series and how they did Dark Phoenix to get the best rendition.
I own every single episode of the animated series on DVD, and everything that's come out since (less "Logan") has paled in comparison.
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
34,427
46,567
It's only showing in 200 theatres nationwide, we're lucky enough to be next to one.
I raced to catch the showing an hour ago with one of my daughters.
Paid $40, grubbed up, watched the first 35 minutes(intriguing), then daughter began dissociating & we had to leave :(
First time I've had to leave a movie for that reason, & first time we've had the entire theater to ourselves, but if the subject matter hits home for her, the situation gets as scary as Dark Phoenix.:eek:

Gonna have to try again tomorrow alone.
 

kneeblock

Drapetomaniac
Apr 18, 2015
12,435
23,026
It's only showing in 200 theatres nationwide, we're lucky enough to be next to one.
I raced to catch the showing an hour ago with one of my daughters.
Paid $40, grubbed up, watched the first 35 minutes(intriguing), then daughter began dissociating & we had to leave :(
First time I've had to leave a movie for that reason, & first time we've had the entire theater to ourselves, but if the subject matter hits home for her, the situation gets as scary as Dark Phoenix.:eek:

Gonna have to try again tomorrow alone.
Sorry to hear that man. A matinee may be good so you pay less for it also.
 

Jehannum

TMMAC's Most Handsome Artist
Jan 26, 2016
12,756
14,077
it was a mess and completely pointless too, I don't know why they bothered other than to try and cash in on Game of Thrones mania.

I'm still salty about how badly they handled the Apocalypse movie, and these spin offs with younger versions of the X-Men that then cross over into the other movies...well they suck! Logan was pretty good but it was also a very flawed movie.
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
34,427
46,567
There was a lot I liked.
But some ATROCIOUS screenplay/scripting(editing?) at times.
In the alley when they chased after Jean to "save" her, what a dumpster fire.
I was literally laughing shaking my head.
The first 1/4 wasn't half bad.
This one had me pissed off FOR the amazing talented actors; James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jessica Chastain.

Sophie Turner is likable, but a bad choice for Jean. Tye Sheridan is an awful choice for Cyclops. Jennifer Lawrence is Jennifer Lawrence no matter what color she is or how many scales she rocks.

I don't know who's to blame for releasing half-awesome half-wretched movies.
 

Jehannum

TMMAC's Most Handsome Artist
Jan 26, 2016
12,756
14,077
There was a lot I liked.
But some ATROCIOUS screenplay/scripting(editing?) at times.
In the alley when they chased after Jean to "save" her, what a dumpster fire.
I was literally laughing shaking my head.
The first 1/4 wasn't half bad.
This one had me pissed off FOR the amazing talented actors; James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jessica Chastain.

Sophie Turner is likable, but a bad choice for Jean. Tye Sheridan is an awful choice for Cyclops. Jennifer Lawrence is Jennifer Lawrence no matter what color she is or how many scales she rocks.

I don't know who's to blame for releasing half-awesome half-wretched movies.
In defence of Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone was an awesome film.