Jamie’s One Word Review : Woah!
Neil’s One Sentence Review : ‘Saving Private Ryan’ with mutants.
Fanboy Review : Fastball specials! Colossus! Kitty Pryde! Beast! Jamie Maddrox – the multiple man! Arclight! Callisto! Danger room! Days of Future Past! A Sentinal! Dark Phoenix! (But no Hellfire Club costume – boo!)
Considered Review : The dark phoenix saga is regarded as one of the finest storylines in mainstream comix in the last thirty years or so – certainly the high point of Chris Claremont’s tenure as a writer on The Uncanny X-Men, before they descended into multi-title cash in spin offs. Given the end of X-Men 2, it was inevitable that this was going to be the focus of the third film, and it is actually done some justice, with a thoughtful and considered plot dealing with a potential cure for the mutant gene and a war between the different factions of mutant kind. What is slightly surprising is the brutality of the thing, with some shocking deaths of both minor and major characters along the way, not to mention the trail of bodies that Wolverine leaves behind him. Flesh is flayed from bones and people are disintegrated. Lovely.
If the film has flaws, it is down to the sheer number of characters and continuity snippets that are referenced with dizzying speed in places. Some pivotal characters get scarcely more than a line or two before they demonstrate their super power and exit stage left. The fate of one character is fairly ambiguous, which robs it of some of its potential impact, and I suspect that the storyline has been pruned of some sections of exposition which might have made things a little clearer.
The leads all put in creditable performances, with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan in full dramatic flow, and Kelsey Grammar as Beast in an excellent interpretation of the character that is fortunately somewhat more than Frasier with blue fur. The special effects and visual design, particularly in the last third of the movie, are similarly good and well worth seeing on the big screen I would say.
All in all, ACEBEST!
3 comments:
As a huge fan of the first two films, I have to say this one was a disappointment .. just way too many mutants and storylines, and I thought the Dark Phoenix saga was just abused!
Must admit my first thought was: I hate you Brian Singer. The first two were so good and this, this had the potential to be wonderful but...
Brian went to Superman.
Halle Berry got lines.
There were just too many absurd things.
That said - I poor X-Men film is still better than Batman and Robin.
Please tell me you stayed until after the end of the credits....
Aargh, no - Jamie was desperate for the loo after drinking a litre of (expensive) cola. What did I miss?
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