2019’s X-Men: Dark
Phoenix, written and directed by Simon Kinberg.
Starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer
Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Evan
Peters, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Jessica Chastain, Scott Shepard, and Ato Essandoh.
What is it about?
Set in the 90’s, the Xmen squad are friendly with the U.S.
government and trusted to protect national security. With a space flight’s crew
in jeopardy, the squad goes up to help the astronauts, and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner)
absorbs a wave of cosmic energy. Jean’s already formidable powers become as
volatile as her personality, and she catches the eye of leader of an alien race
called the D’bari, Vuk (Jessica Chastain). With Vuk trying to control Jean’s
powers, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) will have to lead the X-Men to try to
help Jean before she becomes a danger to herself and everyone else.
Why is it worth seeing?
In the commercial golden age of comic book movies, it’s
difficult to recommend X Men: Dark
Phoenix. While Disney/Marvel have decimated the competition (sometimes just
by showing up), Fox’s output, as
progenitors of the 21st century comic book movie craze, have
continued to shrink in value. For a series based on mutants who have superhuman
abilities, the studio’s follies and lack of execution have made them appear far
too human when compared to the Marvel machine.
Part of the issue with Fox’ efforts are echoed in Phoenix- that of trotting out the same product again and expecting different results. We’d already seen diminishing returns from some of the series’ previous films (X Men: Apocalypse, and the Deadpool’s- which I like on their own merits but contribute little to the overall franchise), but combine that with the fact that this film is not only the same story as 2006’s X Men: The Last Stand, but has the exact same writer (Simon Kinsberg, also taking on directing duties). The stale results therefore feel almost as episodic as a Television series, in a franchise that is starting to feel more like an inexhaustible never ending horror series, than a dynamic superhero one.
Casting is as crucial as anything when it comes to both satisfying parents’ basement internet trolls, and creating solid characters- so it felt like a home run when Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence signed on for the quixotic role of the shape shifting exotica tinged spy, Mystique. But very quickly, it became apparent that Lawrence, for whatever reason, wasn’t suited for life as a blue siren- it really says something that the far less celebrated Rebecca Romijn seemed to do more in the role, with the mystery of the sleek spy satisfying the maxim of less is more. Concurrently, the series’ incredible luck with casting Hugh Jackman in the role of Wolverine ran out after there was just nothing more to tell about the character, with Logan appearing prominently in 8 of the 12 X Men universe films. With someone needing to fill his adamantium shoes, for my money, the biggest error the studio made was in not giving Evan Peters’ Quicksilver speedster a more prominent role. Blessed with the most popular (and dynamic) scenes in the retconned universe, Peters looked the right age to explore his character’s maturation, had a complicated enough back story (the child of Magneto!) to explore, and had powers that could be centrepieces of each film. But Fox stuck with a less potent version of Charles Xavier (Charles McAvoy is not Patrick Stewart- no one is), Jennifer Lawrence being stuck in blue make up movie jail, Michael Fassbender (currently having one hell of a career correction), and Nicholas Hoult (also bathed in blue makeup- and fur too). One of the reasons Marvel has been so successful is in their ability to effortlessly introduce new characters, before teaming them up, time after time. But Fox couldn’t do that- and we get the mercy of several actors finishing up their contracts, and feel oddly relieved for them.
With Fox only having one more contractual film remaining as they are absorbed
into the Disney Leviathan, their X Men legacy will go down in the history books
as putting a significant foot forwards into the century’s popular zeitgeist of
capes and lasers, before imploding in a confusing fog of missed opportunities
and time travel shenanigans. Phoenix completely
embodies that, given its carbon copy vibes, lackluster fight scenes, and a
nagging feeling this story has already been told (it has). With the plethora of
comic book movies being released, it’s practically a double negative. With the
quality control being on the wane, it’s no surprise Phoenix has moviegoers staying away- it would be nice if
the actors weren’t also clamoring to get out while they still can.
Part of the issue with Fox’ efforts are echoed in Phoenix- that of trotting out the same product again and expecting different results. We’d already seen diminishing returns from some of the series’ previous films (X Men: Apocalypse, and the Deadpool’s- which I like on their own merits but contribute little to the overall franchise), but combine that with the fact that this film is not only the same story as 2006’s X Men: The Last Stand, but has the exact same writer (Simon Kinsberg, also taking on directing duties). The stale results therefore feel almost as episodic as a Television series, in a franchise that is starting to feel more like an inexhaustible never ending horror series, than a dynamic superhero one.
Casting is as crucial as anything when it comes to both satisfying parents’ basement internet trolls, and creating solid characters- so it felt like a home run when Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence signed on for the quixotic role of the shape shifting exotica tinged spy, Mystique. But very quickly, it became apparent that Lawrence, for whatever reason, wasn’t suited for life as a blue siren- it really says something that the far less celebrated Rebecca Romijn seemed to do more in the role, with the mystery of the sleek spy satisfying the maxim of less is more. Concurrently, the series’ incredible luck with casting Hugh Jackman in the role of Wolverine ran out after there was just nothing more to tell about the character, with Logan appearing prominently in 8 of the 12 X Men universe films. With someone needing to fill his adamantium shoes, for my money, the biggest error the studio made was in not giving Evan Peters’ Quicksilver speedster a more prominent role. Blessed with the most popular (and dynamic) scenes in the retconned universe, Peters looked the right age to explore his character’s maturation, had a complicated enough back story (the child of Magneto!) to explore, and had powers that could be centrepieces of each film. But Fox stuck with a less potent version of Charles Xavier (Charles McAvoy is not Patrick Stewart- no one is), Jennifer Lawrence being stuck in blue make up movie jail, Michael Fassbender (currently having one hell of a career correction), and Nicholas Hoult (also bathed in blue makeup- and fur too). One of the reasons Marvel has been so successful is in their ability to effortlessly introduce new characters, before teaming them up, time after time. But Fox couldn’t do that- and we get the mercy of several actors finishing up their contracts, and feel oddly relieved for them.
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