*Warning, Spoiled Comicbook Fan Rant*
I along with many X-Men comic fans were disappointed when it’s was announced X-Men: The Last Stand co-writer Simon Kinberg would be directing X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Now some fans are pissed the Kinberg stated the upcoming film would be, “emotional, grounded and not too intergalactic.” Many are upset because they feel it will down play or leave out the Shi’ar empire and Imperial Guard.
As it’s factually pointed out in a post written by Tom Bacon;
“That’s ‘The Phoenix Saga,’ and it ran from 1976 through to 1977. “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” the spiritual successor to that story, is a completely different tale. It’s a haunting, emotional narrative in which the incalculably powerful Phoenix falls prey to the psychic influence of Mastermind. She’s corrupted by her own infinite power, and destroys an entire inhabited star-system before returning to Earth. Horrified at her crimes, the Shi’ar pursue Phoenix to Earth, and insist she be killed.
The bulk of “The Dark Phoenix Saga” is actually set on Earth, with the final issue taking place on the surface of the Moon. It’s not an intergalactic adventure; it’s a deep, traumatic and human tale, one that centers on Jean Grey’s humanity. It’s a story of corruption and redemption, played out as tragedy.”
This easily explains to fans that Kinberg’s vision is in line with the Dark Phoenix Saga. That’s not why I’m upset. I’m disgusted that as a reader of past phenomenal tales in the pages of comics (in this case X-men / Uncanny X-Men) the films just can’t measure up. The films can’t even compare to the first X-Men animated series. Just look at the manifestations between Apocalypse in the comics, animated series and then the film. Individually however; X-Men: The Last Stand is easily the worst in the franchise. Shit got so bad in the franchise that it tried to reboot itself with Days of Future Past.
The series as a whole primarily focuses on Professor Xavier, Wolverine, Magneto, Jean and Jennifer Lawrence Mystique. I don’t think Dark Phoenix will be a good film because just as in Apocalypse, it will be poorly written like many of Kinberg’s previous works and other X-Men films.
Just look at some of Simon Kinberg’s co-writing credits.
• Fantastic Four (bull shit).
• X-Men: The Last Stand (hog shit).
• X-Men: Days of Future Past (forcing Jennifer Lawrence down our throats as the hero; horse shit).
• X-Men: Apocalypse (this turned out oh-so-shittingly).
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (seriously).
Dark Phoenix will be Simon Kinberg’s directorial debut mind you. So I’m trusting my instincts and preparing myself for disappointment in hopes that I might be mildly entertained.
I rate Fox’s X-men series as follows:
- X-Men (2000) – C
- X2 (2003) – D
- X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) – F
- X-Men: First Class (2011) – C
- X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) – C
- X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) – F
With a stand out action sequence or two in every film, that doesn’t save the overall let down after taste of the franchise. This is why I give the X-Men series a solid D.
My rating of Fox’s other Marvel films:
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) – F
- The Wolverine (2013) – C
- Deadpool (2016) – B
- Logan (2017) – A
Anytime I hear "grounded" i moan and roll my eyes.It's more often than not ,shorthand for holding back on all the things that give the genre it's identity.In this case,I feel my scoffing is right due to the last part of the wuote,not to mention the lackluster preceding films.
They weren't even trying with Apoclaypse.That movie was written after eating spoiled 'Member Berries.
First Class had potential.I wish Matthew Vaughn could have continued with a fully-rebooted series.
Yes, it was disappointing. It's a challenge to find a writer who is a comic head with a sensibility to the original storyline or arc yet creative and forward thinking to take it a step further and possibly reimagine it to be greater without compromise. The only director coming close was Bryan Singer. I cant name any writers as to why we should encourage those especially those of color to creatively write.
I disagree with most of the critique of the previous X-Men films but I agree that its more likely than not that they will mess up the Dark Phoenix saga…All that bullshit about a Phoenix Saga before Chris Claremont's classic storyline is just them trying to soften the inevitable backlash.
They probably wanted to do the real Dark Phoenix Saga but got pressured by the studios to make it more "grounded" like LOGAN. Also prob didn't help that "Apocalypse" fell far below expectations profit-wise.
I agree First class is the only X-Men movie that I liked. It's sad because there is great source materials to make a great film series. But Bryan Singer is obsessed with wolverine.