DARK PHOENIX [3-D]


The “Dark Phoenix” is an incredibly powerful mutant called Jean Grey (played by Sophie Turner). Dark Phoenix traces the journey of Jean Grey from an 8-year-old-girl with strong but unreliable telepathic and telekinetic abilities. After a tragedy, Jean Grey decides to attend a school for mutant children run by Charles Xavier (James McAvoy). Then the movie fast-forwards 17 years to a daring rescue of the Space Shuttle when Jean Grey is needed to hold the disintegrating shuttle together. During the rescue, Jean Grey absorbs a cloud of strange cosmic energy that increases her powers geometrically. Of course, what would an X-Men movie be without some Bad Guys. In this case, it’s a band of eerie aliens led by Jessica Chastain who appears indestructible and plans to conquer the Earth. Given that Dark Phoenix is the last of the 21th Century Fox series (Disney now owns the rights to the X-Men franchise), Magneto (played by Michael Fassbender) had to show up to amp up the battle scenes.

My favorite X-Men movie character, the roguish Quicksilver (played brilliantly by Evan Peters), only appears in a couple cameos. Big mistake. Too much of Dark Phoenix is dark and turgid. The wit, humor, and speed of Quicksliver could have lighted the mood and added needed excitement. GRADE: B-

9 thoughts on “DARK PHOENIX [3-D]

  1. Jeff Meyerson

    Every time I see the poster or a preview, I wonder if Jessica Chastain was deliberately evoking Kellyanne Conway. But maybe that’s just me.

    Anyway, I was never a big X-Men fan. We did eventually watch most of the movies, but skipped a couple of the prequels that got lousy reviews. This will be another. I can’t believe they are ending the series on a prequel. What Jackie wants is a sequel to LOGAN.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, Diane went to see LOGAN with me even though she’s not an X-Men fan, either. She likes Hugh Jackman. Jackman announced he was “retiring” his Wolverine role in that film. I figure he made a wise decision.

      Reply
      1. Jeff Meyerson

        Jackie is with Diane – and, especially, Maggie – in being a big Hugh Jackman fan.

  2. Rick Robinson

    I used to read the occasional X-Men comic, and have seen the first couple of movies, but that’s it. This one has gotten such awful reviews, I’m surprised you bothered with it.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Rick, I saw all the previous 21st Century Fox X-Men movies so I figured I might as well watch the last one in the series. It’s dark and gloomy. I liked the humor in some of the previous X-Men movies especially the fun supplied by Quicksliver, the speedster. But that was missing in DARK PHOENIX.

      Reply
  3. Patti Abbott

    Boy, they are making too many of these movies. How about going for quality instead of quantity.

    Reply
    1. Todd Mason

      And the endless “rebooting” of the comic-book (dis)continuities hangs heavy on the films…after all, there were monthly or biweekly issues to play out variations in, in the original magazines, usually, and an audience that would often for the most part leave the characters behind after a few years…with annual films and an attempt to be engaging for longer hauls, the strain can show. And, too many.

      So I might just lay back and think about how thoroughly Famke J remains one of primary media crushes…maybe catch this one on cable or streaming.

      It is remarkable how much better many of the less invested-in, though not starved for cash, television series and animated film series can be than the typical live-action/CGI-heavy theatrical releases from the same corporate entities…less over the shoulder hand-wringing, I’m sure. And less indulgence of the Christopher Nolans, Zac Snyders and even the talented Sam Raimi.

      Reply

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