The potential with having the X-Men as characters in your movie are awesome and probably too great for most. Rather than harness this potential, this film just sort of hovers, guided by special effects and a lot of cliches. The basic story of the film is that a serum has been developed that can get rid of one's X gene and return a mutant to the world of regular humans. The reality of what might be called a cure, makes for the possibility that it could be forced on mutants rather than an option. A war must be fought. Viewers need to see superheroes use there powers for destruction on a massive scale and break a few necks. A lot of the mutants die, but with resurrection as a rather common occurrence it doesn't really tell you anything about if they will make another film or not. And from what I have heard about the comics, the story is horrible different (Stan Lee created X-Men and apparently has a cameo in the film- I missed it). I would have hoped that this film could have avoided the canned lines and taken the metaphor of the superhero to another level. The film is pretty much a flop (both as entertainment and philosophically- my 10 minutes of reflection was probably more than this film could take, the film is rather nihilistic-since in this life you can only live between good and evil, better to die than become your own worst enemy). The summer of 2006 is not living up to the hype, do they ever?
June 01, 2006
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Stan Lee's cameo was in the flashback scene to Jean Grey's induction into the Xavier school. He was the old guy watering the lawn, who sees the water begin to float. [/end dork knowledge]
The film flounders because the tone is never stable. If Rogue considers the cure, then some section of the film should concfront the philosophical inplications of such a procedure (as Eternal Sunshine did, note my love for this film). Instead, the film sidesteps any consideration, which both cheats the audience and the character. Moreover, if Magneto still has some remnant of his power, as the ending suggests (though my viewing of the film initially missed this), then the whole sctructure and impact of the film is lost.
Regardless, I enjoyed the Kitty Pryde and Juggarnaut chase for its big n dumb action energy, and think that Ellen Page (Kitty) might have a future ahead of her. And Grammar, like Stewart and McKellan, does strong work with weak material.
Paul, hoping that Cars can deliver
I agree. As to the Magneto thing, I assumed that he had lost his power and that he had essentially gone crazy since his identity was so wrapped up in being a mutant. As I remember it the chess peice didn't move. Strange how the film seems to think that identities can be stolen by force...
I thought it had some fun material-- Grammar, as you said, was great as Beast. And it was also nice to see the cameo from long-time X-Men writer Chris Clairmont (he was the lawnmower guy in the beginning). But as you said, I felt disappointed when the film closed.
Did you stay after the credits to see the "super surprise ending"?
:-(
The X-men are my favourite comic-to-movie travellers ... perhaps the only ones I really like. And Nightcrawler is my favourite superhero. Sad to hear the new movie does not live up expectations.
I don't know if I would call it a surpise ending, Jason. Just an interesting idea of the possibilities of conciousness. They also have to leave room for continuing the series. I think that there will be a 5 to 10 year hiatus, and then they will start the series over from the beginning using all new actors and actresses. we'll see...
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