Hey folks, Harry here. Before you read this review there are some things you need to know. THE FILM this guy saw, IS NOT THE COMPLETED FILM. Bryan and crew still had some pickup shots and reshoots that were going on in MAY. Most of the effects were not done and editing was not complete. This was an incomplete film... most likely minus Kamen's score, and still requiring the final touches. That being said... combined with the earlier 'Guido' look at the film... This isn't the sort of word any of us wanted to hear. But alot of the problems that are being mentioned are the limitations that were placed upon Singer by FOX. The line, "Who wants to see a movie where Mystique is the coolest character?" is most likely the most telling. Since the beginning, one of the key issues has been the character selection... Where's THE BEAST, COLOSSUS, NIGHTCRAWLER, ANGEL, etc? The more... fantastical characters? Well, when Bryan and crew were developing... they were in the script but FOX continued to cut the budget and slowly but surely any non-human looking character (Mystique not included) had to be cut. Thus, their personalities had to be removed. The good news is.... Some of us out here will most likely be quite fond of the film. The word isn't BATMAN & ROBIN bad, it's just... disappointing and not meeting expectations... which means it will be a pleasant surprise for some.... I hope... It's just a damn shame that this isn't going to be THAT SUPERHERO film that we know can be made. That film that will be fully financed with the complete faith of the studio being placed behind it. Hopefully this film is good enough to demonstrate that HAD it had that extra $30 million... That it might have been something truly spectacular and huge. It doesn't sound like a movie you should run from... just one that your expectations should be... restrained. I'll be there opening day. Nervous and hoping that everything I've heard is false and that Singer has pulled off a great movie. There is no movie that I want to love more, I'm just scared that that's not the film I'm gonna see. Here's Mr Zero... BEWARE OF SPOILERS
I watched a cut of the movie totaling 100 minutes and dated in late May. Be prepared, I will not be sweet in the telling. First, here is the summary for those who don't want to know too much:
The plot is near non-existent and the characters are thin. The villains are all under-utilized. Halle Berry is the worst performer in the movie. Everyone else is ok; with the standout being Mystique. The movie is enjoyable only for comic fans. It will make no sense to anyone else. It's good on a purely "gee-whiz-bang" level. There are cool effects and decent action scenes. It's cool to see the characters come to life, but their cinematic potential is squandered. If you're a comic fan it's obviously a must see, but leave your girlfriend and parents at home.
Now here are the spoiler filled details:
The basic plot is that Magneto has a device that will turn humans into mutants, and he plans to use it at the Statue of Liberty during a world conference that will host many important leaders. Can anybody say LAME?!?!?!?!
The best parts of this film are the introductions. The opening scene in a concentration camp with Magneto being separated from his Mother. His mutant powers manifest as he tries to rip open an iron gate between them while several Nazis try to drag him away. A GREAT scene that unfortunately adds up to nothing later in the film.
Rogue's introduction is shocking and scary. She is in her bedroom and she kisses her boyfriend for the first time and almost kills him. She has no idea what has occurred and she runs away in fear.
Wolverine's introduction as a pit fighter. He punches a guy, fist to fist and metal wins that one. Then knocks him cold.
The movie starts off very interesting and creepy, but after about an hour I realized that these elements were nothing more than set pieces and that they weren't part of any actual story.
The heroes: dull just about sums it up. Wolverine is decent, but a bit to much of a pussy in my book. The others just exist to walk through the frame and fire off their powers. One of the dumbest bits, is that Xavier spends the second half of the movie in a coma and plays no part in the climax!
The villains: they really don't get to shine. Sabertooth just growls a lot, Toad has one line. Mystique is pretty cool, but who wants to see a movie where Mystique is the coolest character? Ian McKellan is squandered. He really only uses his powers to hold the X-men in place while he delivers hackneyed speeches. Sorry guys, but there is no big battle between Magneto and the X-men. His best scene is one in which he holds a police force hostage. Then Xavier controls Toad and Sabertooth's minds to get them to kill Magneto. In retaliation, Magneto turns all the cops guns on them and cocks all the guns simultaneously. The ultimate standoff!!!!
There are some cool in-jokes for the fans. Kitty Pryde makes an appearance, as does Iceman, and Johnny Storm(dun know why as he's not a mutant!). Wolvie does say "Bub" once and Rogue does get the silver lockes in the end. In general the movie is true to the comic characters.
This movie is good the way Superman 4 is good. It's great to see the comic characters brought to life, but basically.........the movie sucks as a work of filmmaking.
The mysterious and brilliant,
Daryl Zero
