Hey folks, Harry here with 2 looks at the X-MEN movie based upon the distributor screenings that have been held for the bookers of theaters to see the film and decide if they want it. I do have absolute confirmation that these screenings took place (technically all over the place) and the following shows the range of reaction.... Great to Terrible, that I think we can expect from the release of the film. But... isn't nice to know that there is a possibility of really having a great time... even if some are going to piss and moan? The point is... we need to get behind the film, see it opening weekend. But if you hate it.... let that be your one "I support comic book movies" ticket... and if you like it.... See it till you are sick of it, because... it's important that this movie not bomb. It sounds like it is an 'ok' film at least. And if it does TITAN AE business... then you can kiss a sequel, and most likely FANTASTIC FOUR goodbye because... Tom Rothman at Fox is going to be very careful right now... the axe is looming for executives... and he most likely will pull a Rick and not stick his neck out for nobody....
Well, as you know I sometimes get to see movies long before they are released. I was definately X-cited to make it to this private screening. A few other X-fans managed to gain entrance as well so it was good to see the film with some folks that were REALLY into it.
How would you feel if you had to worry everyday that the person next to you could read your mind, or burn you alive with a look..would you be scared? Even a little paraniod?
How would you feel if your body suddenly began change..your friends and family no longer trusted you or wanted to be around you for fear of being hurt..would you be resentful? Would you hate them for shutting you out or would you try to convince them you had no harmful intentions?
These very deep questions are the foundation of the X-men movie and they cover all the perspectives so well that it's hard to decide whose evil and whose not.
The film takes place in an alternate reality where mankind has slowly been exhibiting signs of mutation. These random mutations sometimes result in amazing superpowers and manifest themselves during adolescence usually under intense emotional circumstance. Sometimes, the manifestaion of the power itself hurts or kills those around them...understandably, the public is concerned and frightened of the new mutant-kind.
A senator in Washington is determined to pass a bill that would seriously infringe upon the rights of mutants. 2 men watch these procedings with great interest. Professer Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Erik Magnuss Lehnsherr (Ian McKellen). Both men are mutants but have opposing opinions on how to deal with the public fear. Erik Magnuss a.k.a "Magneto" is a survivor of the Nazi work camps and is all too familliar with the pain of persecution and the tyranny of those in power. He believes Mutants should unite against a common enemy and begins to form a group known as the "Brotherhood of Mutants". Charles Xavier believes mankind simply needs to be shown there is no threat from the mutants and with the proper training and environment Mutants can learn to control their powers and be a benefit to society.
The movie primarily revolves around the 2 newcomers to Xavier's school of the gifted, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin), who come into Charles's care during an kidnap attempt by Magneto's mutants. Rogue is quick to find herself at home with all the other mutants while Wolverine remains warry and stand-off-ish in his new surroundings. He's compelled to stay due to his adopted role as protector to Rogue and a possib attraction to Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen). His attraction to Jean as well as the chip-on-the-shoulder attitute he exudes earns him the disfavor of the team's leader , Scott Summers, a.k.a "Cyclops"(James Marsden). Since the 2 are often at each others throats the team peacemaker Orroro "Storm" (Halle Berry) has a full time job on her hands. Can they set aside they're differences long enough to stop the threat that Magneto and his Brother of Mutants has planned for the world? Tune in July 14th~!
The print I saw was the work print. It had incomplete special effects in places and no opening or ending titles...the soundtrack was also temporary. I enjoyed the film thoroughly and was left wanting more...much more. I can appreciate the task Brian Singer had ahead of him when he made this film. He had to portray characters that have been in existence for a long time and carry with them a large group of faithful fans..at the same time, since this is the first film, had to recreate them for first time viewers. SO much of the film was spent establishing the group and not so much on an epic struggle againts the bad mutants. This may not fly with people who are not X-fans and looking for a straight forward action flick. Most of the entertainment for me came from seeing how well the translation from comic to screen was executed. Dougray Scott WAS Wolverine..The whole cast did an excellent job of embodiying they're character. Anna Paquin's Rogue was outstanding. She really portrayed a scared young girl who didn't understand what her body was doing and it was almost heartbreaking in places. Magneto's story was equally painful to see and his motivation is totally understandable. Excellent work all the way around.
If there is to be any public backlash it will be from the supergeeks who will disagree with the timeline the film layed out. Everybody knows the first X-team included Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel, Iceman and the Beast. At the time Wolverine was in the team the other team members were Colossus, NightCrawler & a little later, Kitty Pride (although Kitty does have a cameo in this). The movie seemed to be more of a set-up for the next film. I wouldn't be suprised if the final cut had the words "To be continued" during the closing credits. Maybe we'll get all our other favorite X-men in the next film.
Marvel hasn't had the best of luck when it comes to movie properties (The Punisher, Fantastic 4) but this time it looks like they finally pulled it off. I give it a
"Worth Full Price"
And then there is opinion of the film based on one of those distributor screenings and... he is fighting angry pissed about the film, though he loves Hugh Jackman's Wolverine
Hey Harry!
Greetings from Toronto. This morning I had the good luck to get my mitts on tickets to a theater owners screening of X-MEN. I won't bore you, or your readers, with the process in which I found myself in this position, but it's safe to say that a good friend of mine got himself a complimentary breakfast on my dime.
Before I get to my review, I thought I'd fill in your readers with a little background info concerning my connection with the X-men comic. By no means do I count myself to be a rabid fan. Ten years ago, I was pretty hardcore, so I know the characters/backgrounds/loyalties etc. But as life ticks away, and the rent's just gotta get paid, I lost touch with my favorite mutants. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what's been going on in the X-Men universe for the last 10 years if I had a gun to my head. But I think I have more than an average knowledge on the subject.
Also, I won't waste your readers time with full descriptions of the plot and characters. I think "John Robie" did more than an adaquate job of that. Instead, I'm gonna give ya the short and skinny ...
In a nutshell ...
X-MEN SUCKS!!!!
How's that for getting to the heart of the matter! I went in with the most average of expectations. I thought all the trailers looked interesting, but they lacked the "holy shit" factor. That wasn't a problem. I was sick and tired of big summer flicks blowing its load within a 2 minute preview with nothing else to offer the audience, that I honestly thought that X-MEN was saving its money shots for the opening day ...
I was wrong.
First things, the movie is deadly dull boring. Sure, you get the ol' goosebumps seeing Wolverine in the flesh, Cyclops firing off his first optic blast, and the first words from the great Patrick Stewart ... but as anyone (and everyone) who saw The Phantom Menace last summer can attest, the "hum" of a lightsabre and the opening blast of the Star Wars fanfare can only go so far. Sooner or later, the story and characters have to grab you and take you on a ride. Unfortunately, X-MEN does neither.
ALL the X-Men are completely wasted in this film. With the exception of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine ( I'll get to that later ), everybody is relegated to background status with nothing much to do. The story is completely lame, with huge chunks of plot seemingly left on the cutting room floor. There's no doubt that things were rushed on this flick.
As for the action ( and let's face it, THAT'S where X-MEN will ultimately suceed or fail ) is UNDERWHELMING to say the least. Bryan Singer is a great filmmaker, and he does show some stylistic flair in certain scenes, but he can't direct action to save his balls! Remember the flat fiasco that was The World Is Not Enough? Well, Michael Apted should've given Singer a few lessons in what NOT to do. Instead, Singer's attempts fall into the same pit o' hell on every occassion.
Remember the school-boy glee you felt when you heard Ray Park was cast as Toad? Well, if you thought Darth Maul was wasted, well you ain't seen nothing yet. Park does NOTHING of interest here. Same goes for Mrs Stamos and Tyler Mane. Heros are nothing without great villains, and X-MEN drops the ball big time!
The only bright spot in this studio-hack mess is Hugh Jackman. He absolutely fucking nails Wolverine. Sure, he might not have the physical prowess of the comic character, but he's leaps and bounds the star of this film. If there's someone who's destined to benefit from this crap, it's him.
Ultimately, X-MEN will satisfy NOBODY! Comic fans will hate the lack of attention to Cyclops, Storm, Jean Gray, and Rogue. Film fans will loathe the lack of story and a clever script. Action junkies will be bored shitless by ANY honest-to-goodness thrills. And anybody who's never heard of X-Men will wonder what all the hoopla was about. Granted, it's not a Batman and Robin, but it's an insult to anyone who ever cared about these characters in the first place. I never thought in my wildest dreams that this film would be so boring and lifeless.
I hate being the one who has bring the bad news, but somebody's gotta do it. Lock yourself in your room with your favorite X-Men comic, and try to forget the big stinking turd coming our way July 14th.
Solid Snake
