Why So Blu?

Dark Phoenix Soars Above My Low Expectations (Movie Review)

Dark Phoenix, the end of Fox’s X-Men franchise, can’t come and go quick enough in my opinion.  The longevity of Fox’s X-Men pictures produced some outstanding entries like Logan, The Wolverine, Day’s of Future Past, First Class and the very first two releases.  However, it also produced some serious stinkers like the third one (Last Stand), the Wolverine’s origin story and most recently Apocalypse.  I could honestly care less if New Mutants EVER sees the light of day, but we’re not here to talk about that one.  We’re here to chat about Dark Phoenix, a redundant story that I don’t think is worth re-telling, but we’re here again nonetheless this time with the younger class (their final onscreen adventure together).  I know many of you, like my good friend Robert, will consider what I just said as blasphemy, but that’s the power of opinion.  We’re each capable of forming one.  I paid homage to the ones I loved, but I’m ready for this franchise to die and what better way than a fiery death with a character I could care less about, Jean Grey.

Simon Kinberg, the writer of the last X-Men atrocity, Apocalypse, is back here with not only writing duties, but also directing as well.  In addition to Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner the all-star cast includes the talents of James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters and Jessica Chastain.  Make all the fun you want about this last entry, but those cast names are no joking matter.  I don’t believe Sophie is in the same league as the majority of them, but even I would consume a movie any day of the week with those names in it.  So as I mentioned up above, yawn, this one is all about the X-Men character of Jean Grey (Turner) as she evolves into the Dark Phoenix.  Yay!

I do love the way this one is brilliantly marketed with the following verbiage.  “The film is the most intense and emotional X-Men movie ever made. It is the culmination of 20 years of X-Men movies, as the family of mutants that we’ve come to know and love must face their most devastating enemy yet — one of their own.”  That’s really powerful and words alone it packs quite an emotional punch.  So here’s how it all goes down (no spoilers) per what we see in the film’s trailers.  During a space rescue mission the X-men crew undertake Jean is hit by a cosmic energy force that obviously transforms her into the Dark Phoenix and gives her all the power/wrath we see unfold onscreen.  Now let’s dive a bit deeper…

This one obviously takes place after the last round of young X-Men films where we’re left with a world that accepts the mutants as basically superheroes and essential for important missions like the space rescue we embark upon in the beginning.  Jean’s fallout obviously happens after she is struck by the rogue energy in space, but not before we’re treated with a quick origin story of the character.  It’s important to note too that this film’s opening really grounds the story throughout here and for me provides a quite satisfying emotional arc.  However, we won’t dive too deep there as I don’t want to ruin anything.  Yes, that’s right.  I respect y’all.

After all that goes down in the opening we’re greeted pretty with what you’ve already seen in all the trailers.  Jean Grey is a mess, hellbent on destruction, chaos and fits of rage, which she seemingly has no control over.  Even legendary X-Men villains like Magneto (Fassbender) pop up and try to help her to no avail.  Fret not though!  There’s something the trailers thankfully did not show us in detail.  That all revolves around Chastain’s character and what her and her trope are up too.  That makes things at least semi-interesting and it’s not all boohoo what’s happening to poor ole’ Jean Grey.  There’s a subplot underneath it all!  Even a purpose!  Yahoo!

Now I know this next statement or statements may come as quite a shocker, but brace yourself.  I actually liked Dark Phoenix.  I think it has a lot to do with how much I didn’t like Godzilla this past weekend or the fact that I set my expectations so super low, but whatever it is I came out not hating it…not even in the slightest.  What does that say about my taste in movies?  I don’t know, but unlike the recent Godzilla film this one actually had a decent story and emotional arc.  The action sequences weren’t half bad either.  Other than that you get what you paid for here.  It’s an X-Men tale not on the atrocity levels of Apocalypse or Last Stand, but also very far from the high bar set by First Class.  For what it’s worth it’s an average entry that’s worth consuming for any X-Men fan.  You get a satisfying ending with equally impressive performances sans some bad wig work.  That’s much more positive than I initially thought this review was going to be.  How’s that for a shocking twist?  I know!