Simon Kinberg

if this was a novel it would be a bridging novel, it's all about setting things up in the universe for Phoenix and why it's there and what it means. Sophie Turner does a great job of dealing with what happens when power becomes almost too much to deal with. The addition of more enemies to deal with muddied the waters a little. It felt like setting them up as a problem for later somewhat, while also offering yet another problem for the x-men. Having Magneto have to work with Charles Xavier show more and asking a few questions about morality does reflect the graphic novels well but overall it felt a bit of a muddle, an interesting muddle but a muddle all the same.

Interesting but I'm not unhappy I waited to watch it on DVD. show less

The disappointment of quickly realising that Fox still doesn't know what they're doing after three unquestionably good X-films in a row (Days of Future Past, Logan and Deadpool) really soured the first view of this film for me. An underwhelming by-the-numbers end of the world fight with more CGI than heart, and stuffed with characters who don't get to shine or develop because they're too busy being namechecked. In a lot of ways, this is therefore a rehash of the issues tormenting the Last show more Stand, though like that film, this one too does have some redeeming qualities that keeps it from being a complete waste. Magneto's early scenes are good, for instance (if very reminiscent of Wolverine's lumberjack stint in Origins), as are Xavier's late ones. In general, it does a decent job of building on some of the character arcs from earlier films, notably the prequel series' core three (Magneto, Mystique and Xavier), and there are a small handful of others in the onslaught of underserviced characters who get solid moments here (notably Quicksilver and, surprisingly, if to a lesser extent, Havok) and on rewatch, such elements have stood out enough that the film climbed from 2.5 to 3.5 stars for me. The main flaw, though, is a villain who never feels like more than an (admittedly scary) plot device, despite generous helpings of screentime. Isaac is a terrific actor, so I can only assume the blame for this lies in the script.

For all that, I still got teary eyed at the new context for the recalled lines from the end of the original "X-Men" as the film ended. So clearly, I was more invested than my whining here indicates. show less

The government weaponizes a cure for superpowers.

The action doesn't work. The characters don't make sense. (Phoenix, who is described as a creature of unfiltered joy and rage, just stands around doing nothing and looking vacant for most of the movie. And why is Professor X suddenly and inexplicably a villain? When did that happen?). There's nothing to the plot except an allegory which is undermined by its own idiotic writing. I mean, it's a movie about oppression which basically makes a case show more for oppression. Who are we even supposed to be rooting for in that last battle? The only good thing in the entire movie is the shamelessly cartoonish Juggernaut.

Concept: C
Story: D
Characters: F
Dialog: D
Pacing: C
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: C
Acting: C
Music: C

Enjoyment: D

GPA: 1.5/4 show less

For a long-running franchise that basically started the entire era of superhero film to end on what's perhaps the weakest film they ever made is more sad than it is infuriating. But the film isn't completely without redeeming features -- finally exploring the darker side of Xavier's control issues and Messiah complex, while something that deserved a much better film than this, was a welcome development, and the arc for Beast and Mystique was both surprising and delivering several fine show more scenes. But as a whole, this was a soulless spectacle making the uneven previous installment "Apocalypse" suddenly look like it would have been a worthy finale. show less