Geekatana Movie Review: X-Men: Dark Phoenix

The X-men film by Fox Studios has always been a hit or miss for fans since the first one back in 2000 for various reasons and having the Phoenix story line already been partially retold in X-men the Last Stand isn't giving X-Men Dark Phoenix any favors. Is this movie a reboot of sort or just another retelling of the well loved X-men comic story? All this mixed signals and a so and so trailer isn't doing this new X film any favors.

I've been an X-men fan since as far back as high school but I'm in no means a hardcore fan and I can barely name every X-men character off the top of my head. Neither did I watched every X-men movie that was put to film and even I was skeptical at the least. Expectations was at an all time low as I entered the theater. Also minor spoilers.

Set a decade after the events of Days of Future Past the mutant known as Jean Grey begins to develop powers that is slowly corrupting her and turning her into a Dark Phoenix. And the X-men must decide if a life of a team member is worth more than all the people living on earth.

Plot wise the story is surprisingly decent. Sure the trailer and the synopsis does give this false idea that this is the Phoenix Saga comic story put on film...again. There are a few similarities but the movie is an entirely different route on it's own. The trailer and the summary isn't wrong but this is not that famous comic story line put on film and it gives the film a fresh new air since you really don't know who might die and what is going to happen next.

The best way I can describe Dark Phoenix plot without diving into spoiler territory is it's like the MCU Avengers Civil War movie where it's still team Cap versus team Ironman but not with the same reasons as it was in the comics. The movie isn't this grand action fest either as most of the best action scenes was reserved for the third act while the first and second was mostly story and character build up.

This isn't the Dark Phoenix Saga of the comics retold or set into film but more of a "What If" story of it with a whole different twist and never before seen villains. I think the reason a lot of folks don't like it is cause they keep comparing it to the Phoenix comic story line rather than its own thing. Just as long you stop comparing it with the comics I think you will enjoy the film as it is. Dark Phoenix is pretty much the human version of the Infinity Gauntlet. You will know what I mean when you see it.

As for acting Sophie Turner as Jean Grey is clearly the best one in the bunch as she brings a range of emotion on her role. I think she showed her acting chops here far more than she did in Game of Thrones. Some of the acting felt wooden however specially the villains. Also hats off to Fox for bringing one of my favorite female mutant into film. I wanted her to appear in an X film since the first X men movie glad to finally see it happen. Wished she played a bigger role though.

My only issue with the film was how the villains acted in the film they sound and move as intimidating as that robot enemy in Terminator 2 and even has powers similar to said robot but it's a minor issue since they are freaking dangerous as heck in the film. There's also some other issues but I'll let it slide since the film was entertaining enough from beginning to end. Which is a feat considering I usually get bored when watching most X film.

Overall X-men Dark Phoenix isn't as bad as a lot of folks say it is. Sure it isn't the Dark Phoenix story line from the comics but if you watch it for what it is without connecting it to Chris Claremonts version I think a lot of folks will enjoy this film. Sure it has its flaws but its solid enough to be a entertaining from beginning to end.