Dark Phoenix

Considering the reviews so far, I was expecting crap and I went to the cinema rather out of boredom, but I was very pleasantly surprised and after a long time I enjoyed the cinema. The line-up of James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain entertained me a lot, and although Sophie Turner is still an underdeveloped actress, I didn't mind her. Story-wise, the film doesn't really grab you, but I really enjoyed the action – the half-hour finale on the train is one of the best I've seen this year and Magneto gives it his all in style (I hope a solo movie is in the works!). Shame about the smaller space for Quicksilver, who has stolen the highlights for himself for the last two episodes, so maybe next time. Satisfaction for me and I probably won't see Phoenix in the blue skies again. 80% (2019-06-20)

The X-Men are back where they started, and Dark Phoenix is a great film mainly because, like Singer's first two films, it cares so much about the characters. Once again, dialogue and emotion play a primary role, and the action scenes serve mainly as a spectacular journey leading to the very thing that once set the mutant saga apart from other comic book movies and made it a grown-up spectacle with room for reflection. If the Dark Phoenix script had been written and filmed in 2006 instead of Last Stand, it would have been an amazing conclusion to the trilogy. As it is, it's an amazing conclusion to a somewhat disjointed and confused saga that, while it has somewhat lost itself over time, has always managed to find itself again. In terms of the acting, I have nothing to fault, of course from the story I'd like to acknowledge the errant Professor X, as well as Jean herself, and director Simon Kinberg pleased me as much as the screenwriter – now I'm not just talking about the divine train finale, but especially the pervasive tension and justifiable sense of doom that he manages to evoke (thanks in part to Zimmer's music). (2019-06-11)

Jean Grey has become the Dark Phoenix, and the other X-Men can't tame her the easy way. But do they stand a chance against their former partners? And what if someone far more dangerous is after her new powers? The new X-Men return to their roots and try to rely on interesting characters and character development more than action. It succeeds only halfway. Unfortunately, Simon Kinberg's surprisingly solid direction is tripped up by the often not-so-good actors and an overly rushed story. There are some strong emotional moments, though, and the finale on the train is among the best action we've ever seen in X-Men. I was expecting a lot worse. (2019-06-06)

The X-Men's descent from the best comic book adaptation ever (Volume 2) to utter forgettable sh*t. And sad be the day Sophie Turner believed she was an actress. Well, perhaps she is an actress, but she’s certainly the least charismatic being to appear in the entire series. Fassbender, Lawrence and McAvoy must have been terribly relieved that they got off the hook with this latest installment and don't have to keep plugging away. (2019-09-03)

The fact is that this movie was supposed to be a magnificent end to the entire X-Men saga. However, it is more like a slow and sleepy piece that fizzes out as an empty exercise. Entrusting the final movie of the series to a skilled screenwriter but completely inexperienced director Simon Kinberg probably reaped its own reward. Without any exaggeration, it could not be duller and more tired if it tried. This is a movie that will leave you completely indifferent and with the feeling you have been robbed. (2020-02-03)