The third installment of Xmen is out today, and it was great. There were quite a few shockers in the plot but I don't want to spoil anything for those about to see it so I will refrain from mentioning them.
It was pretty true to the comic although as happens there were some gaps where you have to fill in the blanks with the comic's plots. When I was really into comics (up till about 16) that was one of my favorites, so I am happy to see it as a movie franchise.
Uh, JP: with this movie clocking in at ONLY 97-minutes and attempting to end the "franchise" with a whole lotta mutants AND a side plot of the Dark Phoenix saga - I'd say it wasn't true to the comic.
Heh, I've been collecting X-Men books since the mid 70s. And no, I'm not one of those rabid X fans that believe every movie should be exactly as the comics; afterall, I do believe X2 to be one of THE best (after Spider-Man 2), film adaptations ever. Singer was on top of his form for that film.
Sadly, we don't have Singer for this one. I'm waiting until the DVD for this. Or a cheapo matinee. I just HATE Ratner; but at least he had all of Singer's notes as well as storyboards for this film - so all he had to do was connect the dots. Heh.
Edit to add: sorry if I sound pissed. I am, but at the studio (for demanding the 97-minute cut of the film) for making yet another "what could have been" movie. This movie COULD have been amazing. But with a second-rate director (Ratner), cutting of some very important plot points, and not focusing on the single wham bang coolest plot (Dark Phoenix saga) - I'm just really frustrated. This franchise could have finished off with a "WOWZA BANG", but instead, they chose a wimper.
It is hard to stay true to the comics because they are trying to fit so much into 120 minutes (97 Minutes in this case). But Singer did a good job, and Raimi is doing even better with Spider Man. Rattner is not a bad director, Rush Hour 1 and 2 were very good, although he is new to the hardcore action movie.
And again on the plot points they tried to squeeze as much as possible with the Gean's transformation and such. I haven't seen III yet but plan to. I grew up watching the cartoon with the x-men going into space and such to deal with the phoenix, and it's understandable that they couldn't spend the time with that.
I plan on seeing it soon in the theater, not for $10 but for the early $5.50 show.
I'm certainly no purist, and they did change a lot of stuff that I didn't expect. My bro and I were pretty active Xmen readers. It was frustrating for the Dark Phoenix saga to literally start and end in one movie.
Oh, and Rebecca Romijn is ... A GODDESS!
Anyway, back to the movie... It really was enjoyable. I realize Singer didn't do this one since he crossed over to DC this summer.
I'll tell you which film disappointed me. The Fantastic Four. If they could have captured some part of the Kirby era, or the Byrne era (plot or style-wise) it would have been a lot better. They obviously have all the technology to make the characters look believable.
They do have to rush storylines, and change them around quite a bit. Take the first Spiderman for instance. The Green Goblin (besides not being his first villian) killed his girlfriend, Gwen. Instead they made it MJ, and of course she lived.
They killed GG off in the first movie, and now his son is lined up to take his place based on the last discovery made in the second installment. I wonder also if they will meld plotlines and turn Harold into the Hobgoblin instead of GG2. Wouldn't surprise me. They do take liberties with these plotlines, which is kinda my point.
Does anyone know if they are planning a sequel to the Hulk? What are some others? I know that Nicholas Cage is going to do the Ghostrider. Spiderman 3 comes out next summer. I also heard that they will probably start a new Wolverine franchise, which doesn't surprse me considering the success of the offshoot graphic novels.
I have high hopes for Superman Returns this summer.
I'm certainly no purist, and they did change a lot of stuff that I didn't expect. My bro and I were pretty active Xmen readers. It was frustrating for the Dark Phoenix saga to literally start and end in one movie.
There in lies the issue. The Dark Phoenix saga would actually make a grade A film. It's filled with oogly good subplots under the extraordinary main plot. Plus, at least Famke Jannsen is a good enough actress to pull off the acting that would have been necessary.
Alas, again, they ended what could have been great series with a wimper.
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Anyway, back to the movie... It really was enjoyable. I realize Singer didn't do this one since he crossed over to DC this summer.
I'll tell you which film disappointed me. The Fantastic Four. If they could have captured some part of the Kirby era, or the Byrne era (plot or style-wise) it would have been a lot better. They obviously have all the technology to make the characters look believable.
Fantastic Four is a perfect example of how NOT to make a comic book movie.
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They do have to rush storylines, and change them around quite a bit.
No, they don't. Example: Spider-man and Spider-Man 2. Oh, and Superman and Superman II.
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Take the first Spiderman for instance. The Green Goblin (besides not being his first villian) killed his girlfriend, Gwen. Instead they made it MJ, and of course she lived.
They killed GG off in the first movie, and now his son is lined up to take his place based on the last discovery made in the second installment. I wonder also if they will meld plotlines and turn Harold into the Hobgoblin instead of GG2. Wouldn't surprise me. They do take liberties with these plotlines, which is kinda my point.
Been following the development of Spider-Man 3; which ends production in a couple of months. And have to say, that Raimi may have pulled it off again. No wonder he's one of my all time favorite directors.
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Does anyone know if they are planning a sequel to the Hulk? What are some others? I know that Nicholas Cage is going to do the Ghostrider. Spiderman 3 comes out next summer. I also heard that they will probably start a new Wolverine franchise, which doesn't surprse me considering the success of the offshoot graphic novels.
I have high hopes for Superman Returns this summer.
Hulk 2? No. No mention.
Marvel Entertainment is focusing on Fantastic Four 2, with a possible spinoff of the Silver Surfer after (he makes a surprise appearance in FF 2). Nicholas Cage has been done with Ghostrider for a year now. The trailer is finally out. Not sure if there is going to be a Wolverine "franchise", but know there are talks of a Wolverine movie.
All depends on Hugh Jackman's schedule. As for his upcoming movies, I just wish they'd release "The Fountain". Now THAT'S a movie I've been wanting to see.
Superman Returns will be flying circles around X3, that's for sure. It may just well be the movie to beat this summer. Singer is proving to be quite the capable director. He wasn't at all familiar with action movies; as evident by the first X-Men, but he learned (quickly) and bam, out came the wonderful "X2". Sigh, wish he had time for his planned remake of "Logans Run". Would have been good.
As for Ratner; he's second rate. He's like Michael Bay - movies are always missing an element. He's not Uwe Boll horrible (that would be Paul W. S. Anderson) - but I always leave his movies underwhelmed.
Superman Returns will be flying circles around X3, that's for sure.
I hope it does. The Superman story always has been the best. Hopefully Singer can pull off another one. I still can't believe they're using Marlon Brando's voice for Jor-El. That's just amazing.
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I hadn't heard much good about X3, so I'm glad at least one person liked it. I'm looking fwd to seeing how they portray a few of the charactes like Hank and Gabrielle.
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"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."
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I'll see Superman, but in all honesty the teaser they have out has done nothing to build my excitement.
As for X-men...the first 2 were good, 3 can be good as well without it being the same type of film. I probably won't see it till next week.
Maybe all you X-men type fans can explain to me where the hell....
is?
She was seriously my favorite "X-man", but now she is gone and never appeared in any of the movies, which is a huge oversight in my books. How could a well casted Psylocke not have attracted more boys to the film???
Og.
__________________ 2009: No races, No times. Slow year. So, now you're 96 cals short. You're now in starvation mode. Doomed. - LostDog
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Heh, I've been collecting X-Men books since the mid 70s. And no, I'm not one of those rabid X fans that believe every movie should be exactly as the comics; afterall, I do believe X2 to be one of THE best (after Spider-Man 2), film adaptations ever. Singer was on top of his form for that film.
I was never a big comic book reader, so I think I'll accept this movie at face value, since I don't know the story to begin with. It looks good.
It has been a while since I have read the X-men comic, but the characters in the movie were all somehow involved in the Dark Phoenix saga in the comicbooks. Was Gambit ever a part of the original comicbook storyline?
I thoughly enhoyed this movie, and when it comes out on DVD it will go on the shelf with the other 2 movies.
JP you are right Rebbeca is a goddess, so was Halle..it was good to see her character Storm, become a stronger presence on the team, as she was the team's leader for a while in the comics.
This was a great movie. I suspect comic purists wouldnt have liked it (I've never been into x-men so dont know how off-track it got) but as a movie I thought it was good. Some very unexpected turns in the movie that made it interesting. Wasnt as predictable as most comic movies are.
XMEN 3 -- AWESOME!
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