GUY Movie Review

[Second Update: Bryan Singer has confirmed that he will NOT be directing the movie, but will instead produce the film with Shuler Donner. Singer will be busy directing Jack the Giant Killer for Warner Bros. and Legendary. Sad news indeed if you're a Singer fan like me.]

[Update: Here's a great interview with Bryan Singer about his developments with First Class - it also provides a great look back at the risk that went into making the first X-Men film, and how it has impacted Hollywood history.]

After the critical bomb that was 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand (56% on Rotten Tomatoes), X-Men movie producer Laura Shuler Donner has her sights set on several new films. In an interview with SlashFilm, she stated that she would like to see an X4 movie developed, and another project tentatively referred to as The New Mutants. We can only assume the title is referring to what’s left of the X-Men members and the franchise’s hopes to make money after the “Phoenix Saga.”

The Problem with X3

In a movie where we saw Angel fly so high, I never thought the plot could sink so low. The deaths of Charles Xavier and Cyclops were lamentable, but more from a fan perspective for what could have been for them vs. that of a viewer who has become emotionally attached to a character (which is how it should have been). The stuffing of the Phoenix into an already jumbled storyline echoed greatness not seen since the masterful Venom storyline in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 3 – end sarcasm.

But despite a host of other complaints from the comic-fan community, the most glaring is an over-usage of villain appearances that served no real purpose. The X-Men comics have one of the richest sources of well-developed characters of any comicbook series, and there is no reason to try and fit them all in at once. Someone once mentioned that Marvel characters like the X-Men translated better into film than DC Comics characters because they were human, flawed, and ultimately relatable. This is absolutely true. Whereas DC made characters into invincible gods like Superman and Wonder Woman, Marvel had a stable of familiar characters like the Spider-man, who struggled with girls and finances.

New X-pectations

With X-Men: First Class and X-Men 4, the real objective was to carry on the marquee without an experienced cast that would demand higher pay. This was the reason the majority of the older actors were regrettably killed off, to make room for a younger, less-expensive payroll. You get what you pay for.

There is no doubt in my mind that Shuler Donner is hoping to reinvent the franchise with a hipper, fresher team a la J.J. Abram’s latest Star Trek movie. There is greater potential and marketability there, as well as the creative freedom to take the series anywhere (and continually feed the Fox coffers while at it). X4 meanwhile, will have the implausible task of piecing together a decent storyline in the aftermath of Professor X’s death. I mean think about it. Wolverine and Storm will remain as the leaders, and a bunch of kids with random superpowers are supposed to believably carry on the X-Men name? And who will they choose as villains? The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the Sentinels or maybe the Morlocks? Everyone on that list seems to outclass the new would-be X-Men, so good luck. I smell a disaster. Also keep in mind that Hugh Jackman is less likely to take this new movie seriously when he has his own franchise to work on fixing (Deadpool anyone?).

So there you have it. If I had to put my money on one of the two, it would be on X-Men: First Class just because they have the advantage of a marquee name, young and attractive talent (most likely) and no FUBARed storyline to explain.

How Would You Have Done It?

Since this is our first post EVER, I want to point out that GMR isn’t just about criticism, it’s about constructive criticism. So, given the chance to revamp the X-Men, how would I do it? Simply, by focusing on great source material. Here’s how my trilogy would have looked.

X-Men 1: Wolverine – A potential standalone movie wherein we find Logan running from the law, and the Weapon X program. Human-mutant conflicts are only minimally mentioned as rumors of mutant experimentation run wild. Logan attempts to settle in Canada, when a mysterious creature kills his fiance and flees. He turns hunter and takes to the backwoods to track down what will become his most fearsome adversary: Sabertooth. In the end, the X-Men will show up to introduce themselves and offer help from Charles Xavier, the only man who can help Logan recall his past.

X-Men 2: Rise of the Sentinels – Human-mutant conflicts escalate to maximum levels with the simultaneous unveiling of the Sentinels, a new breed of hunter robot capable of trapping and killing mutants. With political deceit and civil unrest in the backdrop, the X-Men must maneuver through risky political waters and push themselves to their physical limits in confronting a cold, inhuman destroyer. But who is behind the project?

X-Men 3: Exodus of the Mutants – Following the great Sentinel Wars, mutant-kind’s new “savior” Magneto uses his vast resources to create Country M, a new home for exiled mutants who no longer desire to live with humans. The new promised land is in fact a small country that has been taken by the Master of Magnetism for his own purposes, complete with stolen nuclear warheads for “defensive purposes.” But will the leaders of the free world stand by and let an assembly of the world’s most powerful mutants congregate in one area? The potential threat to humanity is deemed too great, and the X-Men are sent in to dispatch Earth’s most powerful mutant before a missile strike triggers a nuclear winter.

What would you like to see as a storyline for the new X-Men films?

[Source: SlashFilm]