From writer-director Simon Kinberg comes the most radical X-Men film ever made. X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX tells the iconic story of Jean Grey’s transformation from gifted mutant into the most powerful force in the universe.
The culmination of a superhero saga nearly two decades in the making, the spectacular new blockbuster is part science-fiction thriller, part character-driven drama, posing intriguing questions about identity and destiny.
Who are we? Are we simply what others want us to be?
Are we destined to a fate beyond our control? Or can we evolve, become something…. more?
X-MEN DARK PHOENIX – A QUESTION OF DIVISION
During a life-threatening mission to outer space, Jean Grey is nearly killed when she absorbs a cosmic entity that leaves her with powers far beyond anything she or any other mutant has ever possessed.
Once she returns home to Earth, she struggles with these near-godlike abilities, but the force inside her is too overwhelming to contain. Spiraling out of control, Jean hurts the ones she loves most.
Her actions tear the X-Men apart, and the heroes find themselves deeply compromised at a time when they must face their most dangerous enemy yet one of their own.
JEAN GREY (SOPHIE TURNER)
Jean is an extremely powerful mutant with telepathic and telekinetic powers. Furthermore, she is one of Xavier’s most prized students. The Phoenix entity is unleashed in the film, leading to a fight between the two personalities for control.
Turner studied dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia for the role, particularly for scenes where she has to change from the vulnerable Jean to the confident Phoenix.
She was trained from a very early age at the Playbox Theatre Company. Howsoever, her breakthrough role was as Sansa Stark, the eldest daughter of House Stark in the hugely successful Game of Thrones series.
X-MEN DARK PHOENIX – THE CHARACTERS & CAST
THE HEAD OF THE X-MEN: PROFESSOR X – CHARLES XAVIER (JAMES McAVOY)
In X-Men Dark Phoenix, the founder of the X-Men, Xavier finds the young Jean Grey and takes care of her. Although he is the head of the mutants and, probably, knows almost everything, he isn’t infallible. Whether he’s right considering Jean’s power and loyalty, the time will show.
JAMES McAVOY won over audiences with his breakthrough performances in The Last King of Scotland and Atonement. Having been referred to as “The best young British actor of our times”, McAvoy continues to test himself with a wide variety of work on stage, television and film.
He is regarded as one of the industry’s most exciting acting talents. In 2017, McAvoy was in M. Night Shyamalan’s critically-acclaimed thriller Split. This winter, he reprised his role as Kevin Wendell Crumb and more than 19 other personalities in Shyamalan’s Glass.
MAGNETO – ERIK LENHERR (MICHAEL FASSBENDER)
Also, in X-Men Dark Phoenix he has the ability to generate and control magnetic fields. However, he prefers to live with his friends in a municipality, far away from any civilization. Nevertheless, Jean Grey finds him and faces him with his true destiny.
Michael Fassbender is one of the leading actors of his generation. Known for his ability to fully immerse himself in a character, he has carved a career that spans both independent and blockbuster films. Moreover, he garnered critical acclaim and awards recognition for multiple projects from Hunger through to X Men: Days of Future Past. The Oscar®, Golden Globe®, SAG.
The BAFTA nominated actor was born in Germany and raised in Killarney, Ireland. He is a graduate of the prestigious Drama Centre. Besides, Fassbender has a production company, DMC Films, through which he has been developing and producing projects for the last few years.
RAVEN – MYSTIQUE (JENNIFER LAWRENCE)
The blue-skinned shapeshifter, who can mimic the appearance and voice of any person with exquisite precision, likes the fragile Jean. She is some kind of friend and sister to her. She feels responsible to Jean Grey.
Academy Award® winner JENNIFER LAWRENCE (Raven / Mystique) is one of Hollywood’s most gifted actresses. Lawrence will next star in an Untitled Film for IAC FILMS and A24 to be directed by acclaimed theater director Lila Neugebauer, who will make her feature film debut.
Furthermore, her roles in Joy, American Hustle and Winter’s Bone brought three nominees for her. Of course, Lawrence gained worldwide recognition for her portrayal of Katniss Everdeen in the global tentpole series, The Hunger Games. It established her as the highest-grossing action heroine of all time.
HANK – BEAST (NICHOLAS HOULT)
The Beast has still ape-like superhuman physical strength and agility, oversized hands and feet. In addition, he has a genius-level intellect, and otherwise normal appearance and speech.
Howsoever, he likes Raven very much. Thus, he must face the question, what is the right side.
Since “Warm Bodies” he has become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors. Of course, blockbuster films like the X-Men franchise as well as for award-winning films like The Favourite or Tolkin made him famous. But his upcoming projects reflect this agility with appearances in international franchises as well as character-driven dramas.
SCOTT – CYCLOPS (TYE SHERIDAN)
Of course, also in X-Men Dark Phoenix Cyclops loves Jean. Still, he can emit powerful beams of energy from his eyes. However, he cannot control the beams without the aid of special eyewear which he must wear at all times.
STORM (ALEXANDRA SHIPP)
We know her as a mutant which is able to control the weather and atmosphere. Therefore, she is one of the most powerful mutants on the planet. Determined to make the mutant her own, she delivered a new spin on the character, which many media outlets boasted her as the “breakout” star of the film.
Shipp can also be seen this Summer in New Line’s Son of Shaft, opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Regina King. Additionally, she will appear in Annapurna Interactive’s Telling Lies. It’s a video game centered on four distinct characters. They that grants players access to their most intimate moments and personal relationships. Shipp stars in the game alongside Logan Marshall-Green, which will be released later this year.
SMITH (JESSICA CHASTAIN)
In X-Men Dark Phoenix, she is a powerful alien, who want to control the earth.
Two-time Academy Award® nominee JESSICA CHASTAIN has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses of her generation. She has received numerous nominations.
Furthermore, she accolades for her work from the LA Film Critics, British Academy of Film and TV, Broadcast Film Critics. Also the HFPA, National Board of Review, Screen Actors Guild, Film Independent and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences honored her work. To name a few.
QUICKSILVER (EVAN PETERS)
Quicksilver has the superhuman ability to move at great speeds. Even in X-Men Dark Phoenix, he is a mutant, a human born with innate superhuman powers.
Evan Peters is one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors with critical acclaim in both television and film. He received a Critics Choice nomination for lead actor in a limited series for his role as “Kai Anderson” in American Horror Story: Cult.
KURT – NIGHTCRAWLER (KODI SMIT-McPHEE)
Kurt has the ability to teleport, and adhesive hands and feet. His physical mutations include indigo-colored velvety fur which allows him to become nearly invisible in shadows, two-toed feet and three-fingered hands, yellow eyes, pointed ears and a prehensile tail.
Kodi Smit-McPhee was recently seen in the leading role of Zeta in the Sony film Alpha, directed by Albert Hughes. Moreover, most recently, Kodi wrapped production on the Australian thriller 2067 opposite Ryan Kwanten. He began production on the CBS All Access true-crime drama, Interrogation, opposite Peter Sarsgaard and David Strathairn.
X-MEN DARK PHOENIX REVIEW
X-Men belongs to Marvel. But it’s produced by another franchise studio than the Avengers blockbusters. However, X-Men Dark Phoenix represents Marvel’s philosophy and style in an outstanding way. Thereby, Dark Phoenix impresses with breathtaking pictures.
Never before, we saw that kind of visualization and action in the X-Men universe. After Captain Marvel, Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) is Marvel’s next female super hero.
Probably, Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) is right to say that it’s time to rename the group to X-Women.
Sophie Turner touches. The young actress takes us to a trip to heaven and hell. The story as well as the thrill are on the level of the prequels.
However, sometimes, less is more. So, story and emotions had to give way to the effects and action in X-Men Dark Phoenix. Which is actually a shame, when we look to the amazing cast.
Besides, Sophie Turner, who performs simply breathtaking, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and all the others, lead us into a world of darkness. Great. Also, the grand final is stunning.
So, it’s a great action spectacle, which impresses on the 4K home screen. Of course it’s worth-seeing also on any other display.
However, a bit more profound story would be nice. Next time.
However, the action and effects dominate the story. A bit more time to present the characters, their love and pain in detail, would make X-Men Dark Phoenix a great movie.
Although, we give 8 points for the X-Men Dark Phoenix action spectacle.
