Welcome to the Initial Reaction: Where I Review the Previews. (C) 2005
I don't understand the Subtitle 'The Last Stand' because this franchise kicks ass and to stop producing movies in it while they are profitable just is not in Hollywood's DNA. There will be an X4 or atleast another X-Men Movie, simply because Halle Berry doesn't want to go back to being Monsters Balled by Billy Bob Thornton.
In any case I have heard rumblings that this movie will suck. I don't care because this is one of the few movies that appeals to my "Skinny, Almost 30 and in dire need of sex" demographic. Yeah, growing up I was a bigger fan of Spider-Man Comics and I tended to buy those, but I never shied away from picking up an X-Men comic if Wolverine was somewhere on the cover. Like most people, I hate Cyclops, and believe Jean Grey is an idiot to fall for him. That aside, this trailer looks pretty good. In fact I don't care if the movie has any of the following:
1. Story
2. Plot
3. Boobs
4. Social Commentary
5. Cyclops
That's right, I put boobs on the optional list. That's because if you gave me some popcorn, a soda, and live action footage of the X-Men, even if they are hosting a cooking show, I would be pretty happy. I think casting Frasier as Beast was a good move. I am glad two Bond girls (Famke and Halle) will fight each other. The new mutants (Angel, Beast, Juggernaut, Shadowcat etc..) all look cool too. And while I am not expecting Dr. Zhivago here, this movie definitely gives me a reason to use the movie passes I have been saving. There will be no disappointing Box Office #'s here. It will make at least 85 mil in its first weekend.
I will also see this movie. But for the boobs.
ReplyDeleteI'm more worried about them botching the comic book stories that are the basis for the plot.
ReplyDeleteThe look is okay and I'm happy to see it should be more action-oriented this time around but with Brett Ratner directing, my expectations are hovering at sneaker height.
I am not as familiar with hollywood as you coasters are, so I don't know who Brett Ratner is, aside from what I infer him to be as the director of this film. So I tooled over to IMDB to check this guy out. And he doesn't have Spielburg's resume, but he did direct the pilot episode of a little show called 'Prison Break', which puts him on par with JJ Abrams and his Alias/MiIII credits. And like I said, you can't go wrong with live action X-Men, whereas there is plenty that can go wrong with Tom Cruise. Unless you take Mystique and have her morph into Tom Cruise.
ReplyDeleteI see where you're coming from but my own "initial reaction" is that X3 will let me down whereas I had nothing invested in the Mission Impossible franchise.
ReplyDeleteWhile time will tell and I may be wrong, my instinctual reflex is that I will think more highly of MI:III than X3.
A definitive answer will be ready in a few weeks. Then our debate can continue with all the facts available.
Keep them initial reactions coming Josh, they provide great talking points!
Well, what is wrong with Brett Ratner as a Director? Granted he does not have a lot of experience, but is that the only reason people think this movie will suck? Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart don't even need direction, and there aren't very many rookie actors in the lot.
ReplyDeleteReasons Ratner isn't too good:
ReplyDeleteRush Hour
Rush Hour 2
Money Talks
After the Sunset
Rush Hour 3 (even with it not being released yet, I don't have hope)
Reasons the movie may not be be up to snuff:
Ratner (see above)
They are cutting and pasting storylines, why not just take a plot line and run with it.
Mckellen and Stewart are great but Halle Berry's Storm has been lackluster, Cyclops is one mega-wuss, and the shift of ages and romantic interests among the cast is disappointing at best.
Long story short, there are some really great storylines that could have been made into feature films but instead, the filmmakers went with homogenizing and blending as much as possible, regardless of where in the comic book timeline the events occurred.
I'm a die-hard X-Men fan so I am the hardest to please. I am being overly critical because I loved the comics as a kid and own a freakin' lot of 'em.
I will see the film, I may be pleasantly surprised. I'm just not going to get my hopes up.
I don't like this BS with Rogue being fought over by those damn b-list superheros either. I started reading X-Men round about the time Gambit showed up. I think they should have introduced him so he could blow up iceboy with the ace of spades (THE ACE OF SPAAADES!)
ReplyDeleteI'm also not happy with Halle's portrayal of Storm - and whoever his name's portrayal of Cyclops. It makes it hard to believe that Jean Grey would actually pick Cyclops over Wolvie. They should have made either Wolverine uglier, or Cyclops better looking. I mean, if Hugh Jackman's Broadway Musical ass is making you look like a pussy6, you've got problems. I'm also on the fence with Frasier as Beast. It works, but it doesn't. As lame as it sounds, I think Robin Williams would have done better in the role - as he is naturally hairy and he could play both the intellectual and the comedian.
Everyone else I'm pretty much happy with.
I'm with ya on most points, my brother. I do like Frasier as Beast though. The big question will be how believable he is in the action sequences.
ReplyDeleteSPOILERS: Jack Bauer shows up and shoots all the cops.
ReplyDeleteYou see that in the trailers. Right before Willem Dafoe askes them how they like their mutant powers so far. :)
ReplyDeleteI sure could use a fish taco.
ReplyDeleteThe review is up!
ReplyDeleteThere were rumors that SAWYER from LOST would play GAMBIT.
ReplyDelete