Solid X-Men Tier List, but Dark Phoenix in the A Tier has FLOORED me. It's probably the X-Men movie I had the least fun watching. Apocalypse is objectively a worse movie overall but there are *moments* in that film better than anything in Dark Phoenix, which was just immeasurably bland to me. The villain didn't even get a name!!! Incredibly uninspired action. Most of the cast phoning it in so hard they went bankrupt from the long distance bills! Truly a franchise low for me. I'd watch Apocalypse or Last Stand or even Wolverine Origins over it.
Oh I am a huge Dark Phoenix defender. In fact I legitimately think it is the closest thing the series has to an actual art movie. It has this dreamy surreal atmosphere with weird Refn-esque pauses between lines of sparse at times stilted dialogue that half the time is barely whispered. Everything feels stripped down to the barest essentials of story. Like youre watching someone's half forgotten memory of an Xmen story. Which perfectly translates Jean's state of mind.
The villain does have a name. It is Vuk of the Dubari. And her appeal is in her uncanniness and lack of humanity. The Dubari are scary. That train sequence where they get murdered en masse yet dont react to it is amazing.
I was actually thinking of writing a full blown defense article at some point cause I have way more thoughts on why it is awesome.
I'd definitely enjoy reading a piece on this, even if I don't ultimately agree haha. Is Vuk's name ever said in the movie, or is it just in supplemental material? I walked away from that movie not knowing who the villain *was* and that was so strange and upsetting to me at the time.
I definitely recall it being mentioned during her first meeting with the other body snatchers. And I'd say part of the idea is that it doesn't really matter who she is. The lack of specificity makes her more alien and strange, more of an archetype or force than a literal character. She basically represents an inhuman, corrupting influence on Jean, who wants to give in her to her base desires and impulses, and is another in a long line of disappointing parental figures who try to control and/or define her.
Solid X-Men Tier List, but Dark Phoenix in the A Tier has FLOORED me. It's probably the X-Men movie I had the least fun watching. Apocalypse is objectively a worse movie overall but there are *moments* in that film better than anything in Dark Phoenix, which was just immeasurably bland to me. The villain didn't even get a name!!! Incredibly uninspired action. Most of the cast phoning it in so hard they went bankrupt from the long distance bills! Truly a franchise low for me. I'd watch Apocalypse or Last Stand or even Wolverine Origins over it.
Oh I am a huge Dark Phoenix defender. In fact I legitimately think it is the closest thing the series has to an actual art movie. It has this dreamy surreal atmosphere with weird Refn-esque pauses between lines of sparse at times stilted dialogue that half the time is barely whispered. Everything feels stripped down to the barest essentials of story. Like youre watching someone's half forgotten memory of an Xmen story. Which perfectly translates Jean's state of mind.
The villain does have a name. It is Vuk of the Dubari. And her appeal is in her uncanniness and lack of humanity. The Dubari are scary. That train sequence where they get murdered en masse yet dont react to it is amazing.
I was actually thinking of writing a full blown defense article at some point cause I have way more thoughts on why it is awesome.
Came here to say what Spencer said, but now I want to read this defense haha!
Alrighty, I don't know if I'll get to it this year, but it's definitely on the list now!
I'd definitely enjoy reading a piece on this, even if I don't ultimately agree haha. Is Vuk's name ever said in the movie, or is it just in supplemental material? I walked away from that movie not knowing who the villain *was* and that was so strange and upsetting to me at the time.
I definitely recall it being mentioned during her first meeting with the other body snatchers. And I'd say part of the idea is that it doesn't really matter who she is. The lack of specificity makes her more alien and strange, more of an archetype or force than a literal character. She basically represents an inhuman, corrupting influence on Jean, who wants to give in her to her base desires and impulses, and is another in a long line of disappointing parental figures who try to control and/or define her.