In chess...
I have to start talking about X-3 this way: There's a grocery store next to the movie theater, and I had a list of things I needed to pick up, and so after the showing, I got in my car, drove to the other end of the huge parking lot, and almost burst into tears in the produce aisle, because I couldn't stop thinking about how Magneto without his powers was possibly the saddest thing in the world.
That was the emotional punch in the gut for me. Out of all those things, Magneto, who'd sacrificed the pawns of the Brotherhood, who used Jean as a weapon, who left Mystique behind in an instant, who let Charlies die, who had become the catalyst for genocide - now, who was he?
I think it's because Xavier's death happened so early in the movie, and also, because it seemed almost inevitable. From the very moment he appeared onscreen, it seemed, if the movie was going to follow a predictable path, he'd be killed. There's also something about death versus suffering, and as unsympathetic as Magento was in this movie, I was more moved by the scene at the end, the old man sitting at the chessboard alone.
There's more in my head than I have words for right now. I think it's also that I came to this movie looking first and foremost for Charles/Erik, and secondly, Charles-Erik-Jean, and so many of my reactions after the first-viewing are filtered through that.
Now, I know comic canon is all *wavy hands* most of the time and that often, plot is non-existent, but I thought the Dark Phoenix arc was a solid story as it was first written. I thought the Phoenix Force made sense, and the duality of Jean and Phoenix was compelling. And so I don't see why they needed to make Phoenix Jean's alternate personality that Charles has been keeping at bay and controlling for all these years. Her alternate, evil, slutty personality, who, faced with times of crisis, moral dilemmas, and problematic father figures, just gives a blank look and stands around in an admittedly lovely purple-red dress.
And I wanted there to be a metaphor to Jean's telekinetic rising objects. I wanted it to mean something that everything was lifted, rather than it just being a symbol for immense power. Actually, I just wanted more Jean, struggling with Phoenix, mourning Scott and Charles and her loss of control, and then Phoenix embracing that loss.
I keep trying to talk myself out of addressing what happened to Mystique, and that's partially because I've convinced myself that somehow, she helped Magneto by sending the attack to the decoy location and......yeah, I'm so angry with her characterization there as the turncoat. It doesn't make sense to me.
Randomly, I don't see why anyone hasn't thought that perhaps Leech is a danger to have around. A mutant who disables other mutants' powers could be a real stumbling block in an attack situation. And then there's always the question of how to avoid using the boy as a weapon.
And, ok, Rogue. I don't know. I feel for her. I think the movie could have done a better job of making her decision more complicated, or at least ambiguous, since it seems like we're supposed to think she made the right decision because she of Bobby. I actually would have liked to see her have a conversation with Pyro - but perhaps that's what fanfic is for.
And speaking of fanfic: I have ideas. Lots of ideas. And that's really all I can ask of a movie whose story messes with characterization, kills a number of lead characters, and leaves more than a few gaping plot holes. As long as there are other stories there for us, waiting to be told, I won't be sobbing in the produce aisle.
That was the emotional punch in the gut for me. Out of all those things, Magneto, who'd sacrificed the pawns of the Brotherhood, who used Jean as a weapon, who left Mystique behind in an instant, who let Charlies die, who had become the catalyst for genocide - now, who was he?
I think it's because Xavier's death happened so early in the movie, and also, because it seemed almost inevitable. From the very moment he appeared onscreen, it seemed, if the movie was going to follow a predictable path, he'd be killed. There's also something about death versus suffering, and as unsympathetic as Magento was in this movie, I was more moved by the scene at the end, the old man sitting at the chessboard alone.
There's more in my head than I have words for right now. I think it's also that I came to this movie looking first and foremost for Charles/Erik, and secondly, Charles-Erik-Jean, and so many of my reactions after the first-viewing are filtered through that.
Now, I know comic canon is all *wavy hands* most of the time and that often, plot is non-existent, but I thought the Dark Phoenix arc was a solid story as it was first written. I thought the Phoenix Force made sense, and the duality of Jean and Phoenix was compelling. And so I don't see why they needed to make Phoenix Jean's alternate personality that Charles has been keeping at bay and controlling for all these years. Her alternate, evil, slutty personality, who, faced with times of crisis, moral dilemmas, and problematic father figures, just gives a blank look and stands around in an admittedly lovely purple-red dress.
And I wanted there to be a metaphor to Jean's telekinetic rising objects. I wanted it to mean something that everything was lifted, rather than it just being a symbol for immense power. Actually, I just wanted more Jean, struggling with Phoenix, mourning Scott and Charles and her loss of control, and then Phoenix embracing that loss.
I keep trying to talk myself out of addressing what happened to Mystique, and that's partially because I've convinced myself that somehow, she helped Magneto by sending the attack to the decoy location and......yeah, I'm so angry with her characterization there as the turncoat. It doesn't make sense to me.
Randomly, I don't see why anyone hasn't thought that perhaps Leech is a danger to have around. A mutant who disables other mutants' powers could be a real stumbling block in an attack situation. And then there's always the question of how to avoid using the boy as a weapon.
And, ok, Rogue. I don't know. I feel for her. I think the movie could have done a better job of making her decision more complicated, or at least ambiguous, since it seems like we're supposed to think she made the right decision because she of Bobby. I actually would have liked to see her have a conversation with Pyro - but perhaps that's what fanfic is for.
And speaking of fanfic: I have ideas. Lots of ideas. And that's really all I can ask of a movie whose story messes with characterization, kills a number of lead characters, and leaves more than a few gaping plot holes. As long as there are other stories there for us, waiting to be told, I won't be sobbing in the produce aisle.