The more I think about it, the least I think of this movie. A story about something that is not named merging with Jean Grey, aliens that are not named coming to take control over it - by using sheer number and physical strength, obviously, a government that goes from hailing the X-Men to mutant detention facilities in a day and characters that switch from love to murderous hate in seconds. Nothing makes any sense! The film connects to none of the previous films, has actors in it just for the sake of killing them off or doesn't have them at all, in some cases. It's just a standalone X-men-like film that just doesn't seem to be part of the same thing. It looks like someone tried to make a Mutant-X film and randomly got the rights for the X-Men in the process. Why was this done at all?
2,272 Reviews
This is fine guys
samkaranja549-726-9143258 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Is the movie a masterpiece? No. Is it the worst X-men movie ever? Definitely not. Have you seen the last stand, Apocalypse or Orgins? Does this movie have deep themes, amazing visuals, complex characters, and fully developed relationships? No but its straight forward and doesn't really have any holes. Has Mystique completely given up? Oh beyond. Did we need aliens? No, no we did not. Are storm and Quicksilver depressingly underused? Sadly yes. Are Jean and Cyclops just ok? Yea but Beast, Charles and Magneto are still giving it their all. that mini mutant civil war fight was pretty cool and I really liked the train sequences. It ok for a movie to just be ok, just average. I can at least say I had a good time in the end. This movie does not deserve people going so hard on it.
Who wrote this?
melio1022 June 2019
Who wrote this - I would like his job. No effort and still got paid.
The conversations are flat and the actors look uncomfortable saying them. There is a plot and in the same time, you feel like there is no plot. I lost interest in what was happening very quickly.
Do not watch.
The conversations are flat and the actors look uncomfortable saying them. There is a plot and in the same time, you feel like there is no plot. I lost interest in what was happening very quickly.
Do not watch.
I'm confused....
lifestylehealing7 May 2020
Maybe it had something to do with the fact Phoenix came out so soon after Endgame but all the negative feedback now more than a year later seems just a tad OTT.
It worked on me. It actually has taken me until now to actually decide to finally give it a couple of hours of my time and I can honestly say 'wassup with all the fuss folks'!
Sure it may not be the best Marvel movie by quite a margin, not necessarily even the best X movie but did it warrant the criticism it recieved, hell no.
I found it an easy couple of hours and entertaining watch. Did it have faults, sure. Do plenty of other Marvel movies also have faults, hell yes. Did they receive the same level of criticism, hell no. Bit of perspective required methinks peeps.
Just my penny's worth.
This Is Not Endgame So Stop Judging it Based on That!
Theedg320 October 2019
This is not Endgame so please stop comparing this to it, giving it low scores because you liked that better.
Ive seen every XMen flick to date and this one is on par with most and superior to Apocalypse.
The mood is dark, serious, moody no Marvel kiddie jokes every 5 mins. Action is top notch.
Magneto needs his own film.
Ive seen every XMen flick to date and this one is on par with most and superior to Apocalypse.
The mood is dark, serious, moody no Marvel kiddie jokes every 5 mins. Action is top notch.
Magneto needs his own film.
The best storyline in the X-men canon, and they crapped all over it.
mossow9223 June 2019
Don't know where to start with this. If you're going to dig up the greatest story in the X-men canon, you need to bring it. And this film brought nothing. It all felt so hollow. The characters didn't ring true. The story didn't ring true. It was all over the place with many nonsensical choices throughout. I was so excited for my favorite storyline and was disappointed more than I can put into words. This political and social propaganda piece missed the mark by miles.
The last stand
Prismark102 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
If superhero fatigue has set in then 20th Century Fox has borne the brunt of it. Their reboot of The Fantastic 4 flopped. Dark Phoenix was a disaster at the box office and critically maligned. It brought nothing to the X-Men saga and the merger of the film studio with Disney seems to be in the nick of time. The X-Men future lie with the MCU and this film hints at it as when the are forcibly on the train by the Mutant Containment Unit (MCU!)
Dark Phoenix is set in 1992 when the X-Men are called by the American President to save the space shuttle mission when it encounters a cosmic phenomena. The X-Men save the crew on an extremely hazardous mission with Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) absorbing the energy from the phenomena. This leads to her powers going on overdrive and Jean becomes a threat to everyone around her. Jean feels that she has been betrayed by Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) who withheld some vital information from her regarding the death of her parents.
Jean is now vulnerable to Vuk (Jessica Chastain) a shapeshifting alien who wants Jean's power to invade Earth. After being refused help from Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) about controlling her rage, she is finds herself being easily manipulated by Vuk.
Director and writer Simon Kinberg has tried to do something different with the franchise and it is better than the bloated X-Men: Apocalypse. The movie starts with a high moment for the X-Men after the space shuttle being saved, they are feted as heroes. It is a realisation of Xavier's dreams that humans and mutants can co-exist.
However there is also resentment in the camp. Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) thinks that the team is put in the way of unnecessary danger for the sake of glory. Raven even tells Xavier: "The women are always saving the men around here. You might want to think about changing the name to X-Women." In an era of #Me Too at least she does point to the oddity of the name of team being called X-Men.
The story never flies, it limps along with an uninspired plot. It shakes up when Xavier's group combine with Lehnsherr's to fight the shapeshifters. The special effects are very good, the action scenes are effective. Sophie Turner is not strong enough an actress to convey Jean Grey's turmoil, she comes across more as a spoilt brat. Chastain is wasted as the big bad, she is just required to look good in killer high heels and a blond wig.
Dark Phoenix is set in 1992 when the X-Men are called by the American President to save the space shuttle mission when it encounters a cosmic phenomena. The X-Men save the crew on an extremely hazardous mission with Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) absorbing the energy from the phenomena. This leads to her powers going on overdrive and Jean becomes a threat to everyone around her. Jean feels that she has been betrayed by Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) who withheld some vital information from her regarding the death of her parents.
Jean is now vulnerable to Vuk (Jessica Chastain) a shapeshifting alien who wants Jean's power to invade Earth. After being refused help from Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) about controlling her rage, she is finds herself being easily manipulated by Vuk.
Director and writer Simon Kinberg has tried to do something different with the franchise and it is better than the bloated X-Men: Apocalypse. The movie starts with a high moment for the X-Men after the space shuttle being saved, they are feted as heroes. It is a realisation of Xavier's dreams that humans and mutants can co-exist.
However there is also resentment in the camp. Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) thinks that the team is put in the way of unnecessary danger for the sake of glory. Raven even tells Xavier: "The women are always saving the men around here. You might want to think about changing the name to X-Women." In an era of #Me Too at least she does point to the oddity of the name of team being called X-Men.
The story never flies, it limps along with an uninspired plot. It shakes up when Xavier's group combine with Lehnsherr's to fight the shapeshifters. The special effects are very good, the action scenes are effective. Sophie Turner is not strong enough an actress to convey Jean Grey's turmoil, she comes across more as a spoilt brat. Chastain is wasted as the big bad, she is just required to look good in killer high heels and a blond wig.
Fod God's sake, please stop making movies
navi2319 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It's difficult to destroy the best franchise from the Marvel Universe... and yet this director somehow managed to...
The acting is clearly dull from the very first scenes - McAvoy was a fantastic actor in Days of Future Past (and also in First Class), nicely paired with the huge talents of Hugh Jackman and Fassbender... but here, not only does he not act at all, but - Dear God Almighty!!! - he is turned into the bad guy (because that's the trend in some foggy minds of Hollywood these days), he is accused by his students, whom he taught, formed their characters and helped to grow into compassionate beings...
...and he is deprived of his School?!?!?! at the end of the movie the "Xavier School for gifted youngsters" changes name to Jean Grey School?!?!?! Seriously?!?! (what did she do to deserve such an honor???)
and the fundament, the basis, the Heart, the Mind, the One who formed and gathered them all together... is reduced to a sad (not even old!) man who wastes his time as a retired old man and Magneto comes to him to sweeten his days of exile by treating him to a final game of chess?!?!?!?!
To destroy the very core of X-Men is to destroy the X-Men... and somehow this "director" has managed to do so... and i'm sure it wasn't unwillingly...
The acting was utterly bad (the good actors had no script to act with, Sophie Turner had no talent to act with) - the music was utterly nonsensical (Hans dear, stop falling asleep on the keyboard while composing), the same score stretched continuously for half a movie, then a slightly different score playing continuously for the other half... - the dialogue was stuttered (for all of them) - the camera angles with lots of close-ups tried to give the illusion of emotional weight, but failed miserably - the whole movie felt like a looooong bad dream, or like the spawn of someone who messed up his brain with some w**d and then got into the director's and writer's chair...
Applauses, simon k., for destroying such an wonderful franchise!...
The acting is clearly dull from the very first scenes - McAvoy was a fantastic actor in Days of Future Past (and also in First Class), nicely paired with the huge talents of Hugh Jackman and Fassbender... but here, not only does he not act at all, but - Dear God Almighty!!! - he is turned into the bad guy (because that's the trend in some foggy minds of Hollywood these days), he is accused by his students, whom he taught, formed their characters and helped to grow into compassionate beings...
...and he is deprived of his School?!?!?! at the end of the movie the "Xavier School for gifted youngsters" changes name to Jean Grey School?!?!?! Seriously?!?! (what did she do to deserve such an honor???)
and the fundament, the basis, the Heart, the Mind, the One who formed and gathered them all together... is reduced to a sad (not even old!) man who wastes his time as a retired old man and Magneto comes to him to sweeten his days of exile by treating him to a final game of chess?!?!?!?!
To destroy the very core of X-Men is to destroy the X-Men... and somehow this "director" has managed to do so... and i'm sure it wasn't unwillingly...
The acting was utterly bad (the good actors had no script to act with, Sophie Turner had no talent to act with) - the music was utterly nonsensical (Hans dear, stop falling asleep on the keyboard while composing), the same score stretched continuously for half a movie, then a slightly different score playing continuously for the other half... - the dialogue was stuttered (for all of them) - the camera angles with lots of close-ups tried to give the illusion of emotional weight, but failed miserably - the whole movie felt like a looooong bad dream, or like the spawn of someone who messed up his brain with some w**d and then got into the director's and writer's chair...
Applauses, simon k., for destroying such an wonderful franchise!...
The end of a saga?
FrenchEddieFelson6 June 2019
I watched Dark Phoenix (2019) Wednesday evening and I globally liked it. In matter of Computer-Generated Imagery, this movie clearly benefits from the same level of quality than the three previous opuses of the current saga. Nevertheless, although the script globally holds water, it's definitely not breathtaking, and I continue to feel the same fatigue initiated during the third opus, X-Men: Apocalypse (2016). Thus, X: First Class (2011) was thrilling but Dark Phoenix (2019) barely conveys emotion, with a few scenes as dull as blank during which I was very nearly bored. Finally, the elaboration of the Phoenix certainly differs from the old trilogy (2000 to 2006) and I admit having a strong preference for the previous Jean Grey played by the gorgeous Famke Janssen.
Otherwise, a little hint of irritation. June the 6th, 10:00 AM Paris time, we may count a total of 2900 voters, with two groups as extremist as weird: 20% of 10/10 and 16% of 1/10. Honestly? The credibility of IMDb is at stake! The IMDb team should urgently harden the notion of 'regular' users, one of the main objectives being to evacuate the ratings with an obvious lack of relevance and/or honesty given by 'weird' users who pollute this website.
Otherwise, a little hint of irritation. June the 6th, 10:00 AM Paris time, we may count a total of 2900 voters, with two groups as extremist as weird: 20% of 10/10 and 16% of 1/10. Honestly? The credibility of IMDb is at stake! The IMDb team should urgently harden the notion of 'regular' users, one of the main objectives being to evacuate the ratings with an obvious lack of relevance and/or honesty given by 'weird' users who pollute this website.
Absolutely horrid and dull
doopie-yes20 June 2019
This movie was a disaster. Starting from the main character, Jean. The acting was sooo bland, colorless and amateur-like. I don't understand how she got such a big role. It also seemed like everyone in the movie was aware of her limited acting skills, so they barely gave her any lines and she was sleeping/passed out for quite some time in the movie.Just watch the movie and her acting basically screams "CLUELESS".
Then, like with any recent movies, they felt the need to include gender politics. Why? Why is there a need for a line that says "We should be called X-Women"? Was that ever part of the comics? I didn't read them, but I HIGHLY doubt it. This is just so pathetic and forced. Political agendas should not be forced into movies.
If it wasn't for James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, I would've left the cinema very early.
All in all, this movie was a joke. I will make sure to exclude it whenever I go for a X-Men marathon in the future.
Then, like with any recent movies, they felt the need to include gender politics. Why? Why is there a need for a line that says "We should be called X-Women"? Was that ever part of the comics? I didn't read them, but I HIGHLY doubt it. This is just so pathetic and forced. Political agendas should not be forced into movies.
If it wasn't for James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, I would've left the cinema very early.
All in all, this movie was a joke. I will make sure to exclude it whenever I go for a X-Men marathon in the future.
A film that deserves better.
Iangelov21 October 2021
Honestly, this is not a bad movie. Not a ground-breaking one also, but defenetly something that you can enjoy.
The story is good. It is well paced and has a good balance between story and action. I would have liked a bit more development on the villans, but for the last film before Disney got and renamed 20th Century Fox, it did not have time.
If it happens that you read this short review - give this movie a chance. I think the so called critics doomed this movie for no reason.
The story is good. It is well paced and has a good balance between story and action. I would have liked a bit more development on the villans, but for the last film before Disney got and renamed 20th Century Fox, it did not have time.
If it happens that you read this short review - give this movie a chance. I think the so called critics doomed this movie for no reason.
Very Enjoyable
nonibabs_0615 May 2021
I'm sorry, but these need to stop
mosesloki17 June 2019
Sophie Turner seems like a wonderful person but acting just isn't her thing. she barely pulled off Sanaa in Got and giving her the lead here was just a mistake.
She has no charisma, I don't identify with her character (which is the best thing one of the main protagonists) and just don't care about her.
The movie is also a mess and seems like editing made it worse. For me, I just couldn't get behand the protagonist at all and wasn't invested.
She has no charisma, I don't identify with her character (which is the best thing one of the main protagonists) and just don't care about her.
The movie is also a mess and seems like editing made it worse. For me, I just couldn't get behand the protagonist at all and wasn't invested.
X-fans will like this movie
tobyrage087 June 2019
If you are a fan of the other X-men movies, you will definitely like Dark Phoenix. All the main characters do a good job, especially McAvoy, Fassbender and Sophie Turner. I wasn't sure about Sophie as Jean, but she captured Jean's turbulence well.
The story barely follows the original Dark Phoenix, but it still does a good job finding its own way, and it touches on two or three impactful scenes from the original story, which helps connect it to the comic book version.
Another nice touch is that the fight scenes seem much more coordinated in this X-movie, it's not just random fighting. Finally, the score and especially the sound effects were great. Very immersive.
As Dull, Disappointing & Redundant As Any Sequel Can Get
CinemaClown1 September 2019
Tackling the story arc of Jean Grey for the second time yet ending up with the same disappointing results, Dark Phoenix concludes the 20th Century Fox's X-Men saga on an underwhelming note and is one of the blandest entries in the franchise. Dull, predictable & utterly forgettable, it is as redundant as a sequel can get, and happens to be terrible on most levels if not all.
All Substance, but no Style
jaystcloud-5130830 June 2019
This film ain't the best nor the worst, but it was below-average for me. Like, I've seen worse. I would say the the only pros I could give about this movie would be the acting was good for the most part, the music (done by Hans Zimmer) was electrifying, and the 3rd act was the best part if the movie. But the rest is just blatant exposition, cringe-worthy dialogue, some wasted potential shown there.
But like I said earlier, it ain't like "Fant4stic" or the recent "Hellboy" movie, but I would say it falls behind the disappointment that is: X-Men Apocalypse.
Wouldn't even want to give 1 star !
peef-0931218 June 2019
What a waste of talent of the A lister stars to play like a supporting roles for Sophie Turner just simply not workout. She's just like a wooden stick, flat and boring. About Raven also not make any sense., so why should we care about all this characters at all then? Story line seems to be rushing all the way, this is 2019 so I think the director insulting the audiences intelligent. I felt sad and angry after the film finished.
Why such low scores!
k123abc13 September 2022
I don't understand why this is berated so much. I thought this was a solid film. Entertaining and something a little different from the usual all guns blazing trope.
I enjoyed it and think its actually one of the better X-Men offerings. I enjoyed both this and Apocalypse and liked the way both start connected to the first X-Men film.
One of the standard outs for me was Sophie Turner as Jean Grey. I find Jean a fairly dull character but Sophie brings real strength and emotion. It makes Jean a much more well round and indepth character which is what she should be.
Also it was good to see Storm and Beast used more and make up for their lacklustre parts in the first X-Men films.
I hope they keep going and really fill in the gaps between this and the first X-Men film.
I enjoyed it and think its actually one of the better X-Men offerings. I enjoyed both this and Apocalypse and liked the way both start connected to the first X-Men film.
One of the standard outs for me was Sophie Turner as Jean Grey. I find Jean a fairly dull character but Sophie brings real strength and emotion. It makes Jean a much more well round and indepth character which is what she should be.
Also it was good to see Storm and Beast used more and make up for their lacklustre parts in the first X-Men films.
I hope they keep going and really fill in the gaps between this and the first X-Men film.
The worst X-Men movie
arabnikita7 June 2019
I love X-Men, I watched every single one in the past 20 years multiple times and while I did enjoy some more than others, I never hated any film. I closed my eyes to small mistakes and forgave them anything. Not this time.
Instead of going out strong and leaving a good impression after so many years, they did the exact opposite. The movie is distorted, rushed, predictable, flat and overall unimpressive. Everything looks cheap from the costumes to the decorations. The actors are uninterested in the movie and look like they just want to deliver their weak lines and get done as soon as possible. Nobody at Fox cared about this movie so why should we? I am sad for what was done to my beloved franchise.
#moviesshmovies
Instead of going out strong and leaving a good impression after so many years, they did the exact opposite. The movie is distorted, rushed, predictable, flat and overall unimpressive. Everything looks cheap from the costumes to the decorations. The actors are uninterested in the movie and look like they just want to deliver their weak lines and get done as soon as possible. Nobody at Fox cared about this movie so why should we? I am sad for what was done to my beloved franchise.
#moviesshmovies
Poor Acting
thederekmichael28 June 2020
The storyline is pretty decent. But Sophie Turner's poor Acting skills just kills the whole movie. Rest of the characters are alright with the kind of script they have got. McAvoy and Fassbender are more of a saving grace to this film.
So this is how far the X-Men movies have fallen
Jared_Andrews22 January 2020
Yikes.
It's a rough one. From the seemingly robot-generated dialogue, to the hollow characters, to the wooden acting, to the utter incomprehensibility of the fight scenes - this movie is a laborious and completely unrewarding watch. In fact, I would prefer hard labor to sitting through this sorry excuse for a movie again. With so many talented actors, it's utterly astonishing that anyone could create such an unpleasant film. But these people pulled it off. Amazing.
The only fortunate person to take part in this movie was Jennifer Lawrence, who didn't stick around for long. Smart move.
I put off seeing this movie for months before finally watching it. It's too bad I did. What a waste of time.
It's a rough one. From the seemingly robot-generated dialogue, to the hollow characters, to the wooden acting, to the utter incomprehensibility of the fight scenes - this movie is a laborious and completely unrewarding watch. In fact, I would prefer hard labor to sitting through this sorry excuse for a movie again. With so many talented actors, it's utterly astonishing that anyone could create such an unpleasant film. But these people pulled it off. Amazing.
The only fortunate person to take part in this movie was Jennifer Lawrence, who didn't stick around for long. Smart move.
I put off seeing this movie for months before finally watching it. It's too bad I did. What a waste of time.
Very enjoyable.
sassoo_851 June 2021
I enjoyed watching this movie.
I almost did not because of the low rating and negative reviews.
I am glad I took the risk. While watching, I kept wondering why people find it too bad. It is not the best X-Men movie, but it is very enjoyable.
Also, Sophie Turned did a very good job. I loved her face expressions when Jean went dark.
I almost did not because of the low rating and negative reviews.
I am glad I took the risk. While watching, I kept wondering why people find it too bad. It is not the best X-Men movie, but it is very enjoyable.
Also, Sophie Turned did a very good job. I loved her face expressions when Jean went dark.
Skipping to the end
jpburrett17 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
At some point they are going to understand that Dark Phoenix needs to be built up to intead of just thrown in like an excited child into a happy meal.
This and last stand did the same thing of a few "oh she is strong moments" and then boom dark phoenix.
In the comics she has a few origin variations. The one most knownid the animated series version with the alien force that is helping out, gets a bit comfortable and dose t want to go away again.
Hopefully when the MCU gets going they can give it the build up it needs to allow the awesome story it deserves.
No fault bu Sophie Turner of Famke Jenson but better writing needed.
This and last stand did the same thing of a few "oh she is strong moments" and then boom dark phoenix.
In the comics she has a few origin variations. The one most knownid the animated series version with the alien force that is helping out, gets a bit comfortable and dose t want to go away again.
Hopefully when the MCU gets going they can give it the build up it needs to allow the awesome story it deserves.
No fault bu Sophie Turner of Famke Jenson but better writing needed.
Totally ruins the xmen timeline and story line not happy at all
tristanostara7 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
First thing about this movie that pissed me off was the lack of continuity firstly jean is 8 in 1975, then fast forward to her at approximately 18 years old so it should be set in the mid 80s the tech in the film is all over the place from the cars to the tvs to the telephones to the clothing to the 2019 dance club sound track in one of the scenes??? Wtf then only to kill off mistique one of the main characters not to bring her back some how considering she is a main character in movies set in the future is really dumb!! Quicksilver was under utilised and then handicapped for the rest of the film also pretty dumb!!! Then to introduce an alien race never before talked about in the xmen genre is again really dumb, storm now although it looks like the same character as xmen apocalypse now has a totally different accent total wtf
See it for yourself first
dereksmitho7 June 2019
I just got out of seeing Dark Phoenix and here are my early thoughts, all together I'd say I enjoyed it. Is it a great finale? No, but due to the Fox and Disney circumstances I'll cut them some slack. The ending left me wanting more and in this case that isn't a good thing. Some of the story telling in this movie I really liked but there were scenes I wish they would have taken a bit further. I felt this was one of those movies that would have really benefited from an R rating. The final act was what really held it back for me, although there were some really great visuals it just felt like a mess. I think if you go in with the right mindset you will enjoy this film. It's a shame these actors will all be recasted by Disney because there are some AMAZING actors in this cast. I'll give the movie overall a 6.8/10. Certainly not worth the hate it's getting.
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