X-Men: Dark Phoenix
by Paulette Reynolds
June 13, 2019
Director: Simon Kinberg
Screeplay: Simon Kinberg
Starring Sophie Turner/Jean Grey, James McAvoy/Xavier, Michael Fassbender/Magneto, Jennifer Lawerence/Raven, Jessica Chastain/Vuk, Tye Sheridan/Scott, Alexandra Shipp/Storm, Nicholas Hoult/Hank, Kodi Smit-McPhee/Kurt
by Paulette Reynolds
June 13, 2019
Director: Simon Kinberg
Screeplay: Simon Kinberg
Starring Sophie Turner/Jean Grey, James McAvoy/Xavier, Michael Fassbender/Magneto, Jennifer Lawerence/Raven, Jessica Chastain/Vuk, Tye Sheridan/Scott, Alexandra Shipp/Storm, Nicholas Hoult/Hank, Kodi Smit-McPhee/Kurt
X-Men: Dark Phoenix is 20th Century Fox’s latest - and supposedly the last installment of the Marvel X-Men chronicles - which tells another version of the Jean Grey story that was first introduced in X-Men: The Last Stand (2006).
The X-Men are called upon to save astronauts after an interspace accident. During the rescue mission, Jean Grey's power attracts and absorbs a great stream of universal energy that unlocks the protections that Xavier put in place when she was a child. These ‘walls’ were supposedly meant to keep her power in a safely contained, but Xavier never sent Jean the memo.
At the same time, D’Bari aliens come to earth to take over, vis a vis shape-shifting leader Vuk, the super-villain looking to use Jean as a conduit to capture her power.
At the same time, D’Bari aliens come to earth to take over, vis a vis shape-shifting leader Vuk, the super-villain looking to use Jean as a conduit to capture her power.
When Xavier attempts to restore - without Jean's consent - the 'walls' within her psyche, Raven raises the ethical question of whether he had the right to do so in the first place years ago. This sets off a conflict between them, which harkens back to the same concerns that were expressed by Logan in X-Men: The Last Stand.
A battle ensues for Jean's heart and mind from all sides, while she seeks answers from Magneto on how to control her powers, but he's not much help. Vuk has a more selfish view of purging Earth’s humanity of evil intentions and then helping them rule a new world order. Gee, talk about a limited support system.
Women's power and who has the right to control it has been debated and decided via laws and societal pressure for thousands of years. Science fiction and fantasy genres are known for pioneering progressive dialogues on a range of issues, but it's tragically ironic here because - and wait for it - the topic is told through Simon Kinberg’s words and direction. The strong women in Dark Phoenix - Raven, Jean and Vuk - aren't speaking with their own voice, because Hollywood simply can't let go of their throats. Their dialogue sounds like something from a bootleg #Timesup tweet, with superficial angst and anger passing for meaningful introspection.
Women's power and who has the right to control it has been debated and decided via laws and societal pressure for thousands of years. Science fiction and fantasy genres are known for pioneering progressive dialogues on a range of issues, but it's tragically ironic here because - and wait for it - the topic is told through Simon Kinberg’s words and direction. The strong women in Dark Phoenix - Raven, Jean and Vuk - aren't speaking with their own voice, because Hollywood simply can't let go of their throats. Their dialogue sounds like something from a bootleg #Timesup tweet, with superficial angst and anger passing for meaningful introspection.
But, hey, what can one expect from an industry that fails to grasp a simple fact: the audience watching has changed, grown up and wants something more - and half of them are women and people of color. It's obvious that the X Men / Marvel franchise (translate - the white guys around the table) think that women-centric cinema translates into showing women dithering about men controlling their power. Talk about a one-dimensional perspective!
Kinberg sadistically gave Raven the best line in the entire film, (which effectively telegraphed that she was going to get killed for it).
"[to Charles] It's funny. I can't actually remember the last time you were the one risking something. And by the way, the women are always saving the men around here. You might wanna think about changing the name to X-Women."
Kinberg sadistically gave Raven the best line in the entire film, (which effectively telegraphed that she was going to get killed for it).
"[to Charles] It's funny. I can't actually remember the last time you were the one risking something. And by the way, the women are always saving the men around here. You might wanna think about changing the name to X-Women."
The X-Men are mostly white males fighting to "protect" poor Jean from herself - yet another empowered woman who frightens all the men in the room. In the end, these white men were predictably left standing - or playing chess. All three strong women were effectively erased, as Raven and Vuk died and Jean remained in the air, flying around in a holding pattern. Sadly, Storm - the only woman and team member of color - had little to do but throw lightening bolts around, and was given even less to say.
Online fans may mourn the dismal box office receipts for Dark Phoenix, but in the world of X-Men female heroes will always be assigned second class status. Who needs yet another installment with the exclusionary title of 'X-Men', that only serves to promote the white male gaze?
And what about those women sitting around that studio table? Well, they might want to create a franchise of their own - and stop allowing men to control their narrative.
It certainly would sell more tickets.
Online fans may mourn the dismal box office receipts for Dark Phoenix, but in the world of X-Men female heroes will always be assigned second class status. Who needs yet another installment with the exclusionary title of 'X-Men', that only serves to promote the white male gaze?
And what about those women sitting around that studio table? Well, they might want to create a franchise of their own - and stop allowing men to control their narrative.
It certainly would sell more tickets.
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COPYRIGHT 2012/2019. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.
