In less than three months, we’ll all have the answer to one of the biggest questions on the minds of movie buffs everywhere: Will X-Men: The Last Stand live up the high standards of the franchise? Until it hits theaters on May 26, however, you’ll have to divine answers from Tim Stack’s story in the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, in which he tackles such subjects as what the movie’s about, how exactly Brett Ratner took over the director’s gig from Bryan Singer, and whether The Last Stand will, in fact, be the last stand for everyone’s favorite big-screen mutants. Here’s what he found out:
The end of X2 seemed to set up a third installment focusing on a Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix story line that would follow the evolution of the goody-two-shoes character (played by Famke Janssen) into a super-baddie. But the driving plot of The Last Stand turns out to be the discovery of a "cure" for mutations. Why the switch? "To start and end the movie with just Dark Phoenix is silly," says Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad. "It’s not enough — you run out of story." But Twentieth Century Fox chairman Tom Rothman says the new direction will still thrill: "It has one of the coolest beginnings. It begins with [Patrick Stewart's] Xavier and [Ian McKellen's] Magneto together as young men." And devotees of Halle Berry/Storm (pictured with, from left to right, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Kelsey Grammer) will be relieved to know that the weather-wielding mutant is central to the third film and, more importantly, has a new wig.
As for what Mr. Stack uncovered about fanboys’ hateration for Ratner, you’ll just have to pick up EW’s latest issue.
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Sigh…there’s nothing more disappointing than wasted potential.
Finally Storm will have something to do?
I am so excited about the new movie, sad it’s the “last” one, and nevous that it won’t be all it could be. Also, a question for the diehard comic fans: I am a huge fan of the movies, but have never read the comics, is that generally looked down upon and movie fans considererd not true fans? I really do love the movies, though, it brings to life so much truth of discrimination and understanding in our world. 84 days!
The Dark Phoenix Saga, not enough story? That’s crazy, it’s one of the most legendary stories in comic book history. But this comes from the genius that hired Brett Ratner, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he would say something so stupid. It looks like Dark Phoenix isn’t going to be much more than Magneto’s stooge in this, how sad for Famke Jansen, she was all set to take center stage in the Citizen Kane of comic book tales, and they go and hire the Ed Wood of the 21st century.
Ok, two things….#1: Uwe Boll is the Ed Wood of the 21st century, give credit where it’s due, and #2: Regardless of the first two films being excellent, Bryan Singer is an immature whiny !@#%^ who is better off ruining a DC property than anymore of this Marvel gem.
Also, you have to figure if they’re discussing finding a “cure” for mutations in this one and it has Angel in it finally, don’t you think if they do another one that it would be about Apocalypse soon enough? I’d much rather see ANY storyline about the best baddie in comic books rather than the Phoenix Saga which most people going in to see this know back to front already.
The Dark Phoenix saga is by any X-Men fan’s recokoning one of the finest stories in the X-Men history, if not Marvel comic history. The real reason, of course, that the Dark Phoenix saga was lessened was Halle Berry. Miss I-won-an-Oscar wanted to be central or she wasn’t coing back. Famke Janssen doesn’t have the star power of La Berry, so it’s easier to cut her story line. From what I’ve seen of the previews, they have completely bastardized the Phoenix story. In one scene it looks as if the character has joined with Magneto! She doesn’t even get to wear the cool green (or red in the case of Dark Phoenix) outfit with the Phoenix logo. From what I’ve read in other interviews, Ratner didn’t like the Dark Phoenix saga and was more interested in pleasing La Berry.
I’m generous, I’m willing to let Uwe Boll and Brett Ratner share the title of Ed Wood of the 21st century. I liked Bryan Singers first two movies, but getting another director doesn’t bother me, it’s getting a hack like Ratner that bothers me.
It’s just incredibly stupid to say there isn’t enough story for a movie with the Dark Phoenix Saga. If a talented screenwriter and director were able to turn Brokeback Mountain, a short story that origianally took a few magazine pages to tell, into a two hour movie that is one of the most acclaimed of the year; well, I think they could have done the Dark Phoenix Saga, which spanned almost a year, and the effects of the story were being felt for years after that. Of course, the key word there is “talented”.
I don’t care what any of them are about now, I am not going to pay to see anything Brett Ratner directed.
lol. Beast looks like Wolfman Jack in that photo. What’s with the makeup design?
Everyone remembers the Batman movies, started out good. Then became some of the worst movies. Having to many villians/heroes added with little of the great potential. Thankfully Batman Begins made up for the crap made before it.
If directors such as Mr.Ratner need a reminder as a fan I don’t mind uniform changes, but with so many excellent villians with great plots to boot. Mr Ratner best think more clearly about saying things like “there’s not enough story in the Dark Phoenix Saga”.
Granted the D.P.Saga wasn’t my favourite but I was looking forward to seeing X3.
Unfortunately a plot about a cure for mutations, plus having Storm as the main charactor for this movie has turned me off. If Halle Berry doesn’t want to be a team player in the X-men movies. I say its time for a new Storm or better yet send in a new X-Man to take her place.
Hopefully the X-men series won’t go the way of the old Batman Movies.
I think it’s interesting how people are putting words in Brett’s mouth. Reread the article folks–Marvel’s CEO Avi Arad said that the Dark Phoenix is not enough to sustain a film–not Brett. So if you’re going to bash, bash Marvel.
By the way, what sense does it make to blame Halle Berry–or any cast member for that matter–for lessening the Dark Phoenix storyline? That’s the most ridiculous reasoning I’ve heard since it’s pretty clear that the movie will be all about Jean for the third time in a row.
I honestly think some fans just want to whine for the sake of it sometimes.
If they had done the Dark Phoenix Saga in X3, they’d pretty much have to make up their own version from scratch given the degree to which the original drew on elements that had been part of the comics series for quite some time at that point but which have not yet shown up in the movies (specifically the Shi’ar, who are pretty incompatible with the “real world” setting of the movies, which is very different from the MU). The new characters/villains introduced in the story (Emma Frost, Sebastian Shaw and the rest of the Hellfire Club gang) were also introduced into the mix over a substantial period of time.
Given that we’re talking about a two-hour movie (2:15 tops), what we’re getting–a movie that handles the Phoenix storyline to some extent while introducing Moira MacTaggart (and Proteus?) plus Angel and the Beast, with grafted-on elements of Joss Whedon’s first Astonishing X-Men story arc–isn’t really too much worse than the drastically different version of the Dark Phoenix Saga we would have gotten in a purely Phoenix-centric movie.
But Tyerion, you’re saying there’s to much story, Avi Arad made the asinine statement there wasn’t enough. Of course it wouldn’t be a carbon copy of the comic, but it wouldn’t be that hard to introduce the Hellfire Club and other aspects during the movie. Some things would need to be jettisoned(the Shiar, for example), but a talented screenwriter and director would be able to make a fantastic movie with the Dark Phoenix character as the central focus of the movie.
It’s too late now of course, even the studio doesn’t seem to have much confidence in it, since they say that it will probably be the last one. The X-Men movies are cash cows, what with all the different characters they can bring in to replace the actors that want to much money, so it doesn’t seem like they would want this to be the last one, unless of course they’ve seen it and know how bad it probably is.
I agree, it is a load of wasted potential. To put it simply, Mr. Arad, you were presented with two storylines with which to make the focus of this movie and you chose the INFERIOR one – some random plot about a cure for mutants that could have been told anywhere, anytime. The Dark Phoenix Saga had one shot. Not only that, but it was undoubtedly and legitimately the better story.
When people talk about the second movie, do you hear them talking about Wolverine or Storm or General Stryker? No, the only thing people – even those who don’t read the comics – are interested in talking about is Jean’s transformation. Why?? Because it’s INTERESTING!
It’s like talking to a wall. I give up on this crap!
Regardless, we are all gonna spend 8 to 15 bucks to see it at the cinema anyway. Marvel and the motion picture studio know it doesn’t matter what we think now, it doesn’t matter what we think afterward. It matters that we spend our money to go see it. So, quit bitchin, go see it, and then post something of substantial value when you have actually seen this movie.
Don’t presume to speak for all of us, I’m certainly not going to spend money to watch this movie. If curiosity gets the better of me and I do see it, I will buy a ticket to another movie and sneak into this one, I will not support Brett Ratners career with my hard earned cash. No way, no how.
I think would rather have a gradual transition into the Dark Phoenix story line. You don’t need to just jumble the whole dark phoenix including all the emotions and actions from the comic book into one movie. Thats like trying to do the whole Lord of the Rings saga in one movie. It just won’t work. I say we give it a chance.
Also if you remember the comics and the 90’s cartoon series, Phoenix’s emotional state became worse under the influence of the Hellfire Club. Given dramatic license is it that hard to replace the hellfire club with the brotherhood? All in all it will be a good summer flick.
I thought this movie should’ve of been more focused on the DP Saga if the script is done right then it couldn of happened. In the movie Phoenix could of went out of control due to to much power and psychic manipulation due by Mastermind apart of the brotherhood. No hellfire club
I don’t know about you guys but I’m all about this movie…you got Beast, you got Angel, you got Magneto running sh*t with the Brotherhood, you got Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones come on I know Lock Stock and 2 Smokin Barrel fans are with me on this). This movie is gonna kick so much ass I think its gonna blow away Superman Returns. I like Superman and the 80’s movies or late 70’s but I’m looking forward to this flick more than Superman Returns. I’m still gonna see it though. Anyways I think this flick will end with an opening to future X-Men movie projects. I expect it to take the Star Wars direction where they make prequels to what we’ve already seen on screen. That way we can have Prof X, Magneto’s, Jean Grey, etc… origins I mean why the Wolverine spinoffs? They did it for Batman in Batman Begins. I think it would be cool for Marvel and Fox to agree on doing all the main character’s origins. Then end it with 3 more X-Men sequels after Last Stand which can open the Age of the Apocalypse story. (Apocalypse and his 4 horsemen)and end the X Men story there cuz were talking a project that can end till 2020. Though it would keep Marvel and Fox very rich I support this idea and hope they go this route. MAY 26TH BABY WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
P.S. Stryker eats the fat one
people are crying over a flavor that
they have yet 2 taste.
if the movie is great,everyone will say
that they knew it was gonna be great.
if it’s wack Brett Ratner
will go down as one of the most
hated directors in internet geek history.
you guys know what? halle really did kill the phoenix potential. it is sad that an oscar can change what we true xmen fans deserve. the telling of this marvelous story.
i want all of you to know that even if you do not like video games, you should check out the xmen: next dimension. it showcases the true extent of each of the xmen character’s powers and in my eyes walks circles around simple effects shown in the blockbuster million dollar movies. and case in point is psylocke, dark phoenix and storm’s powers.
holy shit, you peeps got issues. not all of you mind you, several have good ideas/comments, but not seeing a flick simply cause of Ratner? what the hell? the rush hour movies angered you so badly that you boycott anything hence? yipes…just yipes. personally, i was a little peeved that the new supes movie was a continuation of the previous flicks (before you berate me…not a continuation, but in the same vein), as opposed to a new vision, perhaps based solely on the comics – but honestly…some of you are gonne tell me that you put the time and energy (well…i dunno about energy) into posting opinions about a flick you’re not (allegedly) gonna see? gimme a freakin break. stop fooling yourselves into thinking your changing anyone’s minds, Ebert, and get a fucking clue – movies are movies, if they suck, so be it – anyone seen the Bombtastic Four? my cousin claims its his fave comic flick to date, and i’m like “have you ever touched a comic in your life????” daredevil was oscar material compared to that, and don’t get me wrong – i enjoyed daredevil – not the best out there, and lacking the realism and heart which has helped catapult Marvel flicks into the forefront of the industry (unfortunately, bad comic movies like Sucktactic Four endanger all of our fave comic flicks to come into suckness), but my personal faves are the spider-man movies (they have heart and, regardless of a few cheeseball lines…”you’re living your dream, MJ!”…embodie what it may be like if these types of phenomena exist), the Hulk – a highly underrated flick which I’ll never understand, and obviousely the x-men flicks, especially ‘2′, which pretty much encompasses what i love about the ‘comic book movie phenomena’ thats sweeping the floor of fanboy-dom – ok, turns out i’m distarcted – we’re done here.
Okay, I don’t understand why there is so much hateration for Halle Berry. If those haters really think that Halle Berry, an actress, has so much power that she can bend movie studio heads, executives, directors, writers and producers to her will, then maybe she is real-life mutant…but I doubt it. All this woman has ever asked for is that Storm be treated with the same dignity and respect that Marvel has given her for 30 years. I don’t think that Ms. Berry is hurting for work or money, and it is simply not true that she wants to hog up all the screen time and be the star of this movie. Ms. Berry has never asked for more screen time, she’s only asked that when Storm is in a scene, it should matter. Any of her lines in the first two movies could have been given to any of the other X-men. Her character had nothing to do with the story and other than raising her arms and providing special effects, ya didn’t learn anything about her. I had to explain Storm’s “back-story” to my none comic friends, because they never got it in the movies. It was pretty obvious that Storm wasn’t Bryan Singer’s favorite character and he only cast Halle Berry because she was beautiful.
Well, now you have a director who has more love for Storm. And just as some people were mad that in the first two their favorite mutant didn’t get more screen time or never even made it in the film, some fans are simply happy that Storm finally gets a personality and a point of view. Halle Berry may not have been my first choice, but I’m not making these movies and for all the whiners out there, maybe you all should enroll in film school and become film-makers, then make your own movies. It’s taken Marvel nearly 20 years to get an X-men movie off the ground, and finally when we get what we want, all some people do is whine and complain about it. Go figure.
Stephanie are u a MORON? or Just a Complete Idot? cause Ratner is in INFINITLEY a BETTER director Than Singer u DUMB BOWLEGGED BITCH, it Just Shows u HAVE HORRIBLE TASTE IN MOVIES U FUCKING DOUCHE, SINGERS xmen movoes were Lame. How is that that Brett Ratner’s Family Man with Nicolas Cage has More Action and is More interesting the the Xman movies u stupid Bitch, CAUSE SINGER IS BORE!!!
Jimmy, there is no reason to complain about Dark Phoenix’s costume. That’s like complaining about all the other’s, like Wolverine’s Yellow Spandex or Cyclops’s Blue Suit. Seriously, how gay would that look? They are going for REAL WORLD SCENARIOS! Like the fact that this COULD HAPPEN! By the way, everyone seriously needs to stop bitching about Halle Berry. So she wanted a bigger part, SO WHAT? I mean she didn’t have the biggest part in the last 2 so isn’t it obvious, this being the last one, thatshe would like to go out with a bang?
Wow ratnerx, you really know how to turn a debate into a childish name calling-fest. And why target Stephanie? She only commented on the makeup design of Beast. You do realize that the name of the person posting is listed BELOW their post, not before it. Haha..
Just watch the movie. It will be good. You will like it.
I’m still upset who they chose to play the Beast. Steve Bacic was made for the role Kelsea Grammar promises to ruin.
I’ll see the movie. IMHO, the second was much better than the first so there is potential for the third to be some sort of “crowning achievement”. That said, they should have kept Nightcrawler.
The only thing I am excited about for part 3 is juggernaut. vinnie was probably the only WELL casted character of the newbies…
Look the movie is not even out and there is too much complaining about a movie NONE OF YOU have seen yet. So if your soo upset with who’s directing DON’T pay your 8 dollars – that simple! Brett Ratner has NOT KICKED YOUR DOG, so back the HELL off already. I think MOST of you should just get a life!
STUPID FANBOYS!
LISTEN TO CEREBRO!
CEREBRO KNOWS ALL!
COMIC MOVIES WILL NEVER BE BETTER THAN COMICS!
YOU ONLY GET 1 PUNY HUMANS VISON.
THINK OF MOVIES AS AMUSING ALTERNATE REALITY” OF COMICS!
READ COMICS!
CREAT YOUR OWN VISON!
THROW OUT STUPID VIDEO GAMES AND YU-GI-OH CARDS!
READ COMICS!
I really agree with Hector and all the others that are saying don’t judge X3 yet, you haven’t even seen it. I personally am looking forward to it, but I do have reservations that won’t be adressed until I see it on May 26th. Also, I agree with Mikey that Halle Berry should not be held accountable for script changes. If any actor is, that would be Hugh Jackman, who will, I believe have a producing credit for the movie. As a fan of the X-movies and someone who has never read the comics, I know really nothing about good plots from the comics, and I think that should be remembered: that a large fanbase for these movies have never read the comics. So why are we fans? Because the previous two have been superb storytelling movies. I know I don’t speak for all movie-fans, but it is the quality of the last two that keep my hopes up for the third. And hasn’t much of the overall creative team come back for this one? With all their dedication, it would seem ludicious that they would let a change in director “ruin” the whole movie. I try to keep an open mind for Brett, I mean, if you only saw Bad Taste, would you really expect him to have done such a good job on LOTR?