Chris Claremont, X-Men author from he seventies to the nineties, went to see the X-Men: Dark Phoenix premiere in Los Angeles. And he dressed all in pink for the occasion.
A long (*long,* actually) time ago, in a comics (publishing) reality that pretty much no longer exists, Jean Grey piloted a damaged NASA/Starcore space shuttle through a deadly solar flare, willingly ready to sacrifice her own life to safeguard her fellow X-Men by safely returning them to Earth. Thing is, she didn't die; she evolved into someone far more powerful;, more majestic, ultimately more terrifying; she became Phoenix. Within a year, she helped the X-Men save Creation itself, by confronting the mad ruler of the Shi'ar Empire and the M'kran Crystal. Those were the very best of times. Her life, her world with the man she loved, Scott Summers, was one of hope. But further down the road was her evolution into *Dark* Phoenix, as her human self was for a time overwhelmed by the near infinite power, and with it near-infinite temptation, of Phoenix. She had come too soon into the power that was ultimately destined to her hers; she found herself unable to control it and as a consequence, committed acts that could neither be overlooked nor forgiven. Those scales had to be balanced. Rather than take the risk of one day taking another life over the rest of her own what-she-reasonably-feared should be her own immortal life, she chose to end it, here and now, to make the fair exchange, the necessary sacrifice she'd chosen. To make aboard the Starcore shuttle. And now, in "Dark Phoenix" that story has come to cinematic life, courtesy of writer-director Simon Kinberg and star Sophie Turner. What happened in the original comic story is wonderfully well echoed on film. The true adversary isn't a mega-power/villain like Thanos, nor really even the film's D'bari antagonist, Jennifer Chastain, it is Jean herself, the dark side of her own character & soul. How can she deal with the power she possesses? How can she make amends for the wrongs she does, and does she even want to? Do friends matter? Does the man she loves matter? How can she go forward from this point, or even should she? Sophie brings these questions to life and especially the consequences of the choices she makes. This isn't a traditional super-hero story, despite the costumes; it's unlike any previous X-folk picture—if for no other reason than, for once, it isn't all about Charles and Eric, even though they have their seminal roles to play. This is about the kids, for once, the choices they make, and must answer for. And the consequences. It isn't a happy story; there isn't a whole lot of punching and hitting. Robert Downey Jr had 10 years of active film story to arrive at his ultimate decision; he had back-story but he also had a tangible reality to fight for. His sacrifice was the culmination of heroic actions past and present and the fulfillment, societal *&* personal he achieved along the way. In "Dark Phoenix", Jean faces an equivalent confrontation and primal choice—only what's at stake here are all the yet-to-be's of her life and the lives of the people she loves. And as a result, *everything* about the X-family's lives are changed. One film, one story—but to my mind,way more personal, emotional impact. I like this film, a lot. Go see it, everyone, choose for yourself. Anyone want to talk about it, pro or con, I'm here on Facebook, or on Instagram; I'd love to chat. (Except—of course—when I'm trying to write something even better.) Thank you, Simon; thank you, Sophie—now let's see what happens next!
Following with…
Dark Phoenix Day in Los Angeles—what a Wow! Film's officially open now, time to talk! First & foremost, my *great* thanks to @simondavidkinberg & @sophiet for bringing Jean's story so wonderfully to life! Essentially true to the original comics story, it turned the focus of the X-film from Charley & Eric (& Hank & Raven) to the students, to Scott (& Ororo & Kurt) & most is all, to Jean and did so brilliantly. This is *her* story. Here, @jessicachastain is the putative adversary but the real foe is the temptation Jean feels herself. This is all about her, in a way Thanos/Avengers was not. Their battle was more traditional, Tony's sacrifice a culmination of 10 years of story progression. Jean was a kid, college-age with her whole life ahead. She everything to live for. Tony faced sacrifice, to save not only the world but the wife & child he loved. Jean's choice was *so* much more primal, and therefore difficult. And this movie tells that story oh so well. I laughed, sure, but I was also heart-broken. Here, I got to feel like the reading audience, all those years ago. My only beacon of hope, the firebird coursing across the sky in the very last scene. Who knows what'll happen next? So, cheers to everyone but especially to Simin & Sophie; as I said, can't wait to see what happens next. That's how *I* feel, folks; now it's your turn.
Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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A long (*long,* actually) time ago, in a comics (publishing) reality that pretty much no longer exists, Jean Grey piloted a damaged NASA/Starcore space shuttle through a deadly solar flare, willingly ready to sacrifice her own life to safeguard her fellow X-Men by safely returning them to Earth. Thing is, she didn't die; she evolved into someone far more powerful;, more majestic, ultimately more terrifying; she became Phoenix. Within a year, she helped the X-Men save Creation itself, by confronting the mad ruler of the Shi'ar Empire and the M'kran Crystal. Those were the very best of times. Her life, her world with the man she loved, Scott Summers, was one of hope. But further down the road was her evolution into *Dark* Phoenix, as her human self was for a time overwhelmed by the near infinite power, and with it near-infinite temptation, of Phoenix. She had come too soon into the power that was ultimately destined to her hers; she found herself unable to control it and as a consequence, committed acts that could neither be overlooked nor forgiven. Those scales had to be balanced. Rather than take the risk of one day taking another life over the rest of her own what-she-reasonably-feared should be her own immortal life, she chose to end it, here and now, to make the fair exchange, the necessary sacrifice she'd chosen. To make aboard the Starcore shuttle. And now, in "Dark Phoenix" that story has come to cinematic life, courtesy of writer-director Simon Kinberg and star Sophie Turner. What happened in the original comic story is wonderfully well echoed on film. The true adversary isn't a mega-power/villain like Thanos, nor really even the film's D'bari antagonist, Jennifer Chastain, it is Jean herself, the dark side of her own character & soul. How can she deal with the power she possesses? How can she make amends for the wrongs she does, and does she even want to? Do friends matter? Does the man she loves matter? How can she go forward from this point, or even should she? Sophie brings these questions to life and especially the consequences of the choices she makes. This isn't a traditional super-hero story, despite the costumes; it's unlike any previous X-folk picture—if for no other reason than, for once, it isn't all about Charles and Eric, even though they have their seminal roles to play. This is about the kids, for once, the choices they make, and must answer for. And the consequences. It isn't a happy story; there isn't a whole lot of punching and hitting. Robert Downey Jr had 10 years of active film story to arrive at his ultimate decision; he had back-story but he also had a tangible reality to fight for. His sacrifice was the culmination of heroic actions past and present and the fulfillment, societal *&* personal he achieved along the way. In "Dark Phoenix", Jean faces an equivalent confrontation and primal choice—only what's at stake here are all the yet-to-be's of her life and the lives of the people she loves. And as a result, *everything* about the X-family's lives are changed. One film, one story—but to my mind,way more personal, emotional impact. I like this film, a lot. Go see it, everyone, choose for yourself. Anyone want to talk about it, pro or con, I'm here on Facebook, or on Instagram; I'd love to chat. (Except—of course—when I'm trying to write something even better.) Thank you, Simon; thank you, Sophie—now let's see what happens next!
