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I know I’m super late to the party. I just saw X-men 3 yesterday. I’d had every intention of seeing it opening weekend. I was super excited for this movie. I even had an X-men viewing party the Friday of opening weekend and we watched the first two movies back to back. But then I was struck low with a terrible case of food poisioning. Suffice it to say that I didn’t leave the house for several days. Then, with travelling and other things, I didn’t manage to make it out and all my friends had already seen it! Well, I’m enjoying being between my old and new jobs right now, with loads to do in terms of my move, but enough time to go to the movies, of course!

I went yesterday afternoon and finally got to see it. I wasn’t disappointed because I wasn’t expecting greatness. But it is no where near as good as X-men 2, which is the best in the trilogy, as far as I’m concerned. I felt like the first two movies weren’t just superhero action flicks - they were movies with a plot and a heart. This movie felt like an empty shell compared to those two. It had all the trappings but it was just an action movie. It was thin, the plot was weak, and I was left constantly questioning why characters were making such silly decisions that served no purpose except as action movie effects fodder. Brinstar has a post (WITH SPOILERS, beware) with her gripes and people made some excellent comments that I completely agree with as to the final battle.

One thing that Brinstar and some others complain about is the divergence from comic book lore as to the Phoenix’s story, as well as Juggernaut. I think movie viewers are only willing to suspend disbelief so far. Comic books go way out there - Jean Grey is just the host to the Phoenix Force, some alien otherworldly power. Juggernaut’s power derives from some magic gem. I think these are too far outside the realm of what moviegoers are willing to believe in. Mutants are hard enough to believe in, let alone all the alien stuff sprinkled throughout the X-men lore. I think it was sensible not to bring those elements into the movie - it just confuses an already complex mythology.

The goal of making a movie conversion of a comic book, to me, should be to translate the spirit of the story and their ideals to the screen. The minute details don’t matter as much as the feel. I know that Superman Returns plans to stick to the brilliant colored spandex suit of Superman. But I don’t really want my movie stars cavorting about in skin tight primary colors. I’m curious to see how today’s cynical audiences will handle the new-yet-old Superman. But for X-men, I’d rather see them in their modern drab body armor than the costumes of the comics. It just makes it more easy to believe in.

Overall, I thought there was no character development. Storm finally got a speaking part (and where did her vague accent from the first film disappear to?), but she didn’t really emerge as a person I cared about. She demonstrated way cooler powers than in the past, but I didn’t feel to much for her. The characters who got the most attention in the previous films got less screen time due to the need to push more characters out there for the fans - characters who were really just empty displays that we never managed to get attached to. The Cyclops-Jean-Wolverine love triangle was a huge part of the first two movies but it was cut off right at the start in this one. Rogue didn’t get to do much of anything useful except pout. Iceman finally got to show off his powers - he probably benefited the most after Storm with an enhanced role in this one. But who were all those new villains? I didn’t even manage to catch most of their names? They just came and went…

Anyways - I loved this series, and enjoyed this movie despite my gripes. If this had been the first movie released, I’m sure I wouldn’t care nearly as much. But those two other movies built my interest and investment and made this worth watching, despite its flaws.

Ain’t It Cool News has some pictures of Famke Janssen as the Phoenix in X-Men 3. For those who don’t recall, the last we saw of her character, Jean Grey, she was aglow with fire in her eyes as she held back a giant wave to save the rest of the X-Men. The wave crashed over her and everyone mourned her for dead.

Well, for those who read the comics, they knew she’d be back, since she’s the Phoenix, a bird that burns up and rises from the dead. Of course, all the power can’t be good, so here’s a good run down of what happened in the comics (and maybe why she’s seen hanging out with the villain Magneto in these pics).

I’m very excited for this movie, despite the change at the helm. The first two X-Men are some of the better comic book flicks out there (I consider Batman Begins to be pretty awesome, but it might even rate as a movie, one step up from a flick). I’ve seen them both several times, and enjoy them every time. It seems like X3 aims to throw in as many characters as possible to please the fans, like Angel and the Beast (check out the slides there, there’s a lot of good pics). And of course we have returning characters like Wolverine, Rogue, Storm, Cyclops, Dr. X, Magneto and Mystique. I hope this picture lives up to the first two. Too often now we get mindless action without substance. I love the action, but if the plot is weak and pointless than I’d rather go do something else.

Oooh, in my search for X3 news I found this tidbit about Spiderman 3, Topher Grace is onboard as Venom. Ok, I know even less about Spiderman comic lore than I do about X-Men (I have read some X comics, but no Spidey at all), and the Wikipedia isn’t being as helpful as I could hope on this one. But apparently Venom is a villain who is not detectable by the Spidey sense because he’s some sort of evil symbiant or something. Well, I’m sure it’ll make sense in the movie. I really like Topher Grace, I thought In Good Company was one of the best, smartest comedies for everyone that has come out in years. So I’m eager to see him join the cast of another good comic movie franchise. Though we have to wait until 2007 for the next Spidey…

Maybe Superman Returns will kickoff another good movie series. Then we’d really be doing well, with four good comic book movie franchises chugging along! (Yes they are making another Batman with Christian Bale, yay, it’s been announced).