Hey folks... Harry here. I've read the same 3 scripts that Mr Furious below has read, but there is a major difference between me.... and him. I'm an optimist.... He's a nihlist.... He's just not a happy guy, and seems to have issues with Bryan Singer himself. I've met Bryan on multiple occassions.... even prior to this site, and he was a really cool guy even then. I have close friends in L.A. that know Bryan and have nothing but the nicest things to say about him, and at the same time the talk some major shit about the real assholes in the business. At the same time, I do have my doubts about this film. The script was only... 'Ok' at the last draft I saw. BUT... if handled right... it could work. Fan Culture seems to have a lot of pessimist. But folks... to be honest, at this point to scream this film is going to blow... is stupid. Sometime in the next 3 months we'll probably get our first real look at the characters... perhaps even an early teaser. The below bloke gripes about how everything is taken so seriously. Well, clue one busto... That's the way I think a lot of us have been wanting it taken. I'm tired of camp working it's way into my comic book films. As for laying all the credit for THE USUAL SUSPECTS at Christopher McQuarrie's hands... well... Why don't you ask Chris about the film. About the months of fine honing that script whilst talking to Bryan. About what happened in the editing room with Ottman. Yeah... then all those wooden deliveries that Singer brought out of that ragtag group of actors... (SARCASM THERE FOLKS) The below assassination of the X-MEN project I present only for that segment of the readership that thrives on negativity and spoilers... But folks... If you don't want to know spoilers... don't read below... and if you don't want to just read a rant... well move along. But for the rest of ya... here's MR FURIOUS... BTW... in no way does the script lend itself to the stupidity that lay within BATMAN AND ROBIN... but here ya go...
Been reading all the wide eyed hysteria over the production of the “X Men” movie. All the Rabid Fanboy hysteria reminds me of the most pathetic geek trekkies waxing poetic over Seven of Nine's breasts and the crappy gruel that passes for Star Trek these days. But I digress.
Here's the scoop Freaks & Geeks. THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD MOVIE!!!. Time to get out of the basement and get a LIFE!!! I have read 3 drafts of the so called "script", including the current "shooting script". If the studio's expecting a "Batman" movie, they have one: "Batman & Robin"
Weak, predictable and underdeveloped, it tries to plumb the rich history of the X characters but comes off as Cliff notes-sitcom deep writing more interested in FX and cladding supermodels in skimpy outfits than an involving story or empathetic characters.
Wolverine comes across as a guy going thru PMS, Cyclops is a BORING boy scout, and Jean Grey's speechifying makes me shudder. Then I realize how much WORSE its gonna be when Famke "I Am Wood" Jansen reads these lines. Storm's role is nothing AND she keeps getting her ass kicked.
What they do to the Rogue character is a crime. They've turned her from a strong, self confident woman into a waifish, withdrawn teenager with NO backbone, all the better to appeal to the "Dawson's Creek" crowd. NO Beast, NO Nightcrawler, No Kitty Pride (I guess they have a limit with the "New" Rogue for only one insufferable teenager). The only light in a VERY dark tunnel is it may be amusing to see pros like Patrick Stewart & Ian Mclellen chew some scenary.
And that Plot - Magneto decides to invade a UN conference at the Statue of Liberty and unleash a weapon that will turn everyone there into mutants smacks of a "Pinky and the Brain" episode. What do you want to do tonight Magneto? Same thing we do every night Pinky - Try and take over the world.
The cartoon at least treats the situation humourously. This script is SO SERIOUS, like we're trying to say SOMETHING IMPORTANT about the human condition with this fluff.
And for all you Bryan Singer worshippers (are you listening "Ain't-It Time-for-Another-donut" guy), lets take a look at his so called track record. “The Usual Suspects” - Brilliant. Not because of stunning direction but a stupendous script. “Cable Access” (his first film) - Utter crap! “Apt Pupil” - Laughibly Bad (check out the "here kitty, kitty...get in the oven" scene). He's at best an average director who got lucky ONCE with a great script that he did not write. Also, from personal experience, he is a spoiled, mean spirited, whiny, insecure ASSHOLE who has a singular talent of shmoozing the press into thinking he's a gregarious, talented guy. In reality, this guy throws SCREAMING Temper tantruns(I was one of several agast people who wintnessed one) and lacks basic social skills like a modicum of politeness. If/when this movie falls on its face, it couldn't happen to a "nicer" guy.
And yes, Magneto survives ( all the better for sequels) but Toad (Darth Maul dude) dies. Sorry to spoil it geeks.
The absolute ONLY thing that may save this movie at the box office (because just because a movie's bad doesn't mean it won't be a hit for the cattle like masses) is kick ass special FX. Almost a third of the $70 plus million budget is for FX. With No A list ($15 -20 million dollar men) talent, the cost for a bunch of no names meat puppets, model/actresses and a couple of Royal Shakespeare vets ain't that large. The big cash is going digital. And even then, they're going cheap. MAJOR FX set pieces (like a huge "dueling superteams in a shopping mall" sequence) have been dropped.
If I seem bitter, its because Hollywood has BILLIONS and yet they consistantly Blow it and I have a pretty good prediction they are about to do it again.
The Superhero to screen success stories has been few and far between. The Crow, about 2/3 of a Superman movie (you take your pick) and about 1/2 of "Blade" ROCK, everything else (include ALL of the BAT movies) SUCK wind and this one will definately join the latter group no matter how much it grosses due to the hyperventilating, geek-fan-never-been-laid-future-postal- worker brigade.
Prepare to be dissapointed....
