Have you ever read ANY classic X-Men comic? (not the crap published today as an X-Men book, but the classics from the 60's -80's) X3's cure story and the characters were great, but they pissed on it by combining it with a pathetic "Dark Phoenix" crap story that didn't need to be there. The cure story would have been enough. With the "death" of Xavier and Cyclops, and the swirling vortex of Wolverine-stripping fire at the end, just made it really stupid. Take out the Phoenix bits, and the film isn't that bad.
All three X-Men movies took story elements from the comics, but I'm simply saying X3 felt like a "comic" is something bogus to say when a comic book film is simply that, a film about a COMIC character(s). Every CBM will have the feel to it. I mean, X2 used the premise for "God Loves, Man Kills". It's nothing new.
I didn't find the cure story all that fascinating myself. I much rather prefer to see the Phoenix storyline conclude as it was hinted at the end of X2. While that conclusion did seem silly, that was the only worthwhile story element that kept me from walking out of the theatre when I saw X3. Needless to say, if Singer did direct X3 the cure storyline wouldn't have even been there as the main goal was to use Emma Frost in controlling Jean Grey.
I thought MAYBE you were right... MAYBE Superman II was less campy... but I just watched the Richard Lester (original) version on Netflix... The thing is more campy than the 1960's Batman. Terrance Stamp is hilariously melodramatic in his BeeGee's disco suit. Ursa and Nod are just played for laughs. The fight in Metropolis with the ice breath, flying toupees, etc, are way too silly for my tastes. Watch the Richard Donner version, you'll see a MUCH better film.
I own both copies, and I still enjoy the original cut of Superman II. You may say it's "much better", but I like both versions equally and better than the first Superman film. The remarks you just made about Zod, Ursa and Non can be said, but for that time, no one had thought of that. Those three looked terrifying as hell when the movie was released. I mean, one can even say Superman's red trousers looks awful on film, but again, during that time, people complained
less.
Did we? All I saw in Singer's films was Wolverine. They cut the scene of Cyclops as a boy in an orphanage, to make more room for Wolverine in the fight club. They cut Storm as a teenage "weather goddess" in Kenya. All we got was Wolverine, Wolverine, and more Wolverine. I would LOVE to see an X-Men movie with the REAL first class.
It may not be what YOU wanted in the usage of Storm and Cyclops, but they were still in Singer's films and we needed something new and fresh for First Class. To get as far away from Singer's films is something fortunate. Liabilities are definitely taken, and that was the case with First Class.
He looked great, and I have no problem with the hands and feet, since that WAS his original mutation, but Beast was super athletic and acrobatic, NOT Quicksilver or The Flash. Ever see a Gorilla outrun a cheetah? No... their feet aren't designed for that, and neither are Beast's. They should have had him leaping about and spinning, destroying targets in the danger room (similar to Hulk's leaping in Avengers, but with grace and flourish), not running in circles.
With a film about MUTANTS, do you really think they cared to explain how Beast was able to run so fast or why he even runs so fast?
I don't see them building on it much. The split is already formed. The trust was broken before they even decently forged it. There is no way the scene in X3 of younger Xavier and Erik recruiting Jean would ever happen.
Instead of rushing to get Magneto, they should have let that arc play out for another movie or two. Build the relationship. SHOW Erik and Charles building Cerebro. Show Erik teaching at Xavier's institute. Show him as a caring individual, not just some lost Nazi attack dog. Magneto's terrorism isn't purely based on hatred and retribution, but also compassion for his people. I don't get that from First Class's Magneto.
No one expects Charles and Erik to recruit Jean anyways since First Class really has nothing to do with Singer's films besides certain cameos, and with that being said....those two can reunite and team with eachother in a sequel. Magneto isn't really a full-fledge villain, just right now trying to create his own identity as Charles has created a "Professor X" identity. Both of them are still making their paths and they could still team up for a common enemy.
You obviously aren't a parent, and never had children begging to go see a movie. It wasn't hilarious. The only ones who laughed were braindead teenagers who still find fart jokes to be the end-all of humor. Some of us don't need swear words to enjoy a movie. Captain America, Avengers, Superman, Spider-Man, Batman, Harry Potter, etc all manage to entertain without F-bombs, and still make good money. And if Marvel/Fox HAD to have the F-bomb, because it was so pivotal to the plot of the movie, at least rate the movie appropriately. The MPAA is being far too lax in it's ratings, and making it very hard for parents to properly gauge a film's content. Luckily, I watched First Class before letting my kids see it (was planning to take the family opening weekend, but heard about the "scene-stealing humor" and cancelled last minute). Because of Fox's choice, instead of getting $50 from me (two adults and two kids tickets, plus refreshments), they got zero.
So for a film that's rated PG-13 for "Intense Sequences of Action and Violence, Some Sexual Content Including Brief Partial Nudity and Language", you get mad over a F-bomb? Wouldn't you expect some bad language since it's even in the rating? I'm glad you decided to see it first, but language is why it's even rated that. In a PG-13 film, one F word can be used. Plus...shouldn't you have been more concern with the rating having partial nudity anyways? I would think that would trump a curse word.
Also, if this means anything, when I am a parent, I would actually be more cautious of "god damnit" being used such as in Batman Begins just because of what I believe in using God's name in vain.
It's not that "braindead teenagers" are fine with the language, but it's mostly of the fact that if you understand the rating first before you want to take kids to watch it. Which brings me to this...
I'm just surprised Marvel allowed it in a flagship franchise. I expect that in Punisher, Ghostrider, or Blade... they are quirky "Marvel Knights" characters. I lost respect for Marvel because of that, and let them know.
Isn't that really like if a parent blames Eminem for his songs? It's not Marvel/Fox/etc.'s fault. You're the parent, it's your job to stop and think if you should let your kids watch it or listen to certain music. I didn't know any studio had to appease to a certain group, such as parents.
