That scene of Wolverine marching up to Jean...

[DarknessOfDeath]

Well, if you think about it, Phoenix has the hatred, not Jean. At the time of X1, Jean has no idea what Xavier has done to her. But in X3 the secret's out, and she's (IMO) understandably pissed off.

-nods- ^^

 

[ntcrawler]

Well, if you think about it, Phoenix has the hatred, not Jean. At the time of X1, Jean has no idea what Xavier has done to her. But in X3 the secret's out, and she's (IMO) understandably pissed off.

I did think about it. Why wouldn't Jean know what Xavier did to her? It couldn't possibly have been a secret to her. She's a mature adult and a scientist. The concepts wouldn't be beyond her. Especially if you consider the flashback scene in X3 to be correct. She's able to effortlessly lift up all her neighbor's cars at the same time, yet "20 years later" in X1 it's mostly trivial things like test tubes, books, doors, and the ocassional Toad. A sudden loss of power? I doubt that. It's not something she wouldn't notice or wonder about and as a scientist find her own explanation for. The remark "he's teaching me to develop my powers" means they were weak, always were weak and Xavier and Jean both wanted them to get stronger. Not that they were strong and suddenly weak and Xavier was playing with her. And if she harbored no resentment as she doesn't appear to be but only love and respect for the man and understands that what he does is necessary and doesn't have anything against it, then that gives no reason for the phoenix persona to exist in the first place. Bye bye, phoenix.

 

[Boba_Fett_123]

Well, there are a few explanations that could be developed for that, but unfortunately none of them are present in the film. Xavier could have altered her memory, making her believe that her powers were always that weak, or perhaps he could have somehow convinced her that reducing her power would somehow be beneficial to her. Xavier himself says that it's "unclear how much she [Jean] remembered", so at least it's somewhat explainable, though certainly not as well thought out as it could and should have been.

 

[ntcrawler]

Well, there are a few explanations that could be developed for that, but unfortunately none of them are present in the film.

Exactly. The final result feels more like a rabbit suddenly pulled out of a hat. Guess what, everyone? Shes bitter and resentful towards Xavier. If it was just passed off as simple insanity and dimentia, Jean seeing what she wanted to see, believing what she wanted to believe despite what the truth was, that would have been simpler and make more sense IMHO, since you can't argue with or talk sense into a deranged person. Declaring her a paranoid schitzophrenic would have made more sense as well and acccounted for everything that happened. The only part that would be missing is "phoenix".

Xavier could have altered her memory, making her believe that her powers were always that weak, or perhaps he could have somehow convinced her that reducing her power would somehow be beneficial to her.

that's what I meant. If Jean understood that this was beneficial, then there should have been no resentment, which would have made it impossible for the phoenix persona to exist. If it did, there should have been some sort of hint of resentment towards Xavier, no matter how slight before her death. But we didn't see that either.

Xavier himself says that it's "unclear how much she [Jean] remembered", so at least it's somewhat explainable, though certainly not as well thought out as it could and should have been.

I always thought his line was referring to Jean's recollections of what happened to her at Alkali and afterwards, or about her encounter with Scott, considering the traumatized state of mind she would have been in by the time they brought her back to the infirmary.

 

[X-Maniac]

I did think about it. Why wouldn't Jean know what Xavier did to her? It couldn't possibly have been a secret to her. She's a mature adult and a scientist. The concepts wouldn't be beyond her. Especially if you consider the flashback scene in X3 to be correct. She's able to effortlessly lift up all her neighbor's cars at the same time, yet "20 years later" in X1 it's mostly trivial things like test tubes, books, doors, and the ocassional Toad. A sudden loss of power? I doubt that. It's not something she wouldn't notice or wonder about and as a scientist find her own explanation for. The remark "he's teaching me to develop my powers" means they were weak, always were weak and Xavier and Jean both wanted them to get stronger. Not that they were strong and suddenly weak and Xavier was playing with her. And if she harbored no resentment as she doesn't appear to be but only love and respect for the man and understands that what he does is necessary and doesn't have anything against it, then that gives no reason for the phoenix persona to exist in the first place. Bye bye, phoenix.

Well, there are a few explanations that could be developed for that, but unfortunately none of them are present in the film. Xavier could have altered her memory, making her believe that her powers were always that weak, or perhaps he could have somehow convinced her that reducing her power would somehow be beneficial to her. Xavier himself says that it's "unclear how much she [Jean] remembered", so at least it's somewhat explainable, though certainly not as well thought out as it could and should have been.

Interesting points. Retcons of this kind occur all the time in the comics, even with Phoenix herself (who in the origin story achieved her full potential as a psi in that space shuttle, with no mention of a cosmic entity...).

So this is another one of those retcons, where later explanations have been given.

If we are to try to explain what happened (I know you'd rather not, ntcrawler, but would rather instead see it as a flaw), then it seems Xavier was working with Jean and trying to develop her powers in the sense of giving her a little more access to the power he had blocked off and teaching her greater control. She must have recalled at least some of how powerful she was before she had the mental blocks - Xavier says it's unclear how much she knew, but the Phoenix side of Jean certainly seemed angry enough about Xavier when she 'woke' in the infirmary. It knew what had been done to it!

Maybe someone could write a story - 'Phoenix - the Secret Sessions' - that blends together what we know. That might make interesting reading.

I agree the revelations of mental blocks in X3 do not seem to tie in with every single piece of information/dialogue in X1 and X2. Such is the nature of retcons.

What I find more disconnected is Xavier's remarks at the end of X2 when he tells of how Jean was always worried she was lagging behind, and when he says 'i think everything's going to be all right'. The script implies he had sensed Jean's survival and imminent return, though the movie was not explicit about this and it could be thought that he simply thought that life would get back to normal and be okay again.

 

[ntcrawler]

What I find more disconnected is Xavier's remarks at the end of X2 when he tells of how Jean was always worried she was lagging behind,

Jean was more of a bookworm than a fighter. She led her battle with her intellect, not with hand-to-hand combat. She tried to make up for that with her education and her contribution with others ways. Perhaps one of the reasons why she risked her life the way she did at the end of X2 was to show that she could give back in a physical sense by contributing with her powers as well. Mutation wise, she wasn't all that powerful. Now she had a chance to do something positive with her powers for a greater cause.

and when he says 'i think everything's going to be all right'. The script implies he had sensed Jean's survival and imminent return, though the movie was not explicit about this and it could be thought that he simply thought that life would get back to normal and be okay again.

Exactly. It would have been cheap if he just said "oh don't worry, Jean will be back before the next movie is out", like how we see Xavier come back after the ending credits in X3. That line was meant to be a bit more... subtle, yet no less comforting and reassuring. The sudden look out the window does imply that he knows more than he's telling. But to have that attitude shift suddenly to "ZOMG! We're all gonna DIE!!!" in X3 is a bit... well...uncalled for.

 

[ntcrawler]

Maybe someone could write a story - 'Phoenix - the Secret Sessions' - that blends together what we know. That might make interesting reading.

There are plenty of stories that deal with these secret sessions already, prequels that explain among other things Jean's upbringing and the development of her powers, the pain and anguish that comes with her gifts, the frustrations, etc, and details about some of her therapy.

Interestingly, none of these stories that were written before The Last Stand came out allude to Jean's powers and the effects of holding them back causing deep down resentment or the development of a detached, repressed, alternate persona. Which again makes you wonder whether someone who's name I won't mention put something together that runs off in an unpredictable and unspported direction. If the concept behind Jean's dark side is so logical and sensical, then it should be reasonable to assume that at least one other author would have come up on the concept before the release of the movie, yet not a single one has. THe closest I've seen is a story called "Phoenix Rising" where Jean develops her resentment after her resurrection but only much later when it seems to her that Xavier is overcontrolling. But each time she's tempted to give into her rage, she always recovers and calms herself when she realizes her actions could have hurt Scott.

 

[ntcrawler]

If we are to try to explain what happened (I know you'd rather not, ntcrawler, but would rather instead see it as a flaw), then it seems Xavier was working with Jean and trying to develop her powers in the sense of giving her a little more access to the power he had blocked off and teaching her greater control. She must have recalled at least some of how powerful she was before she had the mental blocks - Xavier says it's unclear how much she knew, but the Phoenix side of Jean certainly seemed angry enough about Xavier when she 'woke' in the infirmary. It knew what had been done to it!

A simple tweak of the dialogue in X1 could have fixed that. Jean could have said:" He's teaching me to control my powers". Instead, she said "develop my powers" I like to think that the words chosen are very specific and chosen for a very specific reason.

 

[X-Maniac]

A simple tweak of the dialogue in X1 could have fixed that. Jean could have said:" He's teaching me to control my powers". Instead, she said "develop my powers" I like to think that the words chosen are very specific and chosen for a very specific reason.

Yes, agreed. Of course, the X1 dialogue was written when the idea of mental blocks either did not exist in the movieworld, or did not exist as strongly as it was portrayed in X3.

The idea of mental blocks had certainly existed in the comics when X1 was written so the writers may have been aware of it. A retcon of Jean's origin showed Xavier did block off Jean's telepathy after her childhood trauma, and the comicbook Phoenix saga does show Jean's mind having psionic circuit breakers that cut off her power (as happened with the second missile in X2) and Xavier put barriers in Phoenix's mind when he defeated Phoenix (helped by Jean's good persona).

Incidentally, Dark Phoenix was also an evil monster in the comics too - she was rescued from the Hellfire Club, then flipped out, blew up the X-jet, savagely defeated the rest of the X-Men, flew into space, devoured a sun so that a planet of billions perished, etc etc...

 

[ntcrawler]

Yes, agreed. Of course, the X1 dialogue was written when the idea of mental blocks either did not exist in the movieworld, or did not exist as strongly as it was portrayed in X3.

Precisely. There's the problem. Case closed

The idea of mental blocks had certainly existed in the comics when X1 was written so the writers may have been aware of it. A retcon of Jean's origin showed Xavier did block off Jean's telepathy after her childhood trauma, and

It also exists in many prequel stories. THe key being that Jean was troubled by her out of control telepathy. She wasn't a TK monster throwing cars and houses around. Xavier held back her powers to give her back her sanity, then taught her how to develop mental shields on her own and released her powers back. Again, no cause for an alternate, bitter, repressed personality. Mental blocks were good, Jean knew about them, she liked the idea, and didn't feel resentful enough to go on a killing rampage.

Incidentally, Dark Phoenix was also an evil monster in the comics too - she was rescued from the Hellfire Club, then flipped out, blew up the X-jet, savagely defeated the rest of the X-Men, flew into space, devoured a sun so that a planet of billions perished, etc etc...

[/QUOTE]
etc, etc... but she didn't kill any of her teammates, did she? Something held her back. Her love for Scott and her family perhaps despite the loss of control?

 

[Boba_Fett_123]

The treatment of the story in the film was definitely flawed. While it's still enjoyable, at least to me, it is undeniably rushed. I think that the film needed a lot more time spent on Jean, especially before "ZOMG! We're all gonna DIE!".

 

[X-Maniac]

The treatment of the story in the film was definitely flawed. While it's still enjoyable, at least to me, it is undeniably rushed. I think that the film needed a lot more time spent on Jean, especially before "ZOMG! We're all gonna DIE!".

I agree. It is possible to give workable explanations and read between the lines, which is what these forums do all the time (I see much the same on the SR forum, where plotholes and flaws and vague bits are discussed endlessly so they make more sense, even when they do not tie up that well in the movie).

I'd rather try to find the common threads and develop satisfactory explanations than see everything as a mess. I want to enjoy these films, warts and all. And there ain't a damned thing i can do to alter the three films we have got.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

While I agree the Phoenix explanation could have been handled better, I do believe how it was handled worked within what was established in X-Men and X2.

But... I really don't feel like going into it... AGAIN, right now.

 

[danoyse]

While I agree the Phoenix explanation could have been handled better, I do believe how it was handled worked within what was established in X-Men and X2.

But... I really don't feel like going into it... AGAIN, right now.

I agree. I know it definitely veered off from what Phoenix was in the comics, but what did happen did have a fairly decent setup in the first two movies, particularly X2.

 

[Spidey 2007]

the music.. the music is soo beutiful in the marching scene it just brings a tear to my eye. its beutiful epic music. and i commend john powell for making that scene, and numerous others in the film 5 times better then what they are.

 

[Loganbabe]

I love the music in it, too. I agree that it made the scene even more powerful.
The ending is especially beautiful, with all the water falling down and the sad music in the background...

 

[Decay]

I know, I know... Cyclops should have saved her / killed her / whatever'd her. It didn't happen.

Watching that scene (and I open up my file of The Last Stand just for this scene a lot of the time), it just wreaks so much of X-Men'ny goodness.

Cuz despite the fact that it's Jean and Scott's love, etc... etc... Wolverine DOES love Jean, and he WOULD do that for her.

I just totally love this scene, and it's one of my favorite scenes in the entire trilogy. Jean going ballistic, the visuals of the water rising out of the San Francisco Bay, Wolverine turning around, witnessing the destruction, and turning to face Jean. And even though we didn't get a true Phoenix effect, she looks so ****ing badass here. I liked the exorcist, demonic look, highlighted by the brightness of the flames around her. It wasn't a true Phoenix effect (and we should have gotten it, I agree), but I think it's a damned good substitute, and she looks totally badass here.

Then Wolverine marching up to her, his skin ripping, displaying his adamantium skeleton... as he struggles up to her.

God damn, everything about that entire sequence is just so god damn mother****ing badass.

I love the Magneto terrorist tape bit, and both of his speeches, and many other things in the film, but this sequence has probably gotta be my favorite sequence in the entire film.

The final battle is balls to the wall bad ass (the best climax of the 3 films), only to be capped off by this powerful moment, both visually and emotionally.

This is the scene that now, long after my first initial viewing, that just friggin' blows my mind, and I get a bit choked up over.

Yea yea yea, it should have been Cyclops, I've heard that (and said it) a bazillion times.

But the sequence is just "right". It's one of those moments that just slaps you across the face and makes you realize that this is the god damned X-Men on the big screen that you're watching. And it feels good.

NO, it shouldn't have been Scott!

 

[britrogue]

Actually, we did get the Phoenix effect in the film for a split second.

 

[*Dark_Phoenix*]

i remember when i first watch x-men i was like why is jean so f*** weak?? i mean there she is infront of toad and she was so usless, i get every pissed... then in X2 there are a few phoenix scenes (3 to be exact) i was more happy and then in X3 they didnt use the phoenix effect and beside that they "kill her" i mean what have we done to deserve this????

 

[chaseter]

I'm glad to see others got some enjoyment out of the final battle. Me? I felt it was just overhyped, not emotional or dark enough really.

Ratner should've taken some tips from Peter Jackson and Mel Gibson on how to do a battle. Don't get me wrong the build-up was decent and the shot of the X-Men lined up for battle was great, but other than that? It was too quick and just seemed to be your typical battle(IMO).

As far as the emotional scene with Jean/Logan? Yeah, yeah, you can say he loved her and all that, but it wasn't true to the source material and there could've been ways to have Cyclops save her.

Personally I would've preferred that Cyclops walk up to her, then all of a sudden you would see pain on his face and you'd get the feeling he's about to be vaporized, but he continues walking up to her overcoming her powers long enough to do what must be done to save her.

Everyone has different tastes obviously, however, the scene itself didn't do anything for me on an emotional or comic book level.

I guess my expectations were too high. When I think of "The Last Stand", I think of a battle that is much like The Two Towers or Return of the King based. The potential was there for the final battle to be powerful and climatic at the same time, but it was just wasted potential.

I would've loved to have seen a Juggernaut vs. Colossus battle, Angel flying into the sky taking out other mutants, Iceman doing the ice-slide while fighting Pyro, and of course Cyclops taking out buildings and mutants with his optic blasts.

All in all I give the final battle 5/10. Not horrible, but not great either.

How anyone gets choked up over it is beyond me. I hate to say it, but I've seen more emotion in a Dragonball Z episode than in this supposed "battle".

I think Cylcops should have been there too...but that is all I agree with. He should have been trying to get to her...Jean kills him. She realizes what she has done and turns back into good Jean...the debris around her begins to drop. She cries and the X-Men realize now is the time to stop her. Storm and Beast try but she knocks them back and begins to turn into Phoenix again. This is when Logan knows he must do it as she begins to turn evil again. But I liked the final battle overall. The only major complaint I have is the lack of Angel fighting.

 

[Nell2ThaIzzay]

I think Cylcops should have been there too...but that is all I agree with. He should have been trying to get to her...Jean kills him. She realizes what she has done and turns back into good Jean...the debris around her begins to drop. She cries and the X-Men realize now is the time to stop her. Storm and Beast try but she knocks them back and begins to turn into Phoenix again. This is when Logan knows he must do it as she begins to turn evil again. But I liked the final battle overall. The only major complaint I have is the lack of Angel fighting.

Nah, it shouldn't have even gone down like that.

Here's how it should have played out, in my opinion, from the very beginning.

Scott hears Jean's voice, he goes to Alkali Lake. She rises, they meet. She begins using her powers to hold back his optic blasts. This awesome display of power unleashes the Phoenix personality, and it takes over. In a huge blast of telekinetic engery, both Jean and Scott are sent flying, and knocked unconcious.

Wolverine and Storm arrive at the lake. Wolverine finds Scott's glasses, and goes looking for him. He finds him, but is distracted by a distress call from Storm. He runs over, and he finds Jean lying there. They take both Scott and Jean back to the mansion.

Xavier explains that he placed the psychic blocks in her mind at a young age to help control her powers. The blocks were destroyed during the Liberty Island incident, by Magneto's machine. Her "death", which all but obliterated her conciousness, allowed a dormant alter ego to surface, one created during Xavier's sessions, one created because he was isolating her powers from her, a personality of selfishness, becoming consumed by this absolute power that she had. The display of power unleashed that personality, and caused both Jean and Scott to become injured.

Scott is unconcious throughout the movie, clinging on for dear life. The "real" Jean is devestated that she did something that could lead to Scott's death, and we have our infirmary scene as normal. The movie progresses just as it does, like normal.

Scott comes out of his coma while Wolverine is off searching for Jean (nice character moment oppourtunity between Scott and Ororo to show their bond, and a chance for discussion to show that Ororo hasn't given up on Jean). When Wolverine comes back, after finding Jean, and learning where Magneto is going, Scott insists on going.

Storm: Scott, you watched Jean die before your very eyes. Her presence has been haunting you since her death, and you watched her resurrect before your very eyes. And now, she's almost killed you. You are in no shape, physically, or emotionally, to go into battle and confront Jean. Scott, stay here. I can lead the team.

Cyclops: No, Storm. I lost Jean once. I'm not losing her again. I'm still the leader of the X-Men, and I'm not giving up on them. I'm not giving up on Xavier's dream. And I'm damn well not giving up on Jean. I'm going to Alcatraz with you, Storm.

Storm: Okay, let's suit up.

(Side note: Angel sees the conversation, overhears about the attack on Alcatraz, and sneaks down to the subbasement. In the subbasement, the interaction goes like this:

Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, and Beast, walk out of the War Room, heading down the hall towards the X-Jet Hangar

Beast: I don't believe this once fit me.

Wolverine:If Magneto gets ahold of that cure, there'll be no stopping him.

Beast: Can you estimate how many he has?

Wolverine: An army, and Jean.

Beast: His powers have limits, her's do not.

Suited up, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, and Colossus approach Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, and Beast

Wolverine:Just what do you think you're doing, kid?

Iceman: We're going with you.

Wolverine: This isn't a game, kid. This isn't some Danger Room simulation. This is the real deal. Magneto's got an army out there. You go to war, you might not come home. She might not come home. You ready for that?

Iceman: We're not kids anymore.

Cyclops: Look, we've lost the professor, and if we don't fight now, everything he stood for will die with him. I'm not going to let that happen. Are you?

Wolverine glances Cyclops

Cyclops: We stand together. X-Men. All of us.

Wolverine: Let's go.

Enter Angel from the elevator

Angel: Not without me.

Wolverine: You know what you're getting yourself into, kid?

Angel: My father is on Alcatraz. I'm not just going to sit by while he's caught in the middle of a war. One way or another, I'm going to Alcatraz. But with you guys, it will be a lot easier.

Cyclops: Storm, get him a uniform.

All suited up, the X-Men: Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Beast, Iceman, Colossus, Kitty Pryde, and Angel, all head into the hanger, and onto the X-Jet)

The rest of the film plays out as it did in the real film. The only difference, there's some optic blasts, and some punches from a winged man, in the final battle that weren't there.

At the end of the final battle, the ground troops come over the ridge and start firing onto the field of battle. The Phoenix is unleashed, and the Phoenix rises. EVERYTHING from this point on, is exactly the same, only with Cyclops in place of Wolverine.

In the midst of destruction caused by Phoenix...

Cyclops: Storm, get everyone out of here!

Storm: Scott, what about you?

Cyclops: I'm the only one that can stop her. Don't worry about me, Storm. GO!

Wolverine: Good luck, slim.

Storm flies off, gathering up the X-Men and leading them to the X-Jet (editor's note: The X-Jet doesn't blow up amongst the destruction caused by Phoenix)

Cyclops: (Looking up at Jean) JEAN!

The destruction caused by Phoenix increases. The waters from San Francisco Bay begin to rise around Alcatraz Island. In the middle of it all, Cyclops looks around at all the destruction being caused by the woman he loves. He turns around to face her, fire buring all around her from the destruction caused of her own device. He looks up at her, and begins heading towards her. Phoenix fights him off, with waves of telekinetic blasts, but he keeps marching up towards her.

Cyclops: Jean! I know you're still there!

Phoenix continues the onslaught of telekinetic waves, and he continues marching up towards her, until he finall reaches her.

Phoenix: Fool, you would die for them?

Cyclops: No! Not for them... for you.

Jean begins to slowly regain control.

Cyclops: For you!

Jean, becoming herself again...

Jean: Scott...

Cyclops: Jean.

Jean: Please... save me.

Cyclops: (A tear coming down from behind his visor) I love you.

Cyclops pulls off his visor, but his eyes are closed. Another tear comes from behind his closed eyes, and he grabs Jean and holds her in his arms.

Cyclops: I love you.

Cyclops opens his eyes. View switches to an overhead view, where an enormous red wave of optic blast comes from Scott's eyes. The wave ends, and the camera switches to a closeup of Scott, falling to his knees, now fully crying. He is holding Jean's lifeless body in his arms.

The camera pulls away to a shot from a distance of Alcatraz Island, as the waters begin to fall back down into the Bay.

The camera again shows Scott on his knees, with his eyes closed, with Jean's body in his arms, crying over what just transpired. He pulls Jean's body closer to his, and kisses her on the forehead.

The camera zooms away from Alcatraz Island, showing the night sky, and the San Francisco skyline in the background. Water from the Bay still falls like rain.

----------

Not to toot my own horn, but GOD DAMN I know how to write X-Men

 

[javon]

I ****ING loved that the adamantium was showing!

Yeah I liked that part at first. Too bad you don't know (In the movie) if his healing factor was just that storng, or if Jean was holding the Phoenix back. In the book it said his adamantium was tight laced with molecules so Jean couldn't kill him right away or something.

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

NO, it shouldn't have been Scott!

I concurr. Nonetheless even if it was intentional to have him killed off screen, Scott should have taken part of the final battle atleast. If Fox clearly wanted to kill him off, they should have shown his death on screen and all the more, it would have been fine with me if he had died in battle saving Jean or trying his best to save her. Thats how I would have done it. It would have made more of an emotional impact on all three of my fave X-Men : Cyclops, Logan and Jean. I still felt it should have been the two men against Jean. One distracts her while the other does the job that needs to be done, no matter the concequences and regardless of his emotional connection with Jean. It would also put closer to their relationship they both had with the woman they loved.

 

[ntcrawler]

Nah, it shouldn't have even gone down like that.

Here's how it should have played out, in my opinion, from the very beginning.

It's not bad. You build it up in a more hopeful way that's truer to the chars, but to be honest the ending becomes a bit... predictable. Nothing can be done, so with Jean in her arms Scott blows her away. I just think that it ends up being the same kind of cheap drama the way we saw in X3: The Last Stand and again fails to take into account the true depth and meaning of their relationship. My impression was that they'd ALWAYS find a way out of a mess, no matter how big, no exceptions. If you wanted to get really creative you could even portray a battle in the psychic realm: Scott and Jean holding hands together while staring down the anger, selfishness and ugliness that is Phoenix, and ultimately defeating her so that Jean is free of her curse and able to be Jean again. That to me at least would show just how far and deep their relationship goes, not only as lovers and friends, but as partners who are able to make a stand together, side by side.

 

[X-Maniac]

It's not bad. You build it up in a more hopeful way that's truer to the chars, but to be honest the ending becomes a bit... predictable. Nothing can be done, so with Jean in her arms Scott blows her away. I just think that it ends up being the same kind of cheap drama the way we saw in X3: The Last Stand and again fails to take into account the true depth and meaning of their relationship. My impression was that they'd ALWAYS find a way out of a mess, no matter how big, no exceptions. If you wanted to get really creative you could even portray a battle in the psychic realm: Scott and Jean holding hands together while staring down the anger, selfishness and ugliness that is Phoenix, and ultimately defeating her so that Jean is free of her curse and able to be Jean again. That to me at least would show just how far and deep their relationship goes, not only as lovers and friends, but as partners who are able to make a stand together, side by side.

You evidently want Jean to survive and find her way back to the light...

How does that fit with the comics in which she died because she realised she could not control the darkness? The Phoenix tale is of 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely', it is not 'love can conquer the darkness'... the story is a tragedy, it ends bleakly, it is a lesson in power and sacrifice and the human condition, that we are not gods. Even when Jean came back later in the comics, she ended up dying again... Death is part of the story. You seem determined to have a Kelloggs commercial of flashing smiles and sunshine.