What if there was no Phoenix in X3?

[BobJM]

I remember I created a thread about this very same topic way before the film even came out. I was bashed and bashed and bashed. Fans were so excited about the one and only Phoenix making her debut on the big screen. Rumours were going around about the Phoenix effect, making all true Jean Grey fans as giddy as school girls.

And then X-Men: The Last Stand hit theaters...

While I loved every aspect of the movie, characters and all, I know that many of the members on these boards were truly disappointed with Phoenix's portrayal. There was no firebird, no galaxies being destroyed, no nothing. Just a scary vampire/zombie character with uncanny powers... big letdown.

So, when thinking of the topic of Jean Grey/Phoenix in the movieverse, I always think back to the climax in X2. Jean Grey sacrificed her life to save her fellow teammates from certain death. While Brian Singer and crew could have easily allowed the character to survive, they decided to take up the challenge of killing her off, only to be reborn into the famous Phoenix we all know and love from the comics. While fans cheered and cheered, I thought, How the hell are they going to do that?

And at times I catch myself thinking, what if Jean had never died at the end of X2? What if she saved the entire team and herself? How would X3 be different? Would it be better...worse? Would countless fans be happy that the character of Phoenix was not butchered to the studio's desire?

So, bash and yell at me if you will, but I believe I bring up a valid point. This is a question to all the fans out there who truly love the X-Men's first female member.

Should Jean Grey have survived at the end of X2 and should the Phoenix have been absent from the entire X-movieverse?

 

[La_She-Beast]

I'm glad Phoenix appeared in the big screen, but it would've been so much better. She's just a schizophrenic woman. Wooow.

 

[X-Maniac]

Should Jean Grey have survived at the end of X2 and should the Phoenix have been absent from the entire X-movieverse?

No. They had intended to make her go blind from Cyclops blasts and not have a Phoenix moment - something i would NOT have liked.

They could have left the return of Jean until X4, but that would be a risk, to assume there would be an X4... so that's out.

What we got was okay, in my view, except for the lack of a firebird (at least in her rise from the lake). If not an actual recognisable bird, some kind of energy aura that could form wings when she stretched out her arms...

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

If there was no Jean and no Phoenix. I wouldn't be here.... but I'm here...so... yeah. I was hoping to see the firebird too but what I got was okay but it might haunt me for the rest of my life.

 

[ntcrawler]

Hey, thot poll isn't fair either way. As for no PHoenix in X3? Honestly, it wasn't necessary. The cure plot point itself was more than enough to keep everyone busy without dropping a troubled, tortured rampaging Jean on top of everything. Could have saved her for X4! Limit her appearances to "ghostly" apparitions haunting the mansions and tucking and ghostly kissing Scott good night as he drifts off to some troubled sleep

 

[WorthyStevens]

I voted for "Phoenix was butchered...never again should it be in a movie".

BUT, I do think Phoenix should've been in an X-film. Just done right, instead of being the zombie-like figure she was. She deserved alot more than what she got.

 

[ntcrawler]

^^^ That's what I mean. Yes she was butchered, but I do want to see her again, just done right this time.

 

[chaseter]

NO MORE "What If Threads" PLEASE!!!

 

[Mike059jig]

"Pheonix was butchered never again should it be in a movie"..I actually wanted her to stay dead and come back in X4 and leave the Cyclops scene with him leaving the mansion and Stick to the cure storyline...then when all is done..you see the water bubbling in Alkali lake..for another movie...X4..as of now...pheonix is done and so is the x-men franchise

 

[AznBABYBANDIT]

i thought they needed to display her nicely for the first Xmovie phoenix would make an appearence... Ratner poiled it...

 

[Sunstar]

I think the writers messed up for fighting to get the Phoenix in X3 b/c Fox wanted this to be Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry's film and throwing Jean into mix made the story too complicated(Grrrrr..... I get angry everytime I think about this)! Without Jean there could've been room to expand Angel, Rogue, Iceman etc. roles and we might've ended up with a more satisfying film and the 'genius' in charge of Fox would be happy!

Kinberg and Penn knew that Cyclops would only have a small role and that he is a big part of the Phoenix saga so they should've had Cyclops ride of into the sunset at the beginning of the film and then end it with Cyclops all tormented at Alkali Lake until a sudden burst of energy rises from the lake and, with a bright light in his face, Scott utters one word, "Jean?"(cut to credits)! That ending would've been more satisfying b/c Jean's role in X3 was to be a superpowered zombie who was only necessary when someone had to die! Also Cyclops and Jean would still be alive and although they'd have small roles fans would still be happy b/c their characters would be around for a possible X4!

 

[ntcrawler]

Kinberg and Penn knew that Cyclops would only have a small role and that he is a big part of the Phoenix saga so they should've had Cyclops ride of into the sunset at the beginning of the film and then end it with Cyclops all tormented at Alkali Lake until a sudden burst of energy rises from the lake and, with a bright light in his face, Scott utters one word, "Jean?"(cut to credits)! That ending would've been more satisfying b/c Jean's role in X3 was to be a superpowered zombie who was only necessary when someone had to die!

I completely agree. I was thinking along similar lines. Having Jean "dead" the way it is is very convenient. She can come back whenever the writers are ready. There was no reason to rush this storyline especially considering all the bickering and scheduling difficulties production and cast were having. So like you said, just have Scott ride off at the start of X3 like he did, and go to his family's cabin in Alaska to spend some time to grieve, heal his wounds, drink beer, or whatever it is he does.
Then focus your full attention on the Cure storyline. Flesh it out. With no interference from the Phoenix arc, you can actually put all your attention into the moral drama that the Cure is supposed to represent. If you want Famke to have something to do, you can do flashback scenes where the rest of the cast looks back at Jean and what they miss. That would be a good opportunity to use for a memorial service for Jean.
Then towards the end, you can do some footage showing ghostly apparitions or strange things happening at Alkali Lake. Maybe do a scene with Scott trying to fall asleep in the cabin, and something mysterious tucks him in or kisses him goodnight and he relaxes. You don't even have to have him go to Alkali Lake. Just maybe end the scene with an image inside the cabin of Jean's phoenix pendant hanging and spinning, sparkling and reflecting off of light from a lamp or flames in the fireplace.
It would certainly add to the anticipation and make people want to see X4 even more.

 

[AznBABYBANDIT]

yea... but would there be X4?

 

[britrogue]

I'm glad we got to see her, but I would have rathered she was saved for her own movie. With no Storm in it so the film could concentrate on Famke instead of Halle

 

[Celestial Fate]

I'm glad we got to see her, but I would have rathered she was saved for her own movie. With no Storm in it so the film could concentrate on Famke instead of Halle

YAY! I agree!

If Famke hadn't died and was just a "normal" cast member like before, the execs would have pushed her to the sidelines to let Halle shine.

Sad, but true. The writers had to fight for Phoenix as it was, imagine fighting for just Jean Grey? I don't think they'd do that!

So, I'm glad Phoenix made it to X-3, but I also agree with Britrogue.

It would have been SO nice to have Phoenix done correctly, with Cyclops and the team!

 

[AznBABYBANDIT]

I wished they let her rise at the end of X3 for a X4...

 

[*xmenfan*]

I liked having pheonix in X3 but she could have been better...

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

All your points pretty much sums up how things should have been regarding Phoenix... hmmm what if the Scott and Jean's reunion and was pushed towards the end, leaving a cliff hanger? It could work...when Scott opens his eyes while kissing her and then cut! leaves the audience wanting more and then X4 could focus on Famke's Jean/Phoenix and Scott.

 

[Goddessreicho]

Phoenix wasn't pushed aside. For the last two movies she had a big role (being the main love intrest and all) this time she was part of the plot. Famke was essential in all three movies.

It was nice to see Storm be a big loud b****then a quiet and extra-like b****. Even tho in X3 she had nothing much to do with either plot. She was there for the emo push.

Phoenix would have bombed in her own movie. Again the x-men are known to be an essemble. The Phoenix movie, done properly, would have just hade Jean, Scott, and the Helfire club, and something resembling the Shi'ar. The plot would have been so out there in left field, that it may have not pleased the general public.

Even if they went the realaistic route, it still would not have been an X-men movie, that's what people want to see. Sorry, but the truth is that the Phoenix fan base isn't large enough to make this "Phoenix" movie a profit.

IT might as well been a spin-off. Which would have tanked anyway, along with Magneto, and Wolverine.

 

[thegameq]

Hey, thot poll isn't fair either way. As for no PHoenix in X3? Honestly, it wasn't necessary. The cure plot point itself was more than enough to keep everyone busy without dropping a troubled, tortured rampaging Jean on top of everything.

That's how I felt. The cure plotline probably should have had it's own movie. The "Phoenix" came off as an add-on or sub-plot.

 

[Goddessreicho]

Ditto, the cure and Magneto were enough for X3. Heck ya coulda have made a good 2 hour movie with just that. Cramming all three in 1 1/2 hrs, sucked.

Besides I could see a cure movie actually effecting the X-men as a whole, not just Wolverine, and Rogue.

Plus the movie wouldn't have been so front loaded without all the character deaths.

 

[X-Maniac]

I'd have been happier if we got
1) an energy effect resembling the classic firebird
2) more dialogue, and less standing around - we should have had more from her about her inner turmoil, her confusion,
3) Scenes where she used her power to get transport to SF (a wormhole?) and to telekinetically shield the mutant army from being flung around when Magneto lowered the bridge rather heavily...

 

[XCharlieX]

What if there was no Phoenix in X3?

Then the film wouldve been an hour long

 

[ntcrawler]

That's how I felt. The cure plotline probably should have had it's own movie. The "Phoenix" came off as an add-on or sub-plot.

In all honesty, I'm surprised the X-men were that concerned with the Cure and Magneto's plot in the first place, considering there was a much more terrifying threat out there in the form of an insane woman dressed in red. Compared to a woman who can level a city when angry, the Cure would be nothing! I'd just as soon let Magneto have Leech and focus on catching / saving Jean instead.

Besides which, not that many mutants were really affected by the whole concept of the Cure. I was thinking that Beast of all people would be fighting a much bigger inner struggle, being tempted by the chance to look normal again instead of having to go through life looking like a cross between a gorilla and the cookie monster. Rogue was the only one who had any real turmoil. Warren was over his turmoil in his 2nd scene. It just wasn't developed enough. And by the end of the movie everyone seemed to have forgotten about it except Rogue

 

[My Red Sight]

I really wouldn't have liked the movie as much as I did if phoenix wasn't in it. The cure plot line really didn't interest me too much and I would hate to have and X-movie with out Jean/Famke. There were changes, but I saw them fitting into the flow of the other movies. I liked the phoenix we got.

By the way, the poll is biased.