whos to blame? fox, ratner , writers?

[X-Maniac]

The Zak Penn interview is filtering into the mainstream media too. This UK newspaper sci-fi blog has a piece about it, and also a piece on Iron Man that goes on to debate movie running times and fans' criticisms of movie that they say are too short - X3 is one of those discussed.

The Zak Penn article is here:
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2008/04/screenwriter-zak-penn-talks-yo.html

The Iron Man/movie runtime article is here:
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2008/04/iron-man-movie-running-time-re.html

 

[Storm22]

David Bentley eh?!

Nice articles X!

 

[X-Maniac]

The more I think about X3, the more I come to the conclusion that its major faults were:

1. lack of character development for some characters
2. the curing of Rogue (Ratner's decision)
3. the quick death of Cyclops. (studio demand? writers' decision?)

They really should have known that killing Cyke and curing Rogue were never going to make fans happy. If they really couldn't get Marsden back for any more filming, they should have made more use of the time he did have on set. The reunion with Jean could have been longer.

But, two years on, I guess this subject has been raked over and over.

 

[Apollo]

Fox and the Writers.

 

[X-Maniac]

The Zak Penn interview is filtering into the mainstream media too. This UK newspaper sci-fi blog has a piece about it, and also a piece on Iron Man that goes on to debate movie running times and fans' criticisms of movie that they say are too short - X3 is one of those discussed.

The Zak Penn article is here:
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2008/04/screenwriter-zak-penn-talks-yo.html

The Iron Man/movie runtime article is here:
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2008/04/iron-man-movie-running-time-re.html

Please add your comments on the bottom of those blogs posted above. It doesn't take a moment to type out a few lines and submit it to the blog.

 

[DawnWarrior]

While some of Ratner's decisions certainly didn't impress me (nor did his bragging about how "faithful" the movie would be), I'm giving my vote to Fox. If nothing else, all I wanted from this movie was more. More character development, more action, more memorable moments, more X-Men in the final fight. Surely there were several drafts of the script that demanded bigger budgets than Fox would pay for, as seemed to be the case with the first two films. So I'm putting my blame on them.

 

[X-Maniac]

There are a couple of negative comments on X3 on my blog here:

http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2008/04/screenwriter-zak-penn-talks-yo.html#more

Don't know which of you are hiding behind the aliases of 'Legion' and 'Planet of Chocolate' but please keep the comments coming....

Comments on X3 are also made in my blog on movie running times here:

http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2008/04/iron-man-movie-running-time-re.html

Again, keep the comments coming please, however positive or negative. I'm very keen to get feedback, from the fan community as well as general mainstream media readers.

 

[Leenie]

I would place the "blame" on Fox, Ratner, and the writers. Yup, all three of 'em.

 

[X-Maniac]

Well, Iron Man was...*gasp*... 2hrs and 6minutes and has still been a phenomenal success.

Whose idea was it to make X3 just 1hr 44minutes?

 

[Angamb]

Ironman was more than 2 hours??

Wow, I saw it too, and was fantastic, better directed than X3.

And yes, I don't understand the runningtime of X3 either, really don't understand it.

 

[X-Maniac]

Ironman was more than 2 hours??

Wow, I saw it too, and was fantastic, better directed than X3.

And yes, I don't understand the runningtime of X3 either, really don't understand it.

Let's hope Fox see sense and do a 'definitive/extended/ultimate' edition of X3 when they release the trilogy on Blu-ray....

 

[Rac]

Well, Iron Man was...*gasp*... 2hrs and 6minutes and has still been a phenomenal success.

Whose idea was it to make X3 just 1hr 44minutes?

Rothman's. Shorter running time = more screenings per day = more money.
Quality of the movie? What quality? Quality doesn't make money!

Let's hope Fox see sense and do a 'definitive/extended/ultimate' edition of X3 when they release the trilogy on Blu-ray....

Not happening. Unless they re-film the whole movie...

 

[X-Maniac]

Not happening. Unless they re-film the whole movie...

But they could reinstate some of the deleted scenes and give the movie more 'breathing space.' They did it with Fantastic Four.

 

[BMM]

But they could reinstate some of the deleted scenes and give the movie more 'breathing space.' They did it with Fantastic Four.

Eh, no thanks. I think that reinforces the idea that the studio can hack away at the theatrical release because they know they can double dip later with an extended edition that probably should have been more like the theatrical release in the first place.

 

[X-Maniac]

Eh, no thanks. I think that reinforces the idea that the studio can hack away at the theatrical release because they know they can double dip later with an extended edition that probably should have been more like the theatrical release in the first place.

Well, I'd like an Extended Edition.

Daredevil got an improved Director's Cut, Fantastic Four got an improved Extended Edition, Supergirl had longer versions released, Oliver Stone recut Alexander twice, and BladeRunner has had a new edition.

Elektra's Director's Cut and Ghost Rider's Director's Cut were not worth doing, but those seem to be rare exceptions. And they didn't work because the main body of the movie is not that good, regardless of what's added or subtracted. I don't think the same applies to X3.

I think the idea would not be to reinforce the idea of studios being able to double-dip but, in some instances, to satisfy fan demand and answer criticisms of the movie to show they are capable of responding, delivering and hopefully learning lessons.

 

[BMM]

If the studio is capable of responding and learning its lessons, couldn’t it just not unecessarily shorten its movies anymore?

 

[X-Maniac]

If the studio is capable of responding and learning its lessons, couldn’t it just not unecessarily shorten its movies anymore?

One would hope future movies will benefit (let's see with Wolverine) but in the case of previous movies, I think an extended special edition might be nice...

 

[BMM]

I hoping Jackman will have some pull in that department, if necessary.

 

[DawnWarrior]

X3 definitely suffered from a number of things, not least of which was a short running time. But I think we should be clear on something: simply making the film longer wouldn't automatically make it better. It would all depend on what went into those new scenes. Best case scenario, it could be more of the final fight, with great character moments and displays of power. It could have been more scenes of some of the minor characters who got short shrifted, like Beast, Angel, and Rogue. It could be more scenes of the younger mutants shooting the breeze about this cure business. Or maybe it would just be more scenes of Jackman and Berry stealing the show, or more self-parodying dialogue ("Grow those back!"). In other words, an extra 20 minutes could simply make a disappointing film just as disappointing and longer.

 

[Angamb]

you are right, dawnwarrior.

Hugh and Halle could have more screentime yet, but I think if the film was longer, the writers would have developt some of the secondary characters, I think.

 

[X-Maniac]

you are right, dawnwarrior.

Hugh and Halle could have more screentime yet, but I think if the film was longer, the writers would have developt some of the secondary characters, I think.

Remember Mei Melancon talking about the power display/fight scenes she filmed for Psylocke? What happened to those?

 

[Legion]

I wish the other X-Men would have been present at the Grey's house. It would have made for a much better fight scene, there were brotherhood members that just get blown away by storm's entrance and then stay off scene.

I would haved like to see Colossus vs. Juggernaut at this part and that would have made Kitty's scenes at the end better because we know meeting Juggernaut with muscle isn't the way to go.

For the final battle scene I always hoped for a battle between Magneto and the X-Men. I was disappointed by the other movies because I didn't feel like they ever really fought, (even though Magneto was in 2 movies) either because of the script or Magneto's more "grounded" powers.

 

[Angamb]

I like what you say about Colossus and Kitty in the Jean house, it makes perfect sense.

And apart, would have been more emotional, seeing the team in the Xavier death.

 

[Legion]

I hoping Jackman will have some pull in that department, if necessary.

I don't know if it has been discussed but I've wondered if Jackman had any objections to the X3 script. I mean he had already played the character twice and had done his research so surely he knew this movie was a bit of a departure for the Wolverine character and the source material.

I'd like to think he wanted the best film possible for fans and for everyone else but I can't help but think he was just happy to be the focus again.

It might not have made any difference on the final product but i was just curious.

 

[BMM]

I don't know. I haven't really heard or read anything regarding Jackman's thoughts on the script.