Dark Phoenix X-Men: Dark Phoenix News and Speculation Thread - - - - Part 13

[Davidstorm]

That's the problem with test screenings. They usually screen different version of films to see which version gets the best reaction and then they can make appropriate changes.

Honestly, they should have avoided test screenings all together and just release the film they intended to make.

Yes
lately test sessions are just serving someone to leak things from the movies, or make mistakes.
many good movies are being sold for streaming platform because they were not well accepted in the test session, and in the end end up being very well received by the public and etc.

 

[xrs13]

Or maybe you should let the "fans" speak their mind regardless if its negative or positive. After all this is a forum... Just a suggestion

I was being facetious, but I’ll bite. The difference being, the information being discussed on this forum hasn’t been confirmed or denied by anyone official. Im all for speculating seeing as that’s what the thread is about, but to be criticising the film or team behind it for actually doing their job in testing it and keeping the feedback private so that people have something to enjoy when they get there when it’s finished is priority. Or should we live in a spoiler filled world ?

 

[psylockolussus]

You are entitled to your opinion, so as the others. No need to force people to reevaluate their opinion.

@Davidstorm. They should have totally avoided test screenings for Dark PhoeniX, therefore we could have finally gotten the film this year and judge it for ourselves

Like maybe the reshoots would make a little better. But a bad film is a bad film regardless if they tried to salvage it with reshoots. We would still talk about how bad it is more than how the reshoots made things better. The root of the problem always lie on the foundation, which is Kinberg's story in this case. I honestly, don't think it would even be an average film even with reshoots. This is the nXt JL, SS and F4.

 

[X-Maniac]

You are entitled to your opinion, so as the others. No need to force people to reevaluate their opinion.

@Davidstorm. They should have totally avoided test screenings for Dark PhoeniX, therefore we could have finally gotten the film this year and judge it for ourselves

Like maybe the reshoots would make a little better. But a bad film is bad film regardless if they tried to salvage it with reshoots. We would still talk about how bad it is instead of how the reshoots made things better. I honestly, don't think it would even be an average film. This is the nXt JL, SS and F4.

I agree, they should just have stuck to the original date, got the film looking as good as possible and released it.

Then they wouldn't have leaks from public test screenings, they wouldn't have to rebuild sets, they wouldn't have to hope the new scenes can be blended seamlessly with the existing movie.

They should spend the reshoot cash on doing a new and better cut of X-Men Apocalypse and package that with Dark Phoenix on the Blu-ray. The Kinberg Collection, lol...

 

[psylockolussus]

I agree, they should just have stuck to the original date, got the film looking as good as possible and released it.

Then they wouldn't have leaks from public test screenings, they wouldn't have to rebuild sets, they wouldn't have to hope the new scenes can be blended seamlessly with the existing movie.

They should spend the reshoot cash on doing a new and better cut of X-Men Apocalypse and package that with Dark Phoenix on the Blu-ray. The Kinberg Collection, lol...

Also with Disney cancelling this franchise soon in order to use the X-Men for their precious MCU. It just doesn't seem like a wise move for Fox to bother doing reshoots especially if it is still bad. Like if they really wanted a good film and a much better film, they should have not hired Kinberg in the first place. Looks like their decision of hiring Kinberg to direct is now backfiring... Release date delayed, sets need to be built from scratch, major reshoots for the third act and now these test screenings leakage.. Its bad.

 

[EnDz0n3]

That's the problem with test screenings. They usually screen different version of films to see which version gets the best reaction and then they can make appropriate changes.

Honestly, they should have avoided test screenings all together and just release the film they intended to make.

I'm still laughing at the suggestion that Kinberg, a first time director that's working off his own script, shouldn't do test screenings because people on the internet are being mean and are speculating.

Maybe Kinberg should bar people from watching the movie come February 2019 and only allow his friends on his pre-approved guest list to view it?

 

[C. Lee]

Or maybe you should let the "fans" speak their mind regardless if its negative or positive. After all this is a forum... Just a suggestion

Cool....does that mean you won't be reporting everyone that disagrees with you from now on?

 

[Davidstorm]

 

[X-Maniac]

I'm still laughing at the suggestion that Kinberg, a first time director that's working off his own script, shouldn't do test screenings because people on the internet are being mean and are speculating.

Maybe Kinberg should bar people from watching the movie come February 2019 and only allow his friends on his pre-approved guest list to view it?

It was already test-screened a few times to various groups of people at Fox (and their friends and family)and they apparently liked it. That was before the public test screenings.

It was only the public test screenings where people didn't like it.

I'd love to know exactly what people did NOT like.

 

[psylockolussus]

It was already test-screened a few times to various groups of people at Fox (and their friends and family)and they apparently liked it. That was before the public test screenings.

It was only the public test screenings where people didn't like it.

I'd love to know exactly what people did NOT like.

Have film studios tried test screenings for the critics? In an era in which Rotten Tomatoes could be so influential, don't they think it's much better to invite critics who would eventually review their films?

And of course FoX employees, liked it. I would too if I want to keep my job or if they don't want to disappoint their friend or family member about not so glowing thoughts.

 

[Davidstorm]

I do not know how it works.
but in my opinion, test session should be only with a group of varied critics.
the general public is very difficult to know if that group that did not like it will be the majority of the general public or not, I wanted very much to know what the note the film achieved in these tests sessions.

 

[DACrowe]

Again, they are wearing Cyclops' X-Factor costume, not New X-Men's costumes. The leaked costume pic don't look like they are wearing a jacket, and they don't have a belt. The X isn't as big as the picture you've posted.

... Okay. Even if it isn't 1:1, the point still stands that they are comic book costumes. To put it this way, I am confident the costumes will look fine... It's everything else I'm worried about at the moment.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Have film studios tried test screenings for the critics? In an era in which Rotten Tomatoes could be so influential, don't they think it's much better to invite critics who would eventually review their films?

And of course FoX employees, liked it. I would too if I want to keep my job or if they don't want to disappoint their friend or family member about not so glowing thoughts.

Critics don't make the studios money. The general film goer does. That is who they need a movie to appeal to, hence that is where their focus is. Being a well reviewed film doesn't mean it will be marketable or popular with non-critics.

 

[psylockolussus]

I do not know how it works.
but in my opinion, test session should be only with a group of varied critics.
the general public is very difficult to know if that group that did not like it will be the majority of the general public or not, I wanted very much to know what the note the film achieved in these tests sessions.

It should consists of critics, fanboys and random people who normally don't follow these movies.

 

[DACrowe]

I think if the movie went well in the test sessions and really a problemina only in Act 3, they should show something in July
but if the film was not well rated in the test sessions, and if it really is something bad and annoying, they're going to have to change a lot, and that creates a big marketing problem.

They kind of have to show something at SDCC. It will be expected and it's the last possible moment to kickoff marketing this film right. If they wait until September for Predator (which is another film with reshoots that could go either way), I think they seal their fate of it being underwhelming, kind of like Solo not beginning marketing until February or so.

... Then again, if the leak is true and they're afraid to confirm details... well they're in real trouble. I mean, there is a way to cut a good trailer out of that material, but who freaking knows at this point?

Related to Solo though, I'll just add that the movie had reshoots and turned out fine. On the flip side, the negative buzz helped doom it to flop, but eh. That ship may have already sailed.

 

[psylockolussus]

Critics don't make the studios money. The general film goer does. That is who they need a movie to appeal to, hence that is where their focus is. Being a well reviewed film doesn't mean it will be marketable or popular with non-critics.

They should have both in the test screenings.. Apocalypse probably did well in the test screenings, that they lifted the review embargo so early, only to have mixed reviews from the critics before the film was released in any countries.

 

[Spider-Fan]

They should have both in the test screenings.. Apocalypse probably did well in the test screenings, that they lifted the review embargo so early, only to have mixed reviews from the critics before the film was released in any countries.

Reviews at the end of the day don't matter. For example, let's say I am releasing My Movie. The studio would rather My Movie score a 25% on RT and make $400 mil as opposed to my director's cut that is way better that scores 95% and makes $80 million. Test screenings are not about making a movie BETTER. They're about making them more MARKETABLE. Those are 2 different things. Sometimes they can do both at the same time, but not always. But given one or the other, studios prefer Marketable.

 

[fobi]

They kind of have to show something at SDCC. It will be expected and it's the last possible moment to kickoff marketing this film right. If they wait until September for Predator (which is another film with reshoots that could go either way), I think they seal their fate of it being underwhelming, kind of like Solo not beginning marketing until February or so.

... Then again, if the leak is true and they're afraid to confirm details... well they're in real trouble. I mean, there is a way to cut a good trailer out of that material, but who freaking knows at this point?

Related to Solo though, I'll just add that the movie had reshoots and turned out fine. On the flip side, the negative buzz helped doom it to flop, but eh. That ship may have already sailed.

By the time they start reshoots they should (Ideally) have released at least 1 or 2 trailers. They really only have the current footage that they have to work with. It would be crazy and a huge missed opportunity not to show anything at SDCC. Unless there's anything significant that could be changes in post production.

 

[Micromind]

Reviews at the end of the day don't matter. For example, let's say I am releasing My Movie. The studio would rather My Movie score a 25% on RT and make $400 mil as opposed to my director's cut that is way better that scores 95% and makes $80 million. Test screenings are not about making a movie BETTER. They're about making them more MARKETABLE. Those are 2 different things. Sometimes they can do both at the same time, but not always. But given one or the other, studios prefer Marketable.

So true. Great post.

 

[Davidstorm]

They kind of have to show something at SDCC. It will be expected and it's the last possible moment to kickoff marketing this film right. If they wait until September for Predator (which is another film with reshoots that could go either way), I think they seal their fate of it being underwhelming, kind of like Solo not beginning marketing until February or so.

... Then again, if the leak is true and they're afraid to confirm details... well they're in real trouble. I mean, there is a way to cut a good trailer out of that material, but who freaking knows at this point?

Related to Solo though, I'll just add that the movie had reshoots and turned out fine. On the flip side, the negative buzz helped doom it to flop, but eh. That ship may have already sailed.

Yes, I keep thinking about it too.
if the film really is problematic, and it will need big changes, they are unable to show anything of the film.
the SDCC will be a sample for us, of what the real situation of this film.

I read last week, on some site I can not remember the name, in which it said that the marketing campaign of the movie was ready to start, but with the change of date they will wait a little bit to do this.

 

[Alessia]

Bit off topic. Was there any substantial proof that Dark Phoenix was supposed to be a two parter at first? (Besides Olivia's comment)

 

[Tymminator]

Bit off topic. Was there any substantial proof that Dark Phoenix was supposed to be a two parter at first? (Besides Olivia's comment)

I've actually recently been looking for that myself.

 

[GuestStar2004]

Bit off topic. Was there any substantial proof that Dark Phoenix was supposed to be a two parter at first? (Besides Olivia's comment)

Its mostly what Olivia Said and i think she may have said something to that degree in at least 2 interviews.

But then it depends what you see as a 2 parter. there can be a 1 movie story but be open to getting a sequel that continues that story. or you can get a movie that ends of a cliff hanger and needs another to complete it

 

[xrs13]

More to the point... why did she say it if she

Spoiler

isn’t in it?

 

[Cktopl33]

It was already test-screened a few times to various groups of people at Fox (and their friends and family)and they apparently liked it. That was before the public test screenings.

It was only the public test screenings where people didn't like it.

I'd love to know exactly what people did NOT like.

That's not entirely accurate. The fake reddit plot leak was coming from one person's opinion (with some contradictory info) and the moderator stated that what he used to confirm he went to the test screening.....actually belonged to someone else. How he got it is anyone's guess. But apparently previous info on the February test screening was that there were people who thought the movie was good and placed it on the same level with First Class.

I'm also under the impression that certain things in the test screening were either left out or intentionally shot a certain way. There's no doubt this was screened many times before the test audience. If you recall, there was a big mystery with Jessica Chastain's character. It can't be the fact that she's a shapeshifter because that's in the official synopsis (I realized it doesn't actually say alien).

“I don’t know what I can describe about this character without giving everything away.” Jessica Chastain is aware that she can’t really talk about her very mysterious Dark Phoenix character. But what we can tell you is the Molly’s Game star plays an otherworldly shapeshifter who influences Jean Grey/Phoenix for her own agenda.

Nothing in that reddit leak hints to this mystery for the character. If you notice, the term "otherworldly" is used to describe her character which doesn't always mean extraterrestrial. It can also translate as transcendental (Kinberg described her character: "[Chastain's] character is way, way smarter than we are"), mystical, supernatural, magical. If they're claiming this film its closer to the comics, then I'm still under the impression her role will mirror something similar to Mastermind in my opinion.


-The leak doesn't describe much of Chastain's character at all, or how she manipulates or influences Jean, or anything about her interactions with Jean.

-Nor Chastain's interaction with McAvoy, which one released image showcased.

-Nor did it say anything much about Jean and Scott which is described in official materials as "a huge part of the emotional core of the movie."

-Or how the Phoenix threatens to overtake Jean's mind and divide the X-men as described in official material.

“So many scenes I have to go from broken-down Jean—that’s when she’s most subsceptible to Phoenix infiltrating her—to this confident, arrogant, judgmental character within milliseconds.”

-Didn't allude to anything about the officially released photo of Magneto laying on the ground apprehended and surrounded by armed men.

-Nor did the leak include the "franchise changing twist."

I also think the aliens were a misdirect, or at least the way the test audience saw them, since visual effects weren't complete.