X3 Forum Debate #5: "Storm: What Was Missing"

[Lightning Strykez!]

I'm with the rest of you on this.

However, I hold Bryan Singer the most accountable for what happened with Storm. His casting selections, direction and writing set the course for years to come in this franchise. Sometimes damage is irreparable and that's the case with this character.

I have a lot of respect for Halle Berry however--I give her credit for trying to so hard to at least capture the spirit of the goddess. I also believe that if they had combined the goddess-like, regal nature of X1's Storm with the fury of X3's Storm, Halle would have been just fine. But it's been either/or with this character (and Scott Summers). It was always an extreme either way--too soft, too angry, too motherly, etc. It's like they didn't want to invest much in her.

In terms of the warrior aspect of Storm, I do believe that Halle finally nailed it in X3 though. The way she grits those teeth was fierce....

 

[JP]

For me, Storm should have never been brought to the screen at all unless there was a love for the character. In 3 films there never was. Period.

Singer chose the wrong actress, and there is nothing that proves to me that Halle could have been a great Storm. She doesn't get the character and most of her interviews (especially for X3) showed me that. The "Bryan told us not to read the comics" is a sorry excuse.

Her writing was just sloppy in all 3 films. And it was at its worst in X3. Some can blame it on what Singer did in the first two and say that they had to work with what they were given.. but I don't see it that way. Zac and co. said many times that they COMPLETELY re-wrote Storm for X3. When watching X3 I can tell that that is true, because the character(s) from the first 2 films aren't even there at all. Instead she became a real *****. She felt like a mean babysitter most of the time.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Exactly JP. They went to yet another extreme...not realizing that really Storm's character is an amalgamazation of all three film's portrayals.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

Storm also suffered from the same malady that plagued the other characters: Too much realism.

Her powers weren't the only thing toned down--they did it to her cosmetically by trying to "Americanize" her with the soccer-Mom hair styles for X2 and X3. These manips below (created by xii22_loop) show that if they had gotten rid of those stupid bangs, gave her a natural skin scalp wig (notice the part) and the trademark blue eyes, Halle would have had no problem capturing the goddess-like look of Storm.

See? Just a few simple adjustments were necessary to give us a more regal-looking Storm, and then, of course, not to deviate from that look in the franchise. I feel that the creative teams modernized and contemporized her way too much and that's why we started seeing little more than "Halle Berry in a wig."

They didn't create the character out of the actress--they converted the character into the actress.

 

[flavio_lebeau]

It's a pity that now these things cannot be fixed. She can't just appear having blue yes, and her hair can't grow much, unless an eventual X4 takes place years after the events of X3, which I highly doubt.

But I have to disagree with JP: if Storm hadn't appeared in these movies, you can multiply the Gambit fans' bitter by 1000, and that wouldn't be enough to explain the anger from the fans. I prefer seeing a different Storm than not seeing one at all. It's a shame her personality changes all the time, yes, it's a shame that she looks like a different character in each film, and it's a shame she's not even near the regal presense Storm is supposed to have. But I just have to love at least one thing: Storm's power displays make these movies different. She's got the most elegant, creative and eye-pleasing displays of power of this franchise, they bring back my inner child, and because of this, i'm glad Storm made it into the movies. She had to. To me, no Storm is like Superman without Superman. She's a symbol.

 

[JP]

It's a pity that now these things cannot be fixed. She can't just appear having blue yes, and her hair can't grow much, unless an eventual X4 takes place years after the events of X3, which I highly doubt.

But I have to disagree with JP: if Storm hadn't appeared in these movies, you can multiply the Gambit fans' bitter by 1000, and that wouldn't be enough to explain the anger from the fans. I prefer seeing a different Storm than not seeing one at all. It's a shame her personality changes all the time, yes, it's a shame that she looks like a different character in each film, and it's a shame she's not even near the regal presense Storm is supposed to have. But I just have to love at least one thing: Storm's power displays make these movies different. She's got the most elegant, creative and eye-pleasing displays of power of this franchise, they bring back my inner child, and because of this, i'm glad Storm made it into the movies. She had to. To me, no Storm is like Superman without Superman. She's a symbol.

Of course, I know many people will disagree. But I'd rather have a few hundred burnt fans than a few hundred fans who were spit in the face 3 times in a row.

 

[X-Maniac]

It's a pity that now these things cannot be fixed. She can't just appear having blue yes, and her hair can't grow much, unless an eventual X4 takes place years after the events of X3, which I highly doubt.

I don't think a general audience would be freaked out by Storm having blue eyes and longer hair in any next movie. But I don't think Halle would wear blue lenses - she's didn't cope well with the white eye covers so they had to be CGI-ed in. Longer hair would be great - not as long as in the pictures above, but longer than in X2 and with perhaps the black streaks to make it more natural. While we all seemed to like the Storm hair for X3 when we first saw it, it sounds like we've all gone off it now!

 

[Angamb]

Apart from the lack of orders from Storm to the team in X3, I would have like to see a scene between her and Rogue, but they alone, in the middle of the film or something, to show the motherly side of Storm, and the friend she is too. And of course they could have talked about the cure, but too about Rogue joining the team if is neccesary. You know, promote Rogue conflict a bit more, giving to these two characters better development.

 

[flavio_lebeau]

I don't think a general audience would be freaked out by Storm having blue eyes and longer hair in any next movie. But I don't think Halle would wear blue lenses - she's didn't cope well with the white eye covers so they had to be CGI-ed in. Longer hair would be great - not as long as in the pictures above, but longer than in X2 and with perhaps the black streaks to make it more natural. While we all seemed to like the Storm hair for X3 when we first saw it, it sounds like we've all gone off it now!

I still like her X3 hair...

 

[Mr. Socko]

Her hair in the first film was absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Lightning Strykez!]

I still like the X3 hairstyle. I think qualitywise it's the best of the trilogy. But I'd prefer Storm's longer tresses...for a more classic look.

 

[the a1ant]

Thanks for posting those manips, Lightning. It was the little details that made me happy - showing her culture (accessories and clothing). If she was just missing the bangs in X1, she would've been perfect (look-wise).

They shouldn't have totally abandoned that in the future films. The accent and style should've stayed, imo. Halle could've improved on her accent with a good coach.

 

[JP]

I definitely like her X1 wardrobe. And some of X2. I hated the X3 Rodeo Drive Storm.

 

[PeRfEcT_StOrM]

I believe the term is "modern" lol

There is a perfect opportunity to get Storm just the way we like her in X-Men 4, given there is one.

Personally..I love Storm..no matter what..sure a lot of improvements need to take place but i stick by it all three movies..im a "fan"

But..by all means, bring on X4 and let the feast begin.

 

[04nbod]

I definitely like her X1 wardrobe. And some of X2. I hated the X3 Rodeo Drive Storm.

she had all that tribal inspired stuff in 1 and 2 that storm would definitely wear but as the series went on she was westernised and taking away her african feel takes away from the character.

 

[javphonic]

It's certainly not Ms. Berry's fault.

I firstly blame Singer. He knew not what to do with the character, and it just transfered over to Ratner.

If one was to piece movieverse Storm together through out all three movies. One would step back and say:

''Damn, she's a schizto *****."

I agree with the casting the blame on the directors than on Halle, BTW nice pic of Halle

 

[javphonic]

I personally feel that they should have revovled the focus of the story in every movie

X1- was fine
X2- was good, but again the focus was still on Wolverine, but i liked that Nightcrawler was also focused upon
-Halle should have kept the accent, as mentioned before it separates Halle from Storm
X3-this one should've had Wolverine's role severely decreased, and Jean's true love and best friend's role should have been increased, this was Storm's time to shine
*she is becoming the leader of the X-men, the cure should have been eradicated from the plot and Storm's struggle to stabilize a devastated team should have had the sub-story, she should have found her voice, and become more assertive
*Emma Frost should have been added as a foil, she'd be a rival for taking over the school and challenge Storm's authority

 

[javphonic]

Apart from the lack of orders from Storm to the team in X3, I would have like to see a scene between her and Rogue, but they alone, in the middle of the film or something, to show the motherly side of Storm, and the friend she is too. And of course they could have talked about the cure, but too about Rogue joining the team if is neccesary. You know, promote Rogue conflict a bit more, giving to these two characters better development.

There was a deleted scene between the two in X1 that i felt shouldn't have been deleted, where Storm tries to get more information on where Rogue was from and how long she'd been on her own,

...incase you didn't know

 

[javphonic]

Storm also suffered from the same malady that plagued the other characters: Too much realism.

Her powers weren't the only thing toned down--they did it to her cosmetically by trying to "Americanize" her with the soccer-Mom hair styles for X2 and X3. These manips below (created by xii22_loop) show that if they had gotten rid of those stupid bangs, gave her a natural skin scalp wig (notice the part) and the trademark blue eyes, Halle would have had no problem capturing the goddess-like look of Storm.

See? Just a few simple adjustments were necessary to give us a more regal-looking Storm, and then, of course, not to deviate from that look in the franchise. I feel that the creative teams modernized and contemporized her way too much and that's why we started seeing little more than "Halle Berry in a wig."

They didn't create the character out of the actress--they converted the character into the actress.

So true, i always wondered why they didn't get the little details, i mean they went all out for Logan with his hair

 

[The Kid]

I think storm's always been miscast and should have been played by Angela Basset or someone who can actually sound like someone from Africa.

 

[StylishHokie21]

I don't dislike Halle Berry, but I felt she was miscast as Storm. The script didn't help either.

"Do you know what happens when a toad gets struck by lightning?"
"The same thing that happens to everything else."

"If you're with us, then be with us."

 

[xii22_loop]

Yeah I look at alot of other Black actresses, and any one of them could have played her. Heck even when I'm on the bus to school I see attractive mid 30s black women and can see them as being a better storm (looks-wise).

But i've found, in a lot of bad movies, like badly written ones, alot of these welll known good actors manage to do really well with a badly written script. Some actors can make a extremely bad line bareable. Not such luck for the lightning toad one in x1 though

I did like how she looked in X2, but only for the begining of x2, I dunno its like they didn't do her makeup as nice or style the wig as nice in later scenes of the movie. (ILL GET SCREENCAPS to show this)

 

[Mike059jig]

Personally..I love Storm..no matter what..sure a lot of improvements need to take place but i stick by it all three movies..im a "fan"

I don't love storm but I like her in the X-men, I liked her in the movies a lot because they didn't use the the warrior, powerful type storm.....that storm I can't stand, I'm glad they toned her down...X3 was a great mix, more added to that would be bad.....Storm to me didn't need much more, she was fine.....

 

[javon]

So she was fine being the backseat person, she was fine being the shadowed character? I feel the oppisite (not bashing you at all). Powerwise in X3, it could have been something different but it really didn't matter to me because her characters loss is what tuned me away from here powers ad more to her character. She was just did WRONG.

 

[TwilightPro101]

Yeah, I agree with you. X1 Storm is the best too, imo. Not only because of the accent, but when I see that movie, I see a more comanding, calm and regal Storm in a way. With the exception of the wig, I think that's the best Storm. In X2 and 3, she didn't only lose the accent. She lost herself. It seemed like no one cared about how she was portrayed.

I don't think Halle Berry was the best option to play Storm. But, since I hate recastings, I do think that if we had a director who truly cared about the character, and had lots of care towards how Berry represents Storm, I do think Halle could pull off a great Storm. Still not the comic Storm, but at least an upgraded version of the X1 Storm we saw. And that would be just fine to me.

I don't think Storm needs to have a full story so that she gets developed. Even in the comics, Storm has been mostly the shining supporting character. Shining, but still supporting. On the main mutants stories, she's ususally nothing more than the friend/warrior. So i never expected her to have a full arc in any of the movies. All I wanted, was like Halle said, "to see who is that woman". To know more about her, to understand her. And this was never achieved.

I do think a flash back adressing her childhood and claustrophobia would help to at least link Storm to the audience. Seeing her having a dificult childhood would be good. To see she was not just a comic book character who jumped on us.

So, imo, what was missing, was mostly a careful direction to help Berry find Storm, and a script that explored her personality a bit more. Not a full arc, just some lines in which Storm could show she's also human.

Anyhow, at least one thing I can be happy with: I always dreamed to see Storm's powers come true, and on that part, wow. I just love her power displays. Sorry, but I just couldn't help my huge smile when i saw those tornadoes, those lightnings...it's my childhood calling me back. It's the days in which I wished I could make rain. It's just too enchanting to neglect. Some popcorn is good at times. And eye-candy doesn't hurt. So I love Storm as the power-switch too.

Find myself agreeing with this statement.