Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart Return to X-Men

[DJjaffacake]

The future looks dark as knight, but as long as Ellen Page comes back to, this should be good

Seconded. You need either Ellen Page or Anna Paquin or someone to play an X-Person as if they think they might get hurt, otherwise I don't care about teh fight scenes. Also, angsty love triangles do not help anything.

...

Anyone else notice that the best characters in the X-Men films are always played by actors from Commonwealth nations?

I'm pretty sure Michael Fassbender is German/Irish.

His mum was from Northern Ireland, with is part of the UK, which is part of the Commonwealth of nations.

And Magneto was not a good character in X-Men: Origins, though you could argue one of the best in that film, because nobody else was.

He was brought up in the Republic of Ireland, and as far as I can tell is an Irish citizen, not British. Not to mention that his mum is a Nationalist, meaning she almost certainly identifies as Irish rather than British.

It will have to respectfully disagree with your appraisal of First Class,[footnote]You wrote Origins, but I assume you meant First Class, since Fassbender isn't even in Origins[/footnote] although it is of course, a matter of opinion.

 

[Scars Unseen]

Maybe this time they will actually make use of Patrick Stewart's formidable acting talent. Maybe this time they will give him a character (not to mention a script) that actually has some depth to it. McKellan never was, nor never will be the problem, not least when he is playing one modern fiction's greatest tragic roles. His character is quite obvious in its simplicity, yet lends itself to multiple depths. You are dealing not only with the obvious question of vengeance and how it can consume a man, but also the way in which power can corrupt. Thus far, we have been fortunate to see him played by two of Britain's leading actors. Any Magneto script essentially writes itself, which is why in the hands of a good rate actor, it is always a pleasure to watch.
Xavier on the other hand has been much more of a challenge. The reason why seems to suggest the notion that he is simply not as interesting. Xavier is always written as an absolute good, a man without faults. Take this and then compare it to Lensherr and the issue becomes apparent. Magneto is a man that has as of yet, failed to overcome the complexities that have surrounded him. These then leads us on the question of why? Is it the circumstances or the man himself that create the greater burden?
Xavier on the other hand might have issues, foibles and failures, but we never hear about them. There was never a time when he used to cheat at cards or whatever. Well not in the films anyway. If Magneto is the player that could not confront his events that then Xavier must be that man that could.
Plus there is also the small issue of nationality. Is he British or American? What is the true nature of his character? is he an old progressively minded American academic, in the guise of Chomsky or Vidal? Or an idealistic British intellectual, in the manner of Russell or Orwell? Unquestionably the comparative mindset, generally speaking, of these respective types will be markedly different.
The X-Men series has always sold itself as being a cut above the average comic by offering an intellectual depth not seen elsewhere. It would be nice to see it there in all its glory there on the big screen for a change.

They should do a Fatal Attractions movie. That would cut a bit into Xavier's paragon status.

 

[SonicWaffle]

The best things about the X-Men film from 2000 were Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan, who respectively portrayed Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr, better known to the world at large as Professor X and Magneto. Hugh Jackman was a brilliant Wolverine and Ray Park was fun as Toad, but it was Stewart and McKellan who really anchored the thing. And while I didn't care much for the sequels, I didn't give up on the franchise until X-Men: First Class

I...I don't follow you. Are you saying you actually preferred X1 to X2?

That's just crazy. Flat-out crazy.

As for not seeing First Class, yeah, you really ought to sort that out. By far the best iteration of the franchise on-screen, and I include the 90's FOX series in that.

Yeah, that's right. I went there!

 

[Scars Unseen]

Huh, First Class was just awful, no really, one of the absolute worst films I saw that year. The plot was terrible, the acting (aside from Fassbender) was choppy, stiff and unnatural, Jennifer Lawrence in particular was shit. The writing was even worse and the characters were all dimwits (again except for Fassbender).


Not really looking forward to another X-Men movie like that, I mean, the second one was good and the first one was okay, but the third one was bad, First Class was terrible and Wolverine was just horrific. In fact, most comic book-movies seem ludicrously overrated, Nolan's Batman are average at best, the Avengers was entertaining, but still dumb as shit, and I haven't much love for the other ones either.

Can't there just be a comic book-movie with decent writing, like, at all? Oh wait, I guess that's an oxymoron.

PS: The Watchmen movie wasn't very great either.

Just wanted to point out that the secret is out.

 

[Thaluikhain]

He was brought up in the Republic of Ireland, and as far as I can tell is an Irish citizen, not British. Not to mention that his mum is a Nationalist, meaning she almost certainly identifies as Irish rather than British.

It will have to respectfully disagree with your appraisal of First Class,[footnote]You wrote Origins, but I assume you meant First Class, since Fassbender isn't even in Origins[/footnote] although it is of course, a matter of opinion.

Meant First Class, yeah.

In regards to Origins...well, IMHO the best characters are played by commonwealth actors, not that the commonwealth actors play the best characters.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Day of the Future Past was the best story arc ever!

Shame so many mutants died though. Including Spiderman, Fantastic Four and some such. Sentinels really don't like mutants. >.> BUT YEAH, good storyline.

I'm going to be That Guy here, but in ordinary continuity (ie not Ultimate) Spiderman and the FF aren't mutants. Or at least not capital-M Mutants. They've mutated, but not naturally, which puts them in a different category to the X-Men whose mutation is not triggered by external influences like spiders or...like, space radition, or whatever it was.

 

[ExtraDebit]

And while I didn't care much for the sequels, I didn't give up on the franchise until X-Men: First Class, which delved into the early days of the hated and feared mutant group and brought in James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender to portray the characters in their younger years.

....so you only gave up on the series when it had its absolute, positive, straight up best film in the series?

How can people not love that movie? It begins with a psychic jewish kid crushing Nazi skulls, and keeps on getting better. It was completely balls out awesome, and in my top 5 best superhero movies ever.

I couldn't agree more, the only thing missing is Magneto flying like superman or ironman while blowing shit up.

P.S. I think Edward Norton would make a good brotherhood character, possibly a good young Magneto. Not saying What we have now isn't great.

 

[TheEndlessGrey]

I have to join everyone else questioning the hate for First Class. The first X-Men movie wasn't actually all that good, looking back at it now, but at the time I was excited for the fact that it existed, and there were some brilliant casting choices. McAvoy may not be the perfect choice for young Xavier the way Sir Stewart was, but he's not the wrong choice, and Fassbender is always the right choice.

For the movie itself, I wouldn't be so sure yet that they've completely discarded the timeline of the original movies and origins spinoff. The older Xavier and Magneto are being reprised by the original actors, Hugh Jackman's Wolverine had a quick cameo in First Class, and as mentioned in an earlier post, Senator Kelly did die in the first movie. I sincerely doubt they planned it all that far ahead, but it is convenient that they could potentially tie it all together like that. Retcon the first 3 movies by implying they're also part of the alternate future. Worse things could happen.

 

[mParadox]

I'm going to be That Guy here, but in ordinary continuity (ie not Ultimate) Spiderman and the FF aren't mutants. Or at least not capital-M Mutants. They've mutated, but not naturally, which puts them in a different category to the X-Men whose mutation is not triggered by external influences like spiders or...like, space radition, or whatever it was.

True! Didn't stop the Sentinels from going Leather Face on 'em.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Ohhh! A real movie (supposedly anyway) made for teenagers to adults is better than a shittly drawn kids cartoon in the 90's aiming to please kids?! That's insane!

Oh wait, it isn't by a long shot.

Look, I don't care if the only way you feel you can validate your own existence is by trolling for reactions, but do us all a favour and do it somewhere else. The 90's cartoon is A) a nostalgic pleasure for many fans and B) recognised as a great show in its own right, as I'm sure you're aware. Decades after it debuted, it's still well-regarded both as a piece of entertainment and a representative of the X-Men franchise.

Where did the need for decent writing go? In the bin?

If you set out hoping to be displeased by what you watch so you can decry the falling standards of modern entertainment, then shockingly enough your wishes will come true. That doesn't mean you have to go around acting superior to everyone because you didn't enjoy the things they did. It's just kinda sad.

 

[SonicWaffle]

I'm going to be That Guy here, but in ordinary continuity (ie not Ultimate) Spiderman and the FF aren't mutants. Or at least not capital-M Mutants. They've mutated, but not naturally, which puts them in a different category to the X-Men whose mutation is not triggered by external influences like spiders or...like, space radition, or whatever it was.

True! Didn't stop the Sentinels from going Leather Face on 'em.

My impression was that they were doing their hero thing - ie not letting innocent civilians be butchered by Sentinels - and that our big robotic chums took umbrage at that, killing the lot of them.

 

[Red Oni]

What a great time to be a superhero fan

 

[carpathic]

And while I didn't care much for the sequels, I didn't give up on the franchise until X-Men: First Class, which delved into the early days of the hated and feared mutant group and brought in James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender to portray the characters in their younger years.

....so you only gave up on the series when it had its absolute, positive, straight up best film in the series?

How can people not love that movie? It begins with a psychic jewish kid crushing Nazi skulls, and keeps on getting better. It was completely balls out awesome, and in my top 5 best superhero movies ever.

Plus, in the second when Magneto looks at the security guard and says "There is something different about you".

Such malice, and comeuppance and everything. I just loved that scene. Never push around the wrong person.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

"The present-day X-Men are forewarned of the possible future by a future version of their teammate Kitty Pryde, whose mind traveled back in time and possessed her younger self to warn the X-Men."

I know it would depend a lot on execution, but on the face of it this sounds just awful.

I'm with you. The second I read that sentence I thought "That's just STUPID!" Might work in comics where silly things like that are commonplace, but in the sequel to one of the best superhero movies ever? Nope. I really hope they won't screw it up.

Huh, First Class was just awful, no really, one of the absolute worst films I saw that year. The plot was terrible, the acting (aside from Fassbender) was choppy, stiff and unnatural, Jennifer Lawrence in particular was shit. The writing was even worse and the characters were all dimwits (again except for Fassbender).


Not really looking forward to another X-Men movie like that, I mean, the second one was good and the first one was okay, but the third one was bad, First Class was terrible and Wolverine was just horrific. In fact, most comic book-movies seem ludicrously overrated, Nolan's Batman are average at best, the Avengers was entertaining, but still dumb as shit, and I haven't much love for the other ones either.

Can't there just be a comic book-movie with decent writing, like, at all? Oh wait, I guess that's an oxymoron.

PS: The Watchmen movie wasn't very great either.

Ummm... what is your problem? If you think comic book movies are dumb and childish, why have you watched so many of them? Or for that matter, commenting on news regarding one? If superhero movies aren't your cup of tea, why waste your time on them or trying to make us think the same as you?

 

[Skeleon]

I liked those two actors portraying these characters a lot. If anything returns from that trilogy, it's a good idea to make it them. Let's just hope Xavier won't die so pathetically this time around.

 

[Kajin]

Wait... People actually hate First Class?
...
Huh.

I thought it was an awesome movie. No accounting for taste in some people, I guess.

 

[SonicWaffle]

Trolling =/= stating an unpopular opinion.

Being openly hostile and relentlessly negative in a thread where other people are expressing their admiration for something, with clearly no intention to discuss relative merits = trolling.

Having unpopular opinions is fine. Stating that opinion is fine. Dumping all over people who enjoy something you don't isn't fine. There was no need for your heavy-handed sarcasm in your first response to me, there's no need for your insinuations that people who enjoy movies you don't are idiots who don't care about anything more than tits and explosions.

Atleast, that's what I knew, calling everyone who slightly disagrees with your preconseptions about quality "trolls" and announcing their opinions as "trolling" I feel you need to wake up, and realise everyone doesn't really like cartoon shows aimed at kids when they grow up.

I used the word trolling because that was how it appeared; rather than simply stating a contrary opinion, you felt the need to mock and belittle other people's opinions without giving any real reason as to why (other than "these movies are stupid and bad, and the actors are all bad, and the writing is all bad"), and it seemed like you were doing so for a reaction. Which I guess you got, so well done you. You "win".

As for the other part of your post, thankyou, but I am fully aware that not everyone appreciates the same thing I do. However, amongst the X-Men and wider comic book fandom, the show in question remains well-regarded. Holding it up as a good example of the franchise is not crazy, as you seem to think, and there was no need to act like I'm an idiot because I'm aware that some people don't stop enjoying good programmes because they consider themselves too old for cartoons.

Yeah, I'm sorry. I forgot not liking a movie you liked is wrong and dumb, sorry about that.

You keep appealing to the moral high ground, and it isn't working. You didn't like something. Fine. You're more highbrow than we poor schmucks who're grateful for anything that goes boom. Can you not find a better way to express this than "everything you like is stupid"?