An Alternate Reality: I saw the Dark Phoenix Rise...

I'm not sure where "Dark Phoenix" fits into the X-Men film franchise. Don't care. I'm cool with the whole, alternate-reality, time-tripping zeal. It makes the series more fascinating, brooding, irreverent, funny, exciting...you name it.  It's anything goes and so far, it works. 

Still, in the heart of the shuffling, there's a faithful standard stays: One knows what one's getting, no matter the scenario, the characters involved, who's portraying them or what sector they populate.

Case in point: "Dark Phoenix", written/directed by "X-Men" veteran, Simon Kinberg. It takes place in a parallel 1992 (initiated by a woeful '75 prologue), where the telekinetic Jean Grey (Sophie "Game of Thrones" Turner) figures deeper into the ranks of Dr. Charles Xavier (James McAvoy)'s superheroic school. There's no reason to doubt young Grey's exceptional abilities (she sure does shine in that big, space-shuttle sequence), but unlike what's served in other X-Men movies ("Last Stand" above all), this Grey teeters on villainy.

The possibility causes concern for Xavier, who's plagued by student-body dissent, and Erik Lensheer/Magneto (Michael Fassbender), who's still trying to find his way. Per indignant impulse, Grey can lift folks into the air, toss 'em around, kill 'em if she's not careful...or if she so chooses. And what the hell is she turning into? If it's not something virtuous (the idea being that bad might turn into good), what then will the X-Men (and the world...hell, the universe) do?

Dark Phoenix's rise is emotional and engrossing, and therefore, pure "X-Men". By tradition, we know Grey isn't meant to be a Brightburn, but when it comes to parallel planes, anything's possible. From this, the plot's tension builds along with its central vixen: a developmental hallmark of this series that clicks every alternating (ha, ha) time.

Despite reports of reshoots by an (at this time) unnamed director, a large lump of credit must go to Kinberg for his knack of blending thrills with characterization. There's a quiet, old-school empathy to his live-action panels which pile-it-on hotshots could learn from, if they'd only take the friggin time. (Fans should be more respectful, too, for the stuff of "Dark Phoenix" is the real, adapted deal.)  

It also helps to have the old, supporting gang employed: Nicolas Hoult as the Beast; Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique; Tye Sheridan as Cyclops; Alexandra Shipp as Storm; Evan Peters as Quicksilver; Olivia Munn as Psychlocke; and Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler.  (Jennifer Chastian enters as Liliandra, the fair-haired, body-snatching devil on Grey's suffering shoulder.)
    

It's odd, though, not to see Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine (in extended or even cameo form), but the general group more than uplifts this chapter's progression, presenting a family (even if split) tending to a member who's fallen on tough times. It's a matter of love and duty to get her back in gear: a situation to which most viewers will relate.   

My only complaint: Mystique was cut way too short and while she lasted, remained (why, oh why?) clothed. Yeah, I know, she's not running about naked in the comics, and so... But damn it, I suspect this tactic (the brevity and concealment of it all) was installed more for appeasement than aesthetics. "Dark Phoenix" does lose a huge point for the evident, PC contrivance.

Otherwise, the movie holds its own with the competition (on the screen or page) and does a great job adding to the "X-Men" film series' longevity: something it's earned and damn well deserves.