TERRIFIC TEAM-UP IMAGE: SPIDEY VS QUICKSILVER

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. 

HAPPY EARTH DAY 2018!!!

I saw Ultron come of age...

Joss Whedon's new Avengers adventure, "Age of Ultron", has arrived, and our favorites are back: Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans); Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr); Hulk/Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo); Thor (Chris Hemsworth); War Machine/James Rhodes (Don Cheadle); Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner); Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson); the Falcon/Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie)...and a special appearance by SHIELD's fatherly force, Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson). 

New to the mix is Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff (Aaron "Kick-Ass" Taylor-Johnson), though not to be confused with Evan Peter's hero in "Days of Future Past"; the Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and the majestic android, the Vision (Paul Bettany, who also voices Stark's digital butler, JARVIS). 

The computer angle is big in this sequel, with a robot army on the loose, led by the power-hungry Ultron (voiced by James Spader). However, the concept of fickle technology isn't new in science-fiction/fantasy fables. We've seen it depicted in "Terminator", "2001: a Space Odyssey, and "Colossus: the Forbin Project". As far as acrobatic robots dominating the landscape goes, we've seen that, too, thanks to the RoboCop and Transformers sagas, but "Age of Ultron" somehow manages to keep things fresh, despite the recycled trimmings. 

On the flip side, as significant as the mechanical infiltraton is, it never dominates our heroes' presence or their sense of family. Sure, the members possess enough variance to be dysfunctional, but they also subscribe to a common cause: keep Earth safe.

As seized from Hydra's Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann), the technology involved is culled from Loki's scepter: its harbored "artificial intelligence" deemed worthy of implantation in Stark's defense project, designed (ironically) to protect us from villainous penetration.

Ultron, a creation fashioned as a learner/watcher of sorts within the expansive program, develops an egomaniacal consciousness, which then constructs a body and breaks free to take over the world with a league of his own. He's also quite a sight to behold: a towering cross between Superman's Brainiac and a pumped-up Terminator prototype. 

Stark is, perhaps, the most adversely affected by the robot rebellion, for having activated the computerized Frankensteins, which leads Rogers to push further toward the Avengers forefront. Considering that Ultron and his army are equivalents to Nazis, Commies, and any other variety of on-and-off-again evil-doers, Cap's prominent presence feels right. After all, this is a war-time mission, and through his cordial relationship with Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), he increases the Avengers' chance for victory with his stalwart perspective. 

With this established, the movie advocates that we, as cognitive, freedom-loving creatures, have full right to combat and destroy such cold, calculating monsters. To fight is essential and all-out war (particularly under the film's harrowing circumstances) a non-debatable necessity. 

All the same, this staunch angle will likely unsettle negotiation advocates, but as the turmoil mounts under Whedon's emotional script and tense direction, "Age of Ultron" can't help but inspire one's righteous angst: the need to shout out a hardy "action not appeasement". Its message, though seemingly simple, should prove profound for anyone with any sort of practical, moral conviction. 

Philosophy aside,the movie is jammed with vivacious action sequences. The prelude is one of the best rendered (and that's saying a lot considering how sleek the Bond intros have been), and the battle between a confused Hulk and Stark's Hulk Buster is a grand feast in it own right, guaranteed to rattle one's senses with rumbles and roars, heightening the adventure to near Wagnerian proportions. 

I can't yet say that "Age of Ultron" surpasses the original "Avengers", which had the charming novelty of bringing the gang together, and it's certainly nowhere near as politically intricate as "Winter Soldier". It does, however, soar consistently high, never losing its momentum even when it dares to spotlight the relationships between Hawkeye and his wife, or the burgeoning one between Widow and Banner/Hulk. (The latter scenarios surely could have derailed the film, as had the superfluous romance in "Amazing Spider-man 2".)

Regardless of what the future holds for the Avengers, this current chapter does an admirable job of nurturing the traditional comic-book format. That should certainly please purists. The movie is also a terrific way to start the spring/summer blockbuster season, delivering thrills, chills and above all, a sense of wonderment. So, don't delay; jump on board and join the fun!!!