X-Men (The cinematic universe franchise)

X-Men in action.

Hello everybody, continuing with our duty of completing our list from the Marvel Cinematic Universe before Avengers Age Of Ultron begins, we'll discuss a once thought brilliant take on your favorite mutants: X-Men.The Marvel mutants first movie was so groundbreaking, that it spawned two direct sequels, 3 spin-offs and a late sequel. 

With seven films released, the X-Men film series is the 12th highest-grossing film franchise of all-time, having grossed over US$3 billion worldwide. It is set to continue with a spin-off film, Deadpool, a sequel to X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, a spin-off film, Gambit in 2016, and a third Wolverine film in 2017. But what made these films so successful?  The SPAM Alternative team has all the answers in today's look back review. 

X-Men (2000)

 

 

The film introduces Wolverine and Rogue into the conflict between Professor Xavier's X-Men, and the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Magneto. Magneto intends to mutate world leaders at a United Nations summit with a machine he has built, to bring about acceptance of mutantkind, but Xavier realizes this forced mutation will only result in their deaths.

From this film the audience learned:

1. Charles Xavier is an agent of good. his goal is to make humanity coexist with the mutants. His X-Men are no vigilantes, they're here to help whoever is in need.
2. Magneto hates human beings because of their prejudices against mutants. To him a mutant is the evolution of mankind and those who did not evolve must either serve him or die.
3. Bryan Singer either does not like vivid colors since he changed the X-Men suits to plain black leather, or stupidly thinks that changing the looks of fictional characters would make them less fictional and more real.  
4. The mutants that are neither part of the X-Men nor The Brotherhood of Mutants do not like their gift, they feel it is more of a course than a blessing. 
5. The depiction of the previous point is what made this film so popular. In comic books, The X-Men also suffered from being different, so five points to Gryffindor for that.

Definitely the debut film, despite not earning as much as the sequels did, is the one that set things in motion for a universe that was widely bastardized and sold as  a "for children only" product, of course that was until X-Men the movie showed up.

Days of Future Past.

First Class.

X2: X-Men United (2003)

 

 

In the film, Colonel William Stryker brainwashes and questions the imprisoned Magneto about Professor Xavier's mutant-locating machine, Cerebro. Stryker attacks the X-Mansion, and brainwashes Xavier into locating every mutant on the planet to kill them. The X-Men must team up with the Brotherhood and prevent Stryker's worldwide genocide.

The sequel syndrome didn't affect X-2 at all, and as a matter of fact, the sequel was way better than the original film. More action sequences, greater character development and a plot that didn't stop once the credits rolled guaranteed that superhero films were here to stay for once and for all. 

Things we learned in X-2:

1. William Stryker experimented with mutants long before Charles Xavier opened his school.
2. William Stryker hates mutants, specially Xavier for being unable of curing his special son.
3.  Wolverine was a member of Stryker's secret team of killers in the past.
4. Jean Grey is so powerful that her transformation into a superior entity will become evident.
5. Rogue finds a way to have a normal relationship with Bobby Drake.
6. Magneto will always team up with whoever stands against humanity.
7. Storm & Cyclops are doomed to be wasted characters.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

In the film, a pharmaceutical company has developed a suppressor of the mutant gene, provoking controversy in the mutant community. Magneto declares war on the humans and retrieves his own weapon: Phoenix, who is the resurrected former X-Man, Jean Grey. A final battle between the X-Men and the Brotherhood ensues, and Wolverine must accept that in order to stop Grey, he will have to kill her.

Singer initially intended to shoot the film back-to-back with a fourth film, though he left in 2004 to direct Superman Returns(yes, he's that kind of film maker, a bad one). 

As opposed as the previous sequels, X-Men The Last Stand focused its attention core in big action scenes, rather than in character development. This was heavily criticized making it the less popular out of the original X-Men trilogy, although it earned quite a lot of benjamins. 

Things we learn from The Last Stand:

1. The suggestive film title doesn't meant there will be no more X-Men films.
2. The  Dark Phoenix comic book saga has nothing to do with this film.  
3. The new characters in the film have little to no time for character development, so they're badly wasted in this film.
4. Charles Xavier disintegration Fatality, courtesy of Phoenix, provided us with the first ever post credits scene! 
5. Out of the original trilogy, this film has the more action scenes, there's no time for jibber jabber.   

The Brotherhood of Mutants.

The mighty X-Men.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

The film is a prequel and a spin-off focusing on the character Wolverine and his relationship with his half-brother Victor Creed, as well as his time with Stryker's Team X, before and shortly after his skeleton was bonded with the indestructible metal adamantium.

Things we learn from this film:

1. Erase it from your heads, it's so bad it hurts.
2. The Wolverine character had become a landmark by the time this film came out, so more sequels & spin offs just because we love our Canadian X-Men, eh?

X-Men: First Class (2011)

The film is a prequel set primarily in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and focuses on the relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr, and the origin of their groups — the X-Men and the Brotherhood, respectively.

Producer Lauren Shuler Donner first thought of a prequel based on the young X-Men during the production of X2, and later producer Kinberg suggested to 20th Century Fox an adaptation of the comic-book series X-Men: First Class. 

Singer signed on to direct the film in December 2009, however, in March 2010 it was announced that Singer would be producing instead of directing.

Things we learned from First Class:

1. This film is an exception to the rule. Despite not being accurately based in any X-Men comic book, its script is simply brilliant. Had this film not being made the way it was, I'm sure this would have marked the end of the X-Men franchise for good.
2. Jennifer Lawrence is definitely joining the select group of actresses that build a career out of Sci-Fi/Comic Book films. Mystique steals the show in this film.
3. The new way in which Professor X loses his walking ability is dramatically beautiful, and way better than the way it originally was in Comic Books.
4. This movie portrays a very human Erik Lensherr who clearly loves his friend Xavier, besides their differences.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

The Wolverine.

The Wolverine (2013)

Set after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand, the film features Wolverine heading to Japan for a reunion with a soldier named Ichirō Yashida whose life he saved years before. Wolverine must defend the man's granddaughter Mariko Yashida from all manner of ninja and Yakuza assassin.

Criticism

Although the films did give way to further comic book adaptations (which is always a good thing, since Comic Book fans were always subdued to obscurity and the constant loser/nerd bullying prejudices) They are POORLY based upon the original source material. Any X-Men fan, like yours truly, knows this to be the sad true of whatever comic book cinematic universe we can discuss. Moreover, we're not talking about little differences, details or slightly changed features, we're talking bulk differences and here's our list:

1. The Wolverine you see in the films doesn't exist in the comic books. His personality has been bastardized to make it an "all ages" character. He's more Superman than Wolverine. Nevertheless, this was a successful move that to this day serves the industry well.
2. What the hell did they do to Cyclops?! He's the legendary X-Men leader! not a wanker!  This character was brutally wasted and totally underdeveloped. Unfortunately, this not only happened to Cyclops as most of the legendary characters(Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus,Havok etc) suffered from being underdeveloped.
3. The X-Men have huge potential when it comes to creating long lasting sagas but, the Hollywood idiotic mercenaries have never taken that into account. Days Of Future Past, The Sentinels Live! & The Phoenix Saga are classic best sellers and all producers seem to do is to look at the comic book covers and begin filming with their very loosely based upon source material ideas.
4. People couldn't care less about the previous point UNLESS, they're avid comic book fans. How many people have you met who love Batman just because of Christopher Nolan's films? The world is full of posers, thanks to these kind of films, but take it easy, there's room for everyone!

We neither hate these films nor we're biased by our comic book love, we're just pointing out the truth (you can look for yourself and you'll find way more info about this issue) 

The death of the Phoenix.

Silver Samurai V/S Wolverine.