/>

By

Dark Phoenix

Beating a dead franchise

When Jean Grey, an already potent telekinetic X-Person, absorbs a destructive cosmic force, the X-Team must choose whether to save her or all of humanity. Wait. What? That’s a choice? Strong point: Jessica Chastain channeling Tilda Swinton as the villain. Weak: an inert Sophie Turner in the title role. Bunch of other paycheck-collecting actors. The X-Men franchise has been a cut above the usual superhero noise, but there’s a time to wind up a franchise, and for this one it was a few movies ago. This is an uneven, soapy retread that operates on both the fantastical and emotional levels. Just not very well. (113 min)

Don Morton

Don Morton has viewed some 6,000 movies, frequently awake. A bachelor and avid cyclist, he currently divides his time between Tokyo and a high-tech 4WD super-camper somewhere in North America.