X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

The latest instalment in the hugely popular X-Men franchise, this film is perhaps the best of the lot so far.

I must be careful how much I say about the plot, as the film has not been in cinemas long, and I don't want to give too much away.

This film largely centres around the character of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner), as she comes to terms with her unique powers and the consequences they may have for her and for those around her whom she loves.

Jean first discovers her abilities when she is just a little girl (played in these flashback scenes by Summer Fontana). Sitting in the back seat of the car while her mother (Hannah Anderson) is driving - her father (Scott Shepherd) in the passenger seat - she changes the radio station because she doesn't like the music. The thing is, she turns the dial without touching it, purely with the power of her mind.

But it doesn't stop there. As she also has the power to read minds, there are so many voices going around in her head, it quickly becomes overwhelming, and she 'lashes out' emotionally, causing the car to veer into the path of an oncoming vehicle, resulting in a head-on collision.

She wakes up in hospital, and is met by Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), who informs her that her parents were both killed in the crash, but that she can come and live with him. He has a school, he informs her, filled with other students like her, so different from those around them that they are unable to live normal lives, students who are learning to control their powers so they can be used for good.

Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) invites young Jean Grey (Summer Fontana)
to his school for gifted children.

Fast forward several years, and Jean (along with all the other X-Men) is older, and a little more able to control her powers. That is, until a mission to save the troubled Challenger space shuttle goes horribly wrong, and Jean now finds herself back where she started: unable to control her powers, and causing havoc to those closest to her.

You see, something - believed to be a solar flare - entered Jean in space, and now seems to be controlling her more than she can control it.

Charles and the other X-Men try to help her, but generally to no avail.

Any comic book movie worth its salt needs a decent villain, and this film has just that in the form of Vuk (Jessica Chastain), a shape-shifting being desperate to get her hands on whatever it was that has taken control of Jean Grey.

That's probably enough on the plot description front; if I go any further, I risk spoiling it too much.

Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) finds her new powers too difficult to control.

The screenplay, by director Simon Kinberg, is fantastic. All the characters we have grown to know and love from previous instalments of the franchise are here, including one of my favourites, Michael Fassbender as Erik/Magneto. The characters are all clearly defined in the script, and clearly delineated from one another. The tension, suspense, very occasional down moments, and action are all balanced beautifully from scene to scene; the film doesn't really let you relax for too long, it really is quite the thrill ride from start to finish.

To give you an idea of the scope and magnificence of the film's score, I need only mention the composer's name: Hans Zimmer. It should come as no surprise that the music is absolutely stunning if you've heard any of Zimmer's work before.

The performances of the entire cast are amazing; every single cast member is perfectly suited to their roles, some of them having played their roles through several films now. There is a scene - about fifty minutes in - between Hank/Beast (Nicholas Hoult) and Charles that is so raw, emotional and heartbreaking, it will bring you to tears. The level of their craft is so high, you will forget you are watching a film; it really does feel like we are intruding on a real conversation/discussion/argument.

Vuk (Jessica Chastain) tries to convince Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) to join her.

I could mention each and every one of the cast, and go into great detail on particular scenes in which they shine, but I don't have the time or the space to mention them all.

However, I must mention one more name. The surprise standout success of this film has got to be Summer Fontana. She brings to her character - young Jean - a wisdom and an internal struggle far beyond her years, and easily holds her own in scenes opposite James McAvoy.

Mauro Fiore's cinematography also deserves a mention here. The use of light and dark, and the contrast thereof, is truly beautiful. It truly feels like one is seeing panels of a comic book come to life; the framing of shots, and the angles from which they are shot, is so well planned. This is of course a collaborative process between the cinematographer and the director, and these two seem to work very well together.

Director Simon Kinberg has made an absolutely stunning film, a film that not only further expands the X-Men universe and deepens our understanding of the characters therein, but leaves the previous instalments in the dust. A must-see for any fans of the comics or previous films.

9 out of 10.

Glass (2019)

M. Night Shyamalan follows up his 2016 film Split with this film, that is also a sequel to his 2000 film Unbreakable. I suppose you can think of these films together as a trilogy, though I don't think that was necessarily the intention from the beginning, though I do believe he was thinking about this film when he made Split.

Anyway, on with the review for this one. 

The Horde (James McAvoy) is still on the loose following the events of Split. But this time, David Dunn (Bruce Willis), the protagonist from Unbreakable, is hot on his trail. 

He eventually apprehends him, but the two of them find themselves taken into custody by Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) and placed under her care in a mental hospital. It is this same hospital that also houses Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) aka Mr. Glass, also from Unbreakable. 

I won't say any more about what follows, as any of you who have seen an M. Night Shyamalan film before will know it's always full of twists, and this film is no exception. 

Also featured in this film are Anya Taylor-Joy and Spencer Treat Clark, reprising their roles from Split and Unbreakable respectively. 

The most noticeable detail of this film is the cinematography. The camera is always very close-in to the action, at times very unsettling, but it certainly brings you right into the action in a very intimate way. It does take some getting used to, but it definitely works in the film's favour. 

The music is perfect, not too heavy or light at any point, but as Goldilocks might say, just right. Composer West Dylan Thordson definitely earned his paycheck on this one. 

All the cast are fantastic in their roles, but particularly McAvoy. His character is home to even more personalities this time around, yet all are distinctly different, and all portrayed immaculately and without a hint of poking fun at those who really do suffer from such conditions. 

And of course, Shyamalan has his requisite cameo, this one a real treat for those who remember Unbreakable. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, in my opinion, the best of the lot. Maybe not Shyamalan's best film, but certainly the best of these three. Well worth the admission price if you're considering it. 

8 1/2 out of 10.