The X-Men Cinematic Universe (General Discussion)

[DigificWriter]

Hi, all.

With FOX's X-Men film franchise less than a month away from once again expanding thanks to X-Men Apocalypse and about 3 months or so away from celebrating its 16th anniversary, I figured it might be neat to have a general discussion thread dedicated to the series, its highs, its lows, its past, its future, and everything in between.

I believe that I mentioned this in the X-Men Apocalypse discussion thread, but X-Men holds the record for being the lost-running continuous superhero film franchise in existence, spanning, as noted, 8 films and counting and almost 16 years, which is pretty impressive, especially since in the 16 years since it first started, we've seen several of its contemporary or successor comic film franchises go through multiple reboots while it's maintained a singular interconnected continuity across 8+ films and counting.

Speaking of the franchise's continuity, it really isn't as convoluted as it's been made out to be by some, and holds together quite well, even considering the fact that it now spans two different timelines that branch off from one another (I should know, since I'm currently working my way through the franchise in chronological order, starting with First Class and ending with Days of Future Past).

I also have to say that, if I'm going to pick one superhero film franchise as my absolute favorite, X-Men takes the prize, not only because of the caliber of talent and storytelling that it's brought to the table overall on the whole, but also because of the fact that, as noted, it's never been rebooted and is still going strong.

What are everyone else's thoughts on the franchise overall?

 

[Commander Richard]

They can probably integrate this series with the MCU by having it take place in an alternate timeline just like they do with the Arrowverse shows. I've been thinking about that lately. Hugh Jackman has expressed interest in being in an MCU film as Wolverine.

 

[Relayer1]

Recently I've seen Batman vs Superman which was kind of O.K. and Civil War, which was fantastic.

Truth be told, I'm looking forward to Apocalypse way more than either of them...

 

[Gaith]

Love the Singer-involved X-films, and greatly preferred DoFP to The Winter Soldier, so as the year began I looked forward to Apocalypse more than Civil War. At this point, though, the buzz around the latter is pretty deafening.

On a scheduling note, I really can't fathom why Apocalypse isn't coming out in June or July, to give us comic-book fans a recharge. BvS, Civil War, and X-Men, not to mention Deadpool, all out before June (and actual summer) even starts?! I know both Winter Soldier and DoFP made tons of money in May 2014, but really...

I'm also curious to see how the X-Men main franchise does if they do finally move beyond the discrimination theme that has given the series such resonance so far, but is starting to feel played out. Without said substance front and center, will the series be seen as Avengers lite, and get steamrolled by the MCU juggernaut? Hard to say. And though I haven't yet seen Deadpool, it'll be interesting to see where the X-team goes in the timeline from here. (One of the guys on the IGN Keepin' it Reel podcast has repeatedly guessed that there might be some time jump to bring the gang into the present day.)

But, if I had to axe one of the DC/MCU/X-Men cinematic universes, I'd certainly whack DC rather than X-Men.

 

[MacLeod]

Yep just over a fortnight until X-Men: Apocalypse hit the cinema, which will be my first visit to the cinema this year.

 

[DigificWriter]

I'm currently watching Origins: Wolverine, and I personally feel like the film is much better than it is perceived to be, especially if viewed in its proper chronological place within the overall sequential narrative of the franchise (between First Class and X-Men 1), and is far more 'in tune' with the continuity of the series than people believe it to be. I wouldn't call it my favorite film in the franchise, but it is by no means a bad film.

 

[Set Harth]

Seems like I've been here before. Seems so familiar.

 

[One Lucky Red Shirt]

Ok heres a debate. I always prefer xmen origins to come first, then first class. I missed deadpool in the theater but all my coworkers had seen it. Everyone says how good it was. Cant wait to buythe blu ray n check it out.

Heres my personal rating f the films in chronological order: from 1 to 10.

Xmen origins. 5
First class. 8
X1. 8
X2. 9
X3. 7
The wolverine. 7
Days of future past. 10

All the films with singer's involvement have been very good. Origins and last stand were ok but they both had missed potential. The whole gambit bit f instance felt forced instead of necessary f the plot. It was like they threw him in the movie just to please fans. He wasnt a major player like quick silver was. Last stand was decent but it was a step backwards to a point. Good action film but felt kinda like how you feel at the beginning of alien 3 when u find out newt n hicks get killed. Everything built character wise from 1&2 isnt touched on as much. It was too short n over before u knew it. It focuses more on action n a quickplot n less on the characters. For instance, missed opportunities to do more on storms background, not enough cyclops and the whole Phoenix story couldve been so much better. It shouldve been fleshed out more. The addition of beast though was very good. Magneto was so good like always.

I love the x films. Theyve done such a good job f the most part of telling a good saga. The first 2 films and first class on have been too good. My major grip is way too much focus on wolverine!! I Love to see more character and background on storm, colossus and some of the others besides wolverine being like me me me.

I dont see why they couldn't make a new trilogy based on the younger versions of the team appearing in apocalypse. I read the comic back in the 90s. The 2 storylines they need to adapt are fall of the mutants and inferno.

Especially the latter, inferno. It be cool if they could arrange it with the other studios to perhaps have small references to xmen inferno within their films. I do remember amazing spiderman making reference to inferno within his book but f the most part it didnt affect his storyline. Other than the lizard going crazy and the hobgoblin actually becoming a demon.

Anyways looking forward to apocalypse. I guess what im trying to get at is should this be the last main X film? Or should they carry on without wolvie n adapt a few more major storylines set in the 80s n 90s? Hows everyone ranking of all 8 x films?

 

[DigificWriter]

The bulk of First Class takes place in 1963, while the bulk of Origins: Wolverine occurs much later, so O:W is the second film in the franchise chronologically, especially since both movies take place in/on the "old timeline".

P.S.: I know a large chunk of DoFP takes place in 1973, which is before O:W chronologically, but because the ending of The Wolverine leads directly into DOFP and because its events alter the timeline, it needs to occur LAST.

 

[suarezguy]

I loved the first two films and the others were OK but I'm a bit tired with too much focus being on Wolverine and Magneto, I don't like young Xavier very much and I kind of prefer the smaller scale of the early films to world-saving time travel. I would have probably preferred if the films after the first three had just kept moving forward with the surviving and new mutants rather than go back and forth.

And both the X-Men films and MCU could do without more dead character resurrections.

 

[Kor]

Origins: Wolverine is being mostly ignored.
Thank goodness.

DOFP is one of my favourite superhero films of all time. I am definitely looking forward to the new one.

Kor

 

[JD]

The X-Men series is my second favorite superhero movie franchise after the MCU. I don't hate them as much as a lot of people seem to, but I do think they started going downhill a bit with Wolverine: Origins and The Last Stand. The series did improve a lot with First Class, and Days of Futures Past was great. I actually haven't seen DofP since it was in theaters, but I am hoping to rewatch it before Apocalypse comes out.
I haven't seen Deadpool.
I'm really looking forward to Apocalypse.

 

[DigificWriter]

Origins: Wolverine is being mostly ignored.
Kor

None of the pre-DoFP films were ignored when it comes to what DoFP did.

People have the mistaken belief that the events of DoFP * ERASED * the pre-DoFP films from the continuity, but such is not actually the case. All that DoFP did was to create a NEW, altered timeline in which the events of pre-DoFP films won't happen going FORWARD, but that doesn't mean that said events DIDN'T happen previously.

The best equivalent example I can think of to explain what DoFP actually did is Netherrealm Studios' 2011 Mortal Kombat game.

 

[Kor]

None of the pre-DoFP films were ignored when it comes to what DoFP did.

People have the mistaken belief that the events of DoFP * ERASED * the pre-DoFP films from the continuity, but such is not actually the case. All that DoFP did was to create a NEW, altered timeline in which the events of pre-DoFP films won't happen going FORWARD, but that doesn't mean that said events DIDN'T happen previously.

The best equivalent example I can think of to explain what DoFP actually did is Netherrealm Studios' 2011 Mortal Kombat game.

I was thinking more of First Class and how it ignored Emma Frost's characterization from O:W, and how "The Wolverine" basically ignored all of O:W.

Kor

 

[DigificWriter]

I was thinking more of First Class and how it ignored Emma Frost's characterization from O:W, and how "The Wolverine" basically ignored all of O:W.

Kor

Neither of those films did what you're claiming they did.

Emma Frost (First Class) and Emma Silverfox (Origins: Wolverine) are not/never were the same character, in spite of having similar powers, and there's nothing in The Wolverine that contradicts what happened in O:W.

BTW, while we're on the subject of Emma Silverfox, it's my "headcanon" that she and Kayla are Emma Frost's daughters, which ties O:W nicely to FC and doesn't contradict anything that we find out about in DoFP relative to Emma Frost's ultimate fate, since there's plenty of time in between FC and her death to have given birth to both Kayla and Emma (especially if they're born a year or two apart).

 

[Kor]

I disagree.

Kor

 

[Set Harth]

"The Wolverine" basically ignored all of O:W.

No. At worst it simply didn't explain where Victor was during the 1945 sequence. But there's a reference to Kayla, through dialogue from an Origins scene, in the movie. That's a direct indication that the film is meant to take place in the same continuity as Origins. Also, the plot of The Wolverine depends upon two things which were first established for the filmverse by Origins: that Wolverine had bone claws predating the adamantium, and that Wolverine was in World War II. The extended version goes further in referencing the fact that Wolverine was in multiple wars, as established in Origins.

 

[hux]

I like the tone and the simplicity of the X-Men films. DC have gone for dark (cos serious) and Marvel seem uncomfortable with actual non-psyeudoscientific explanations for powers whereas the X-Men films seem to just say... here's a bunch of people with super powers... enjoy.

Recasting younger versions was also a clever move.

 

[Kor]

In my "headcanon," O:W never happened.

Kor

 

[Set Harth]

McAvoy's Xavier saw what he saw.