Jennifer: I really didn't want to go see this movie, Owen. I was steaming mad on the way to the theater, resentful that you'd twisted my arm, resentful that I'd given in. After the last and thoroughly dreadful Avengers movie I had no desire whatsoever to sit through a two-and-a-half hour superhero extravaganza. But I liked it! There's something about the X-Men franchise that I find much more interesting than the Avengers or Batman, Superman, et cetera. There's so much more mythology. It just feels more epic and crazy and big.
Owen: I know what you mean. Most of the Marvel movies are somewhat like this, but the X-Men property has had the longest running franchise so there's more history there.
Jennifer: What do you mean "most of the Marvel movies are somewhat like this?" I thought the tone of this, the scope, the wit, the abandon with which the various characters exercised their insane powers, was so much BIGGER and more engrossing than in The Avengers -- another Marvel movie.
Owen: I said they were 'like this' as in 'similar to this', not the same though. Similarity and congruence are two different things.
Jennifer; Ok, I guess I disagree because I thought this was vastly more exciting, immersive, and grand than the Avengers -- which, as you know, I hated. I love when they take you back to ancient Egypt, call up ageless evil, introduce strange languages, pyramids, a nefarious plot going back millennia. It's cheesy, but I must confess it makes my heart beat a little faster. Do you want to write a brief plot summary, explain what the movie is about and give some context?
Owen: No. I recommend watching the trailer, It'll explain things better. Also, you haven't seen the Avengers. You're talking about Captain America: Civil War.
Jennifer: Are you just interested in bickering or do you want to actually say something substantive about this film? To what extent does your love of superhero movies stem from being young and hoping to discover superpowers of your own? Not real superpowers, obviously, but, you know, powers?
Owen: Wanting superpowers has little to do with my enjoyment of this movie. I liked the design, the acting, and the individual scenes more than I liked the story. It wasn't just because I thought the superpowers were cool. Though that was part of it.
Jennifer: Yes, the acting is great. I thought Michael Fassbender gave an especially terrific performance, stern and sinister, but with softness buried deep, deep inside. Have you seen him in the film Fish Tank? You should put that on your list. He's tremendous as a sleazbag -- but then he made an excellent, uptight Steve Jobs and a ravaged Macbeth. I guess that's what you call "acting talent." But it isn't just Fassbender in these X-Men films. James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac -- all topnotch actors turning in topnotch performances. The quality is just so much higher than in some of the superhero franchises. Chris Evans as Cap? Wooden. Likewise, in my opinion, Ben Affleck as Batman. What performances stood out to you?
Owen: The problem is that Fassbender has the same arc in every X-Men movie. His character -- Magneto -- is never defined the way it is in the original movies, with Ian McKellen. He's always on the edge of being hero or villain, never totally sure. I liked that this movie wasn't led by Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. We've gotten too much of him in this franchise.
Jennifer: Totally right about Fassbender as Magneto. In the last movie, it was the same story. Still, he's a great actor. I kind of missed Jackman. I was glad he made a cameo. There's a warmth to his character that is almost. . . .mammalian? What did you think of the villain (Apocalypse) in this one?
Owen: Apocalypse is pretty cool, and I think what we needed in the X-Men universe was a villain who was clearly evil. Too much talk of humans vs. mutants, it was good to have a real mutant villain.
Jennifer: I know what you mean -- sometimes you just want to really, really hate a villain and there was nothing at all sympathetic or pitiful about Oscar Isaac. He was a megalomaniacal monster. Well, Owen, I enjoyed this movie a lot despite my initial reservations. Your thoughts?
Owen: One of the better superhero movies so far this year. 3rd best in the X-Men movie franchise. I'm surprised people aren't more into it.
Owen: I know what you mean. Most of the Marvel movies are somewhat like this, but the X-Men property has had the longest running franchise so there's more history there.
Jennifer: What do you mean "most of the Marvel movies are somewhat like this?" I thought the tone of this, the scope, the wit, the abandon with which the various characters exercised their insane powers, was so much BIGGER and more engrossing than in The Avengers -- another Marvel movie.
Owen: I said they were 'like this' as in 'similar to this', not the same though. Similarity and congruence are two different things.
Jennifer; Ok, I guess I disagree because I thought this was vastly more exciting, immersive, and grand than the Avengers -- which, as you know, I hated. I love when they take you back to ancient Egypt, call up ageless evil, introduce strange languages, pyramids, a nefarious plot going back millennia. It's cheesy, but I must confess it makes my heart beat a little faster. Do you want to write a brief plot summary, explain what the movie is about and give some context?
Owen: No. I recommend watching the trailer, It'll explain things better. Also, you haven't seen the Avengers. You're talking about Captain America: Civil War.
Jennifer: Are you just interested in bickering or do you want to actually say something substantive about this film? To what extent does your love of superhero movies stem from being young and hoping to discover superpowers of your own? Not real superpowers, obviously, but, you know, powers?
Owen: Wanting superpowers has little to do with my enjoyment of this movie. I liked the design, the acting, and the individual scenes more than I liked the story. It wasn't just because I thought the superpowers were cool. Though that was part of it.
Jennifer: Yes, the acting is great. I thought Michael Fassbender gave an especially terrific performance, stern and sinister, but with softness buried deep, deep inside. Have you seen him in the film Fish Tank? You should put that on your list. He's tremendous as a sleazbag -- but then he made an excellent, uptight Steve Jobs and a ravaged Macbeth. I guess that's what you call "acting talent." But it isn't just Fassbender in these X-Men films. James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac -- all topnotch actors turning in topnotch performances. The quality is just so much higher than in some of the superhero franchises. Chris Evans as Cap? Wooden. Likewise, in my opinion, Ben Affleck as Batman. What performances stood out to you?
Owen: The problem is that Fassbender has the same arc in every X-Men movie. His character -- Magneto -- is never defined the way it is in the original movies, with Ian McKellen. He's always on the edge of being hero or villain, never totally sure. I liked that this movie wasn't led by Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. We've gotten too much of him in this franchise.
Jennifer: Totally right about Fassbender as Magneto. In the last movie, it was the same story. Still, he's a great actor. I kind of missed Jackman. I was glad he made a cameo. There's a warmth to his character that is almost. . . .mammalian? What did you think of the villain (Apocalypse) in this one?
Owen: Apocalypse is pretty cool, and I think what we needed in the X-Men universe was a villain who was clearly evil. Too much talk of humans vs. mutants, it was good to have a real mutant villain.
Jennifer: I know what you mean -- sometimes you just want to really, really hate a villain and there was nothing at all sympathetic or pitiful about Oscar Isaac. He was a megalomaniacal monster. Well, Owen, I enjoyed this movie a lot despite my initial reservations. Your thoughts?
Owen: One of the better superhero movies so far this year. 3rd best in the X-Men movie franchise. I'm surprised people aren't more into it.
