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X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX ***
Dir: Simon Kinberg (12A, 114 mins)
The Dark Phoenix saga was previously filmed and fumbled in 2006 with The X-Men: The Last Stand by lumpen director Brett Ratner. Now it gets a retread from its writer-turned-producer/director Simon Kinberg. It’s an emotive story arc with consequences for the mutants in what may be their last screen outing. The X-Men were last seen battling a purple Oscar Isaac in an underwhelming Apocalypse. Ten years later, they find themselves answering a distress call from a space shuttle, and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) gets exposed to cosmic rays, granting her immense powers. The world is in danger as she starts to lose control; unable to harness what she has been given, Jean seeks the help of Michael Fassbender’s Magneto, now living in mutant-haven Genosha and trying to put his past behind him. Also wrestling for her soul is Jessica Chastain’s Eve, whose motives are far from benevolent. The rest of the cast return to do battle: James McAvoy’s proper bald Professor X, Evan Peters’ Quicksilver, Tye Sheridan’s Cyclops, Nicolas Hoult’s Beast and Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique for what feels like a final hurrah with character deaths on the cards. Although whether it can muster the emotional wallop of Avengers: Endgame is open to question. Opens June 5
words Kieron Self