Bryan Singer & PR Machine Work Overtime To Quell Fans' Fears Over "X-Men 3's" Fate & Brett Ratner!

“Bryan Singer, PR Machine Work Overtime To Quell Fans’ Fears Over “X-Men 3’s” Fate & Brett Ratner!”

By Arlene R. Weiss © Copyright February 21, 2006

These last few days have been quite disheartening to this “X-Men” film fan.

For those of you who read our Wednesday, February 15, 2006 article, ““X-Men 3: The Last Stand’s” Brett Ratner Says This Is The Final Film Chapter!”, you are well aware that many fans, film industry folks, and we, are all grinding our teeth with equal parts concern and anger, that Director, Brett Ratner, who is guiding the “X-Men 3: The Last Stand”, may be laying waste to and plundering the 3rd chapter in the “X-Men” film franchise, of all merit and everything that made both the first 2 “X-Men” films, directed by Bryan Singer, so superb.

Now we hear, according to Zap2it.com, that Bryan Singer himself, at this past week’s WonderCon comics convention in San Francisco, made a guest appearance and spoke up to “console a concerned fan”!!!!???? by puffing up the merits of Brett Ratner as well as Singer proclaiming that Ratner’s “X-Men” film vision, will indeed live up to the stratospheric standards of quality, originally set by Bryan Singer when Singer directed “X-Men” and "X2: X-Men United”.

See Bryan’s comments in Zap2it.com’s article below.

http://www.zap2it.com/movies/news/story/0,1259,---27844,00.html

OMG! Now what in the daylights are we supposed to think when the former/ex director of a film franchise, who is no longer involved in any way with the current film installment on any level, wants to, has to, (or is asked by the film making powers that be), to come forth doing major PR, in defense of the current director’s abilities, to quell fans’ concerns over the matter and assure the film’s success?

That speaks VOLUMES....of dread for us!

Then we hear, according to Zap2it.com, that renowned Indie film Director and comic geek, Kevin Smith, held his own panel at WonderCon, dropping more F bombs than a sailor over his dismay at Singer opting out, and to NOT direct “X-Men 3” and leaving the mighty “X-Men” ship, in the charge of the not so in charge, Ratner.

Then we start reading press in various film and entertainment publications over the last few days, who express their own trepidation over Ratner bringing the once mighty “X-Men” film franchise to its weakened, painful knees.

Then in those same magazines, we see numerous “Superman Returns” Cover Stories, crowing about how Bryan Singer is the literal SAVIOR of the “Superman” film franchise as well as hailing Singer in the same vein as if he were (and to many, including US, he IS), the Spielberg of this generation, able to turn any turkey into a golden egg with his craftsmanship auteur directorial talents and total, hands on way of overseeing all of the film crew’s processes, work, and final edits.

We have read press that “supposedly” the main reason that Singer pulled out of directing “X-Men 3” was mostly over his distress at there being no concrete script at the time he was said to be directing “X-Men 3”.

All we can say is, horse hockey!!!! to that load of PR smoke screen malarkey!

If that were the case, then Singer never would have jumped the blockbuster success that IS the “X-Men” ship, to direct the total risk shipwreck that has become of the “Superman” film franchise which was pronounced DOA long ago!

“Empire Magazine’s Cover Story on “Superman Returns” details how the VERY REASON that Singer was lured to helm the new installment of “Superman”, was to REPAIR far worse creative problems and damage done to the man of steel’s film franchise.

From the 1990’s right up to Singer’s current 2005-2006 tenure on the newest “Superman” film, in Warner Brothers Motion Pictures’ attempts to resuscitate the “Superman” films, Warner Brothers ploughed through damn near half a dozen directors (Tim Burton, McG, BRETT RATNER!!!!), actors, including Nicholas Cage in a VERY bizarre casting hiccup, scripts, storylines, all which so majorly SUCKED, they all went in the 86 circular file!

Then….Eureka! Of course the big shots behind “Superman’s” film franchise took note of Bryan Singer’s singular sensation with the “X-Men” films and lured him away thinking, if he could develop and deliver those films so brilliantly both artistically and commercially/financially, he would be the one and only person to “fix” the very, VERY broken “Superman” films.

And what was the main thing Singer initially did when he came on board “Superman Returns”?

He tossed out the crapola script and story!

(Note: One more time in case YOU missed it. “Supposedly” the main reason that Singer pulled out of directing “X-Men 3” was mostly over his distress at there being no concrete script at the time he was said to be directing “X-Men 3”.)

Our response to that pile of you know what is, NOT!!!!

Then, get this, not only did Bryan take over the Director’s chair for “Superman Returns”, Bryan also brought with him, damn near the entire ensemble creative crew that made both “X-Men” films so stellar, including…..

…..(TAKE NOTE!!!!), “X-Men 2” screenwriters, Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris!!!!

Then Singer had a brand new script and story written from scratch that would hold muster with the original greatness that once was “Superman”!

Singer also brought along “X-Men 2” Film Editor and Soundtrack Composer, John Ottman.

FYI! It’s been 19 years, since Superman last hit the big screen in the super FLOP, “Superman 4: The Quest For Peace”. The first “Superman” film helmed by Director Richard Donner was a marvel! The first sequel, “Superman 2” directed by Richard Lester, was already a step down, but overall satisfying. After that, the subsequent sequels were ALL downhill, and “Superman” became cinema’s super FLUNKY for crap scripts, writing, story and character development, acting, special effects, budget, and directing!

For you Comics/Super Hero film buffs, you know the same damn thing happened with the “Batman” film franchise. The first “Batman” film was a triumph, but the film making powers that be, in their quest to continue the franchise via numerous sequels, screwed with the winning formula, and began a revolving door of lousy and outlandish changes in Directors, screenwriters, cast, etc, and almost exterminated our dark, bat winged hero in the process, until the glory that was this past year’s, 2005’s “Batman Begins”.

Is THIS, what we have to see become of our beloved “X-Men”!!??

Will Wolverine, Professor Xavier, Jean, Scott, Storm, Rogue, Magneto, Mystique and all of our beloved mutants see themselves dissolve into a murky, botched cinema mess that even their Super Powers are powerless to stop!?

Oh the insanity!

There is an old saying. If it ain’t broke, DON’T fix it!

The “X-Men” films (with the exception of the sterling “Spider-Man” films), are probably the most superior and faithful translation of any comic Super Hero stories and characters to the silver screen, EVER, winning over fans of the “X-Men” comics and NEW fans alike, transcending over to hordes of movie goers who have become enamored of our beloved mutant “X-Men” and their personal triumphs, tragedies, and ongoing story.

Whatever Bryan Singer’s “Real” reason for deserting his “X-Men” creative baby for “Superman Returns” is, be it true love for Krypton’s man of steel, cash, more creative control, whatever!

We don’t like or agree with Bryan’s decision, but we can’t change it. BUT, if Bryan and his celestial crew all left “X-Men” behind, stranded far worse than they ever were at Alkali Lake, (which the “X-Men” were able to ESCAPE!), then maybe, just maybe, the film making powers that be should have just WAITED, a few years to go ahead with the production on “X-Men 3”, until Bryan had completed his contractual obligations on “Superman Returns” and then Bryan could have still directed “X-Men 3”.

If waiting for Bryan to come back and do the job right was not an option, then maybe the film makers should have just scrapped “X-Men 3” altogether, when the “X-Men” film franchise was still on top, and at its amazing pinnacle, with the pantheon status of “X2: X-Men United”, if the “X-Men” film franchise was only going to fall into less than capable hands and have its glory, forever tarnished.

All we can say is, we HOPE that all of this worry is nothing more than a wart, and that “despite Ratner”, as Bryan Singer tells the fans at WonderCon per Zap2it.com, that Bryan’s thoughts are that “My feeling is that it’ll (“X-Men 3: The Last Stand”) probably surprise you and be really, really good”.

Muse News And Micro Muse February 21, 2006

By Arlene R. Weiss © Copyright February 21, 2006