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Dark Phoenix is not a good movie, but it is not a bad movie either. It is stuck in that nebulous realm of being simply an okay movie. I would also add that if you are a fan of the X-Men comics, you actually might like the movie.
The script is a big problem for this film. The best way to think of the script is to look at 8 episode series for The Runaways paired down to 2 hours and shown on a big screen. It is not a script for a big budget movie, the scope is too small and you are expected to know exactly what happened in the missing six hours of the film that you don't see.
The script is not true to the source material, changes are made simply for the sake of changes. As a fan of the X-Men comics I found this frustration difficult to contain while I watched the film. I am sure the poor guy sitting next to me was exacerbated with me as I sighed and probably asked "Why?" out loud more than once.
The script wastes the talents of multiple actors through out the film. The film has a triumvirate of actors at the core with Jennifer Lawrence (Raven Darkholm/Mystique), James McAvoy (Charles Xavier) and Michael Fassbender (Erik Lensherr/Magento) that is interlaced with Sophie Turner's character (Jean Grey). You can easily question why the next six core X-Men are in the film, they are given little to no screen time and beyond one or two moments they are not given a chance to showcase their talents or their mutant powers.
Mystique is presented as a caring and guiding teacher, Charles Xavier is a villain and Magneto is not prepared for what comes. I was dumb founded. There are a couple of scenes that are hard to watch.
I still have no idea why Jessica Chastain was in the film, other than someone at 20th Century Fox said there needed to be a main villain, named Vuk. She is not realistically given anything to do nor do you believe she is a great villain, but she is there to unite the X-Men.
The special effects are hit and miss. While those involving Jean Grey and a few around other characters are okay, many look like they belong in a 1980's era TV show. You just want Ryan Reynolds to show up as Deadpool and give a Mystery Science Theater 3000 commentary on more than one scene.
The second act is a complete mess. Issues with the characters, scripts, poor acting, bad direction, and literally it doesn't seem to properly connect with the first or third act.
Sophie Turner is very good as Jean Grey. To put it mildly it is disappointing she will most likely not take up the mantle of Jean Grey in the MCU, because she is one bad ass woman you don't want to mess with.
There are a many good lines in the movie. For a script that is so bad with it's swings and missed it hits the nail on the head solidly a good dozen times.
Hans Zimmer's score is exceptional; with over 200 composer credits this is easily within his top five and maybe even his best work. If the movie was slightly better I would say this is Oscar worthy, as it is it still might be.
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