‘X-Men’ Premiere on July 12, 2000 in Nyc
Through 18 years of movies, which were some of the worst performances in the history of Fox’s X-Men franchise?
Fox’s X-Men franchise has been known as the lesser of the Marvel movie franchises. Some of the stories have been good, but the characters haven’t represented the characters well. Some of the performances the actors just flat out did a bad job. However, sometimes the actors did a good a job with the bad material they were given. Vinnie Jones couldn’t help that the script and costume for Juggernaut were bad. Meanwhile, Tyler Mane could have been better given more lines than, “Scream for me” and “GROWL!” This is a list of Fox Marvel characters that just didn’t hit the mark.
5. Rogue (Anna Paquin)
Anna Paquin’s Rogue was one of the first performances I thought of. She hit the trifecta of being bad. A poor representation of the character, putting on a bad performance, and also not being memorable.
Rogue isn’t forgettable. She has been one of the most popular X-Men for as long as she’s been around. Her never-say-quit attitude and southern charm is something that was sorely lacking from the movie.
Rogue was an insecure child. She may have been scared of her powers, but she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Even when she didn’t have her super strength.
The part that sticks out the most is the ending of X-Men 3: The Last Stand. She gave up her powers to be with Iceman. After everything that she went through, she proves that she isn’t down for the cause.
Rogue has had relapses where she has wanted to be normal, but that moment showed that all of her time as an X-Man was for nothing. She didn’t learn that her powers weren’t a curse and took the easy way out while the rest of the students stayed. The alternate ending where she kept her powers is the better conclusion.
4. Iceman (Shawn Ashmore): Not like the comic
In defense of Shawn Ashmore, he is a very good actor. In fact, he was amazing for the material he was given. The script wasn’t written for the Bobby Drake that we are used to seeing. The one who cracked jokes, was free-spirited, and insecure. This was a quiet Bobby Drake who was incredibly confident and in some cases a leader. In X2: X-Men United, Bobby set the example for the rest of the students by fighting and helping save the students. He even saved Wolverine. So what puts him on the list? He was very boring.
Iceman isn’t supposed to be boring. It’s understandable that this was a more serious movie, but if Wolverine can make jokes, why can’t Iceman? This was a perfect example of getting lemons and making lemonade.
Ashmore played the role as best he could, but it wasn’t a good representation of the character. I didn’t look at him and think “Iceman.” He was just a guy who’s only joke or any resemblance of a personality was chilling Logan’s soda. This may seem like harsh criticism, but, ask yourself, if Bobby Drake never used his powers, would you be interested?
3. Angel (Ben Foster and Ben Hardy)
I could easily do two different sections on both of these actors, but I’d rather not waste your time. The beginning of X-Men: The Last Stand starts off amazing. Watching a young Warren Worthington the third try and cut off his wings was a deep moment. Unfortunately, that’s where the cool moments stop.
Angel was a pretty boy or the angelic mutant in the comics. He was just there in the movies. Is this his fault? No. Foster wasn’t given enough screen time to be more than what he was. Although, even when he was on screen, his facial expressions were bland. His moment where he unfurls his wings in pride fell flat. A wasted moment.
Ben Hardy’s Angel was nothing like any Angel or Archangel we’ve seen. He was a cage fighter in a foreign country and then became a drunk after he was injured. Him becoming Archangel after that made sense. Then, he was just, well there. Archangel was supposed to the feared horseman. He’s Death for crying out loud. Not some random character used as a pawn. Hopefully Ben Hardy will get a chance to redeem the character in the future. Even though he’s not in X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
2. Storm (Halle Berry)
Remember when the X-Men movie was announced and we were all jumping for joy over seeing Storm in live action? Do you remember the disappointment when Halle Berry tried to use an African accent?
Looking back at her performance, I wish that the worst part of her role was the accent. It’s never a , but there wasn’t much to be happy about with her performance. Her dramatic moments always fell flat, and for some reason, they kept giving her these aforementioned dramatic moments. Her talking to Wolverine and saying, ”At least I’ve chosen a side.” was cringe-worthy.
It’s sad is that her best performance was in X-Men: The Last Stand and that movie is looked at as one of the worst comic book movies ever. She had more than a few really cool moments. Both of Storm’s fights with Callisto were cool and fun to watch and there was a deleted scene where Storm was punching with lightning fists.
Unfortunately, when she was put in a position to have a dramatic moment (like watching her mentor Professor Xavier die), it wasn’t good at all. To this day I still think Angela Bassett (who was almost Storm) and Gina Torres would have been better choices for the mutant weather goddess.
1. The Dead Pool (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)
When Wade Wilson was on screen in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, he was amazing. He was the wise-cracking, sarcastic, and sadistic person we’ve seen in the Deadpool comic books. It seemed like things were going smooth. That was until someone decided to take Wade Wilson’s mouth away (even though he’s called the Merc with a Mouth) and give him blade arms, optic blasts, and teleporting powers.
This wasn’t Deadpool. This was a bastardization of Wade Wilson. Or, as the internet loves to call him, Baraka-Pool.
As a comic book fan, there are a lot of things that I have to get over. Some stories, powers, and personalities just don’t work in movies and TV shows. Wolverine won’t be five feet three inches tall and maybe there isn’t enough time to make Nightcrawler more jovial in X2: X-Men United.
Next: 50 greatest super heroes in comic book history
What Fox did to Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine is baffling. I have yet to meet a person who understood or enjoyed what they did to Deadpool. It was so bad that (SPOILER) people applauded when Deadpool went and killed him at the end of Deadpool 2. Easily the worst rendition of a character and I’ve seen Fantastic Four in 2015.