The End of the X-Men Saga The mutant stories from 20th Century Fox have always been diverse and engaging. Teams of heroes and villains went through many transformations, yet the core concept remained. The younger generation of mutants, who began their journey back in 2011 with "X-Men: First Class", finally reached their fourth film. Originally, the studio planned this project as the start of a new trilogy following "First Class", "Days of Future Past", and "Apocalypse". But here lies the film’s key problem — by that time, it was already known that the mutants would soon join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where their story and entire cast would be rebooted. So instead of being a fresh beginning, this movie unintentionally became the end of an era. These production issues are evident throughout the film — in its direction, writing choices, character arcs, and even the story itself. The Dark Phoenix storyline simply came at the wrong time. Jean Grey, played by Sophie Turner, had only just been introduced in the previous movie. The actress never got the chance to fully explore her iconic character before being thrust into the role of the Phoenix. And that’s a shame — Jean Grey’s story is rich and central to X-Men mythology. But circumstances outweighed creative intent, forcing the filmmakers to work with what they had. Visually, the film is stunning — that much can’t be denied. There are plenty of spectacular action scenes and striking moments. The sequences with the Dark Phoenix are powerful and beautifully executed — she’s fierce, commanding, and mesmerizing to watch. These visuals are genuinely impressive. Yet, they can’t fully compensate for the uneven storytelling. The dialogue is fine, the character interactions are decent, and the overall film is serviceable — sometimes even quite engaging. I personally enjoyed watching it despite its flaws. Still, it’s hard to shake off the sense that the story was forced, made out of obligation to give this chapter of the mutants’ saga a formal conclusion. Turner’s Jean Grey naturally takes center stage. Beloved actors Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy return but are clearly pushed into the background. Nicholas Hoult, Evan Peters, and Jennifer Lawrence all give solid performances — each trying to deliver an emotional farewell to their characters. They do their best, but even their dedication can’t fully elevate the rather flat narrative. Jessica Chastain’s new character doesn’t leave much of an impression either. Her role feels oddly emotionless, almost mechanical. Perhaps that was intentional, but the result is a character that evokes little to no emotional response. Over nearly two decades, the X-Men cinematic universe has expanded into a dozen films — from ensemble adventures to standalone stories about Wolverine and Deadpool, and even experimental reimaginings that enriched its mythology. It became a world unto itself, one that will always stay with the fans. Now, with Marvel taking over, a new era for mutants lies ahead. Well then — let’s see what kind of mythology awaits us next. 7 out of 10