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The New Mutants(2020) or; A Lesson In Delaying The Inevitable

If I wanted to stay to true to this, I’d write this review and then sit on it for three years.

Are you tired of delay jokes concerning this movie? Well, what is memorable about this movie besides that? This movie was originally scheduled for release in 2017. It wasn’t meant to close out a franchise, it was intended to start a new one. And it makes sense, with Hugh Jackman stepping away from Wolverine, Fox wanted a new spin-off. Something they can film concurrent to the main X-Men movies is just smart business. These characters are popular, too, with all of them appearing in the comics pretty regularly and inspiring a few New Mutants reboots over the years. So why all the hatred towards this movie?

Well, there is one other thing. The only other thing memorable about this movie. It was the first high-profile release into theatres post-COVID. Disney made the really cool decision to not send out review screeners for critics either. The only way to see this movie, as a fan or a critic, was to enter a movie theatre and sit in an enclosed space. In the middle of a pandemic. I saw a few outright refuse to review the movie, which is completely rational response to one of the biggest media companies in the world demanding we risk our lives to see a movie that is promised no follow up. I acknowledge that some of this was contractual obligations, but even then I don’t feel bad for Disney. Their purchase of Fox is going to yield them untold amounts of money and has them owning close to half of the major IP out there. They could have pulled a U2 and just given everyone a copy of this movie without losing money. It was an unnecessary dick move considering Marvel will be introducing mutants before long.

There wasn’t a whole lot of positive discussion surrounding this movie so I’m struggling to come up with good things to say. Dani Moonstar and Rahne Sinclair are in a relationship? I’m glad there’s more representation coming to big superhero movies. But given everything I’ve heard already concerning this movie, I’m kind of expecting them to pat themselves on the back for introducing it at all. Briana Hildebrand, when asked to include a gay relationship, only asked that it wasn’t a main focus of the movie. I’m not expecting similar respect to be afforded in this one.

Let’s talk racism because apparently this movie is just chock full of it. In his debut in New Mutants, Sunspot’s powers manifest after a racist attack at a soccer game. That informs a lot of his character going forward, as it would be hard not to be. Which makes the blatant whitewashing of his character in the movie all the more upsetting. All of the New Mutants characters have backstories involving trauma, but Roberto’s absolutely belongs in these movies. Take a look at this interview with Josh Boone. His own words speak for himself more than any criticism I could offer.

Oh, and Magik is supposedly racist towards Dani Moonstar. Because Illyana is supposed to be the mean one and that was the only way you can convey meanness? She can’t just be a bully or cuss or steal their milk in the cafeteria?

I asked a lot of questions in this column because this movie is a mystery to me. It perplexes me that so many bad choices are showing up in this movie, and that is all I have heard. I am unaware of any positive discussion concerning this movie.

I am excited for one thing, however. Having never seen this movie, I’m going in as blind as can be, and that’s the only X-Men movie I can claim to do that with. So, let’s close out this series on a dogshit note! I can’t fucking wait!

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