The X-Men are Forced into a Final Stand in Dark Phoenix

Sophie Turner as Jean Gray/Phoenix. 

Set in 1992, nine years after the events of X-Men: Apocalypse, its another usual day for the X-Men; going on missions and saving the day. This time, going to outer space and saving astronauts from a solar flare tempest. Telekinetic Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) absorbs the flare and emerges unharmed, much to her team's surprise. "Did you hear what the kids are calling you? Phoenix." says her boyfriend Scott Summers/Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) in her moment of glory. The moment is quickly over when Jean starts to experience a psychic spasm that she can't control and runs away.

The Phoenix is unleashed but wasn't it already in Apocalypse?   

X-Men leader Professor Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) calls in Cyclops, Raven Darkhölme/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence),  Hank McCoy/Beast (Nicholas Hoult), Ororo Munroe/Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee) and Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver (Even Peters) on a search mission to find Jean. It isn't long before Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender) becomes aware of Jean's telekinetic tantrum with plans of his own on dealing with the situation. Unbeknownst to both sides, a mysterious alien race lead by Vuk (Jessica Chastain) observe in the shadows.

Vuk (Jessica Chastain) manipulating Jean. 

The X-Men have worked better in television than in a motion picture. In the span of episodes we are introduced to the characters, explore who they are, their hopes, struggles, growth, and moments to shine for both the heroes and villains. The X-Men movies only have two hours to squeeze in all that and the end result has a been a series of generic superhero flicks. Dark Phoenix is no different but after one movie letdown after another and seeing the X-Men fighting aliens for the first time onscreen (who are basically Skrulls but if they were evil from Captain Marvel), it succeeds in becoming the first X-Men film since First Class, that I had a good time like in the cartoons. Not too silly but not too serious.

Storm (Alexandra Shipp), Ariki (Andrew Stehlin), Beast (Nicholas Hoult),
Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Selene (Kota Eberhardt) and Magneto(Michael Fassbender).

Dark Phoenix is in many ways what The Last Stand should have been with the the original cast. Cyclops is more likable and has more screen time, Nightcrawler (my favorite mutant) is present, a greater evil splits mutant kind and presents the choice of an alliance, and Jean's turmoil further explored as the Phoenix force consumes her. 

Professor X (James McAvoy) and Cyclops (Tye Sheridan) 

Surprisingly, both The Last Stand and Dark Phoenix share much of the same story: The X-Men are accepted in society, Magneto has his own Brotherhood of Mutants living far away from the humans, the death of major character brings the team down, and the final battle being the highlight of the movie.

Details such as Magneto's philosophy of anti-humanity since First Class (which is barely touched upon), if mutants are are allowed to live in freedom after witnessing Jean's powers, Weapon X being established in Apocalypse (we miss you Wolverine) are left in the air and unlikely to be explored unless Logan is considered canon. Quicksilver is given the backseat so don't expect another slow-motion scene but at least he doesn't get the short end of the stick like other characters who are only there to die.

It feels more like an origin story than a finale, another similarity with The Last Stand. Adding insult to injury it incorporates the ending of another X-Men film that I won't spoil here but you'll know it when you see it. Not the right call since this is reportedly the last X-Men film from Twentieth Century Fox; with Disney now owning the rights when it bought out Fox, it was time to close the chapter that began in 2000 and make way for a new reboot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Whether The New Mutants take place in the same continuity is still up for question).

Dark Phoenix makes for an average superhero movie if you don't look-up its tippy timeline.

Final Verdict: B-