X-Men 3 - Whither Cyclops?

Spoiler warning

OK - I'm going to be an X-Geek about this flick. I'm usually pretty tolerant of adaptations and the last two X-Films have been great if not completely 'true' to the comics. I figure this is like the Ultimates Universe, its a maybe X-Men I can cope with little differences. Usually. Unless you do something really boneheadedly stupid like this flick by killing of Cyclops in the first half an hour and completely mishandle the Phoenix storyline.

Professor X has died, retired, resigned, swapped bodies with his murdered twin and suffered any number of indignities. He can come back and the only thing stopping him doing so in these films is Patrick Stewart's price tag. When he has left/died/been taken over by the Brood Cyclops has always stepped in to take over. If we want to deal in archetypes here if Xavier is the High Priest and moral authority then Cyclops is the Paladin, the Pure Knight, the believer and carrier of Xavier's vision. He always keep the X-Men going, usually with Storm as back up. In fact one of the reasons that Grant Morrison and Joss Whedon's treatment of the X-Men is so interesting has been the Scott Summers/Emma Frost/Jean Grey love triangle transforming Cyclops from Galahad (the Pure Knight) to Lancelot (The Fallen Knight).

Anyway I digress, its obvious I've always had a soft spot for Cyclops and I've always believed that he is as much the centre of the X-Men as Xavier. One of my few problems with the first two films is the way the character has been treated. He essentially becomes a foil for Wolverine, a butt for his jokes and a point of romantic tension. That's it. His tactical skill, his virtue in the face of adversity, his ability to lead and inspire his team. All of these things are lost in what quickly became the Wolverine show. The scripts have him come across as a stuffed shirt - that he maybe but he is never petulant and spoilt - this is the actor and director's fault in my mind.

The films have focused on the most marketable and certainly the fanboys favourite, Wolverine. Hugh Jackman does a lovely job as Wolvie and I can't fault him (except for perhaps being too tall). Yet this film does the comics history the dishonour of killing Cyclops early in the film and giving all of his Phoenix Saga moments to Wolverine. In the original Phoenix saga Jean sacrificed herself in Scott's arms to protect the universe from the maelevolent entity within her. In the film she sacrifices herself . . . becasue Wolverine would die for her? What? Bollocks to that!

I know I'm being a bit of a grumpy old bugger but Jeez I could have almost lived with it if the film had have been a little better. It was poorly paced, chaotic and heavy on effects. The bridge scene was spectacular but surely there was an easier way for Magneto and the Brotherhood to get to Alcatraz? And who didn't see the temporary nature of the cure coming some where around the second act.

A very dissapointing script and treament of the Phoenix Saga. Damn it! Where were the Shiar and The Brood. Oh that's right The Brood were shonky Alien rip offs. Sigh.