Generation X (film)

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Generation X
Directed by Jack Sholder
Produced by Avi Arad
Eric Blakeney
Matthew Edelman
Stan Lee
David Roessell
Bruce J. Sallan
Written by Eric Blakeney
Starring Amarilos Savón
Suzanne Davis
Matt Frewer
Finola Hughes
Heather McComb
Jeremy Ratchford
Bumper Robinson
Augustin Rodriguez
Randall Slavin
Cinematography Bryan England
Editing by Michael Schweitzer
Distributed by Fox Television
Release date(s) February 20, 1996
Running time 87 minutes
Country Flag of the United States United States
Language English
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Generation X is a made-for-TV film which aired on FOX on February 20, 1996. It is based on the Marvel Comics series Generation X. It was produced by New World Entertainment and Marvel Entertainment.

The film featured Banshee and Emma Frost as the headmasters of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and M, Skin, Mondo, Jubilee and two made-for-film characters Buff and Refrax as students (replacing Chamber and Husk, who were not written in because the budget didn't allow for the special effects their powers required). The team battled a mad scientist named Russel Tresh who used a machine to develop psychic powers. The extremely low-budget film was scoffed at by fans and plans to develop a syndicated series were abandoned.

Although not a factor in the decision to abandon the creation of a series, minority fans were also disappointed and offended by the portrayal of Jubilation Lee as a character of non-Asian descent. The X-Men comics and animated series have always portrayed her as Chinese American.

Contents

[edit] New Characters

Characters created for the film:

  • Buff: Arlee Hicks, whose mutation increases her muscle mass and strength. She is insecure about her new physique and wears loose clothing to cover it up. A body double is used for all shots which show her musculature.
  • Refrax: Kurt Pastorius, his eyes emit radiation giving him X-Ray vision and heat beams. He is a practical joker who has a crush on Buff. Wears special glasses to control his powers.
  • Doctor Tresh: A mad scientist. He invents a device to give himself mutant abilities.


[edit] Cast (alphabetical)

[edit] Crew

  • Jack Sholder - Director

[edit] Plot Summary

As mutants are jailed for their genes, a small group of outcast mutant teenagers are gathered in secret at Xavier's Academy, where they must deal with the usual struggles of high school students as well as the unusual struggle of those born with super-powers. Meanwhile, Dr. Tresh prepares an experiment to transfer mutant genes into himself, to gain vast power.

[edit] Production Notes

  • The following is a prologue quote that appeared at the beginning of the movie:

Mutation: n. 1. The act of being altered or changed. 2. The illegal genetic condition (US Statute 5504178) first apparent in puberty, caused by the x-factor located in the pineal gland of the brain.

The later X-Men theatrical films open with similar defining quotes on mutation and evolution, respectively, albeit in voice-over rather than on-screen text.

Generation X premiered on the 1996 Fox Mardi Gras Special.

[edit] United States versus United Kingdom Version of the Film

The British version and the United States version contain slight differences:

In the British version, Jubilee is forced to strip for a full body print. While this scene did not appear in the later showings of the United States version, it did appear in the original showing.

In the British version there was significantly more swearing, racial slurs and extreme situations. After discovering the Dream Machine, Jubilee and Skin compare notes. In this scene Jubilee uses 3 swear words. These were edited out of the United States version.

When Skin encounters Russel Tresh in the Dream World, Tresh calls Skin a "wetback" and threatens to mind-rape Skin's sister if he doesn't help get Tresh back into his body. This scene was edited to remove the racial slur and mind-rape wording in the United States version.

[edit] External links

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