Well, the first look at the plot of X3 is here, and it doesn’t sound pretty. AICN ran their review of the X-Men 3 script today, confirming a lot of what has already been rumored. The version they’re looking at isn’t the current version, but it’s the original six-day script that subsequent versions are being based on. Stop reading right here if you don’t want to be spoiled.

While it sounds like there are a few good things in there, the idea that Pheonix kills Cyclops in a puff of energy is pretty annoying and depressing. Mystique losing her powers is a bit of a letdown as well. But more than that, the basic plot of the thing is what’s most worrying… they’re resorting to the tired old convention of super-serum as the villain. Didn’t we get enough of convenient mutant killing superweapons yet? It’s the laziest, lamest of plot devices and more than anything it’ll probably be what ruins this film. What AICN doesn’t reveal is who the other two major characters killed are. My guess would be Xavier and Magneto, but maybe I’m not properly zeroed in.

Look, I really don't buy into AICN's ranting about Rothman. It sounds like a convenient excuse to get Singer off the hook since we're all now supposed to be excited about his impending (and fantastic looking) Superman project. AICN is conveniently ignoring all the details of Singer's departure, such as his insistence that he be able to run off and do a crappy remake of Logan's Run. But there's no denying that things are headed in the wrong direction. Hopefully, the current drafts being put together by Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg have fixed some of that. To read the fully depressing Aint-It-Cool-News script review, click here.