When the government announces that they’ve discovered a cure for the mutant gene it further polarizes the Mutant population: while some welcome the prospect of normalcy, others view it as little more than a veritable Final Solution wrapped in the guise of medicine. The two camps – led by Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) prepare for the inevitable showdown. X-Men 3, is full of action, top of the line special effects, and a good strong cast of actors. However the while the X-Men make their last stand, the rest of us are left standing wondering what the hell just happened.
Everyone was waiting for X-Men 3 for a long time, when Bryan Singer revealed that he was going off to direct Superman Returns it spell doom for the the film. But wait, have no fear hope will save us all. His replacement, Matthew Vaughn was a good choice overall, he ended up passing on the project in favour of some much-needed family time. Soon after words the studio hire Brett Ratner, who is well not what everyone had in mind. His choices in direction and overall lack of telling a story did nothing but hurt X-Men 3.
There was little to no time give to the new characters, while we did get a good showcase (some more then others) of their powers, we where left wondering who these people where and what role they pay in the final battle. The overall lack of the story, while strong on some levels left me wondering what the hell. While many will agree that X-Men, and X2: X-Men United where well done, balance and easy to understand and even enjoy, most of the comic book fans love it while X-Men 3 is nothing more then mix reviews. With the film there are two extremes on the subject. There are those who think this is the best movie ever made, the best X-Men film and they can’t wait for the 4th one. Then there are those who think its the worst one, full of crap and really wish they never make another X-Men movie.
Brett Ratner isn’t what I would call “top” pick for any movie, because he likes to take shortcut, which anyone can see he did here. The movie is full of very good and well done special effects. This is due to the amount of money the film had to mess with. What the story lacks its made up with very cool action and if anything over shadow the movie. The worst thing to happen to a movie is for the special effects to over power the story. Which is what happen here. I believe that because they lost their top director for the film early, then the new guy end up leaving near the start of filming, bring in Brett Ratner who redid the script, but because the stupid cares more about making money (most because they are own by big time companies) then about telling a good story. The only bad thing about computer today when it comes to movie makers. Many use them to cover up story weakness, other then using them as a tool which should only be used when it enhances the story.
So lets dig into the story, for what we have. As you guess it mainly about what happen to Dr. Jean Grey and the cure, which sparks the war that has been talked about from the start of the first film. However it breaks down here. Brett Ratner had no qualms about killing off or altering major characters in spectacular fashion, which elicited audible gasps from the audience. This was done with out any story behind the change or even why the character died.
The lack of story telling for the character was at a all time low, such as the Juggernaut who at most had one crappy chase scene with Shadow Cat (who was never named in the movies at all). Kelsey Grammar was Beast, who was one of the original X-Men in the comic books. While his role was the best I think that could have been done, but again his character suffers from a lack of back story. For those Patrick Stewart fan, my only disappointment was his reduced face time in X-3. He never seems to fail to deliver on screen, even with what some would call mediocre dialogue. Hugh Jackman, who has become synonymous with Wolverine, generally need no telling being how his story was already told and he knew what to bring to the character, as with the other long standing characters form the first 2 films. Ian McKellen also gave it a good go, even know the choices that where made for the character where if anything weak and almost out of character on some level. However it was cool to see him fly around classic Magneto style.
The cure in question is derived from a young mutant (the continually creepy Cameron Bright), yet we never learn who he is, why this is his special power or how he was discovered, as you can guess what you would think was the core of the story for the film was nothing more but a simple reason for the war to start with out any answers or any other development to that story. The Phoenix story line, which seem to be more thrown in there then anything was weak, bad and just down right laughable. I mean really, Zombie Phoenix anyone? And what was with the split personally, that if anything was done with very little change in the character. It was more like Phoenix had two personalities. the biggest issue I had with it was it never really explain it and the brief explanation given by Xavier raises more questions than answers. It’s even more so puzzled at the end of the credits.
If you get past the weak story, the dialogue, the over use of special effects and a well down right weak character development, Ratner should be give some credit for being one of my worst nightmares to life. I mean I never though they could ever do what they did with the movies. I was like seeing someones fan fiction on the big screen. While not the best movie, nor the best in the Trilogy it does bring some good action fights and some nice looks at what Hollywood can do, if they get the right writer and director. If anything X-Men The Last Stand should be a rent, if anything else. maybe the DVD will come with a load of features that will make it worth a by, which is about as much as I can recommend the movie.
