EXTRA, EXTRA
X-MEN
DIRECTOR BRETT RATNER SAYS HE HAS PLENTY
OF OUTTAKES TO PUNCH UP THE DVD OF
'THE LAST STAND'
BY ANNE SHERBER
FANS OF THE "X-MEN" comic books and films who sat in theaters through the final credits of
X-Men: The Last Stand may feel no DVD extra can compare to the cinematic nugget director Brett Ratner has tacked on to the end of his movie.
The clip, which is barely a minute long, was so secret that even the actors werent sure of its gist. According to Patrick Stewart, who reprises his role of Professor Charles Xavier in the film, few members of the crew and even fewer cast members were involved in shooting the piece.
We did it, I believe, on a lunch break, Stewart says. It was all very hush-hush.
But Ratner says that theres no need to worry because there are plenty of outtakes to go around for the DVD. The director, who stepped in for the third installment of the series when Bryan Singer, who helmed the first two films, dropped out, says hes got hundreds of hours of footage. He anticipates that a two-hour making-of documentary will be included in the films DVD release, which could be announced at Comic-Con.
In fact, Ratner is extremely particular about the bonus features on the DVD releases of his films. Hes directed exhaustive documentaries for the DVDs of both his Red Dragon and Rush Hour 2. On the set of X-Men, he bucked the studio by insisting on having complete control of the process.
I didnt use the studios EPK (electronic press kit) crew, he says. I had my own crew shooting behind-the-scenes footage.
A big chunk of the extra footage on the DVD is sure to involve actors laughing on the set, according to Hugh Jackman.
I became very good friends with Kelsey [Grammer], Jackman says. The truth of the matter is that guy makes me laugh. Theres more footage on the cutting room floor of me laughing because Kelsey just has a look in his eye that is so wicked.
But, according to Jackman, not everything on the cutting room floor will make it to the outtakes reel. He recalls one shot during which he decided to see if he could return the favor and make Grammer laugh.
Theres a moment where I come out near the end of the film, where we Wolverine, Storm and Beast form a line by the fence, Jackman says. On one take, I come out, and I say Stay together. Im yelling Stay together, and whatever you do, dont
stop
DANCING! And then the sound guys played, Im Too Sexy. I start dancing, and theres a close-up camera on Kelsey. He had no idea I was going to do this, of course. But Kelsey is standing there very seriously. And all of a sudden, he [breaks into wild dancing]. He doesnt skip a beat. Youll never see this footage, by the way, because it will so undermine this franchise. Maybe on the 20th anniversary DVD.
Yeah, i'd prefer this as the cover too with a different shot of Jackman.
