antonydavanzo
Civilian
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- Jun 8, 2004
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I would have posted this in the review thread but its so bloated with comments a new person will never find anything.
http://www.totalfilm.com/cinema_reviews/films_out_this_week/x-men_the_last_stand
Neither the exhilarating franchise sign-off that Bryan Singer would have likely delivered, nor the deformed mess that banshee-like net boys have been wailing was the only feasible outcome after Fox handed the reins to comic-book Anti-Christ (his words) Brett Ratner. The Last Stand is merely that all-too-common modern film phenomenon the plodding blockbuster, or plod-buster, which spikes out of its three-star flatline during some solid bang-wallop set-pieces and an emotionally wrenching face-off, which goes down as the series spine-tingling highlight.
A perfunctory prologue reveals all our favourites back in the X-fold. Wolverines still puffing on cigars; Storms still moving clouds, but has developed a new spinning-through-air trick; Professor X and Magneto get creepy digital facelifts for a plot-laying flashback and oh look Jean Grey didnt die in a watery grave. (Shes back with redder hair, an itchy temper and terrifying telepathic omnipotence.) A few new faces are clawing for mutant show-off time, too, including Kelsey Grammers The Beast (blue, furry, reads upside-down), Vinnie Jones Juggernaut (huge, padded, relishes crap one-liners) and Ben Fosters Angel (winged, self-loathing, pretty much surplus to requirements).
No stranger to generic studio tentpoles (Rush Hour 1 & 2, Red Dragon), Ratner is like a pig in **** during any sequence involving landmarks or vehicles hurtling through the air, including Magnetos motorway ambush of a reinforced mutant paddywagon. But most of the time, his approach is akin to having someone waving their hands in your face while shouting at the top of their lungs. Yes, X3 is fast, furious and distracting. But weve seen the wizard behind the curtain, and Ratners handling of the franchises provocative, relevant elements is workmanlike at best. Feel the boredom seep in as hes forced to let his characters talk. Sense the panic as he muddles his way through the high-stakes issues (Rogues inner turmoil is signposted, literally, by an advert that reads, Mutant Cure Shots Available Here).
Its a shame, because Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn have delivered a script that snatches the baton from X2 to dive deep into the comics mythology. With plenty of shocks in store for trilogy stalwarts, its a gift of a screenplay that lives up to the portentous title. Best of all is Famke Janssens electrifying return as the Phoenix. Playing the super-freaky mind-control goddess like GoldenEyes Xenia Onatopps all-powerful psycho sister, her scenes particularly that one with the house crackle with energy and tragedy. If only the rest of X3 had followed suit
http://www.totalfilm.com/cinema_reviews/films_out_this_week/x-men_the_last_stand
Neither the exhilarating franchise sign-off that Bryan Singer would have likely delivered, nor the deformed mess that banshee-like net boys have been wailing was the only feasible outcome after Fox handed the reins to comic-book Anti-Christ (his words) Brett Ratner. The Last Stand is merely that all-too-common modern film phenomenon the plodding blockbuster, or plod-buster, which spikes out of its three-star flatline during some solid bang-wallop set-pieces and an emotionally wrenching face-off, which goes down as the series spine-tingling highlight.
A perfunctory prologue reveals all our favourites back in the X-fold. Wolverines still puffing on cigars; Storms still moving clouds, but has developed a new spinning-through-air trick; Professor X and Magneto get creepy digital facelifts for a plot-laying flashback and oh look Jean Grey didnt die in a watery grave. (Shes back with redder hair, an itchy temper and terrifying telepathic omnipotence.) A few new faces are clawing for mutant show-off time, too, including Kelsey Grammers The Beast (blue, furry, reads upside-down), Vinnie Jones Juggernaut (huge, padded, relishes crap one-liners) and Ben Fosters Angel (winged, self-loathing, pretty much surplus to requirements).
No stranger to generic studio tentpoles (Rush Hour 1 & 2, Red Dragon), Ratner is like a pig in **** during any sequence involving landmarks or vehicles hurtling through the air, including Magnetos motorway ambush of a reinforced mutant paddywagon. But most of the time, his approach is akin to having someone waving their hands in your face while shouting at the top of their lungs. Yes, X3 is fast, furious and distracting. But weve seen the wizard behind the curtain, and Ratners handling of the franchises provocative, relevant elements is workmanlike at best. Feel the boredom seep in as hes forced to let his characters talk. Sense the panic as he muddles his way through the high-stakes issues (Rogues inner turmoil is signposted, literally, by an advert that reads, Mutant Cure Shots Available Here).
Its a shame, because Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn have delivered a script that snatches the baton from X2 to dive deep into the comics mythology. With plenty of shocks in store for trilogy stalwarts, its a gift of a screenplay that lives up to the portentous title. Best of all is Famke Janssens electrifying return as the Phoenix. Playing the super-freaky mind-control goddess like GoldenEyes Xenia Onatopps all-powerful psycho sister, her scenes particularly that one with the house crackle with energy and tragedy. If only the rest of X3 had followed suit
