X3 Reviews & Poll

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Post all the X3 reviews you find in one spot so it's easy to find and if you've seen X3 yourself then vote in the poll. If you have not seen X3 please don't vote. The votes will be made public.

Just noticed while compiling the reviews http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=231655 that a similar poll was recently made though no reviews are in it. OH well.

 

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Here's the yahoo movies review:

http://messages.movies.yahoo.com/Mo...8490830f0&tid=13052&mid=13052&tof=1&m=tm&rt=2

Mutants. They are the key to our evolution. They also happen to be the key to the box office. But will the third time be the charm? With a change of director and a slight change of feel, X-Men: The Last Stand steps up to the plate and attempts the ever-dreamed of Home Run.

With the bar being set so high from 2000s 'X-Men' and 2003s 'X2: X-Men United', 'X-Men: The Last Stand' does a good job of keeping up the pace that had been set by the previous installments of the franchise. The film picks up with the tradition set by the first film; flashbacks, only this time featuring the character of Jean Grey, and the newer addition to the cast, Angel.

From that point on, it’s like the New York Marathon as the film races into action, hardly ever stopping from start to end, something that the first two films didn’t achieve very well. The film introduces an idea that would’ve been in ‘X2’ if not for budget and time constraints; The Danger Room. It’s very well played out, and even includes a glance at the one thing that would cause fan boys and girls everywhere to scream out loud and have what can only be described as a ‘geekasm’; a Sentinel.

Returning to the cast, respectively, are Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Halle Berry (Storm), Famke Janssen (Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix), Patrick Stewart (Professor Charles Xavier), Ian McKellen (Magneto), James Marsden (Cyclops), Anna Paquin (Rogue), Aaron Stanford (Pyro), Daniel Cudmore (Colossus), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), and Shawn Ashmore (Iceman).

The new mutants include Kelsey ‘Frasier’ Grammer (Beast), Ellen Page (Kitty Pryde), Ben Foster (Angel), Vinnie Jones (Juggernaut), Dania Ramirez (Callisto), Cameron Bright (Leech), Ken Leung (Quill), Mei Melancon (Psylocke), and Omahyra Mota (Arclight).

The film brings out the emotion and loss and feel of an entire full out war. The X-Men and the Brotherhood both lose mutants to their cause. Friends return, friends die. Most of the characters all have their shinning moments, which seemed incredibly hard to do as the film, compared to that of ‘X2’, is relatively short. Mystique is her usual ass-kicking self, Cyclops’ and Wolverine have sort have switched places in terms of personality. Rogue deals with her usual problems. Storm faces new challenges, and Magneto still deals with her paranoia over the human race.

The film, in total, brings out emotions most probably didn’t think a regular Super-hero movie could even manage. Is it the best in the series? No. But is it the worst? No. That doesn’t really mean much of anything anyway as when ‘X2’ hit theaters, everyone knew it would be incredibly hard to beat. In terms of emotion and action, this one brings to the table the Royal Flush. Does it manage the Home Run? The simple answer is yes. While it isn’t perfect, and neither were the other two, this one is still a great addition to the X-Men franchise and will make any X-Men fan happy enough to want to watch it over and over again.

A word of advice. Stay until after the credits, you’ll be happily surprised to see that there is still hope that this won’t in fact be ‘The Last Stand’ for the X-Men, but instead the Brotherhood of Mutants, and that the X-Men still have many more movies to come for the big screen and your home DVD players.

9/10 from me.

__________________
"It's outcome will change our world so greatly... there will be no going back..." - Prof. X - X3 Teaser.

 

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X-Men: The Last Stand Review

Based on the Marvel superheroes created by Stan Lee, director Bryan Singer was at the helm for the first two X-Men films, but having signed for the forthcoming Superman Returns, Brett Ratner stepped up and apprehension set in (we're talking about the man best known for the 'Rush Hour' movies - the asinine buddy cop flicks starring Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan).

But fear not fanboys and girls; I'm happy to report that Brett hasn't slaughtered the golden goose; not only is X-Men: The Last Stand alive and kicking, it will kick butt at the box office.

If you haven't seen X2, stop reading because I'm just about to give away the ending. That film's dramatic climax saw the apparent death of Doctor Jean Grey played by Famke Janssen. But, for fans of the comic, it also hinted that a legendary storyline was to come: that of the Phoenix Saga.

The End For Mutants?

Meanwhile, a mutant 'cure' is available and a freaky-looking kid who could easily play a pubescent Lex Luthor is right at the centre of it. Mutants can either retain their uniqueness, though it isolates and alienates them, or give up their powers and become human. The treatment sparks all-out war with Charles Xavier preaching tolerance, and Magneto becoming even more militant – if that's possible. His belief that mutants are the future of humankind intensifies. As far as he's concerned, the 'cure' is the latest weapon humans have come up with to eliminate them and he will do anything – ANYTHING – to destroy it.

Magneto has old allies Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) and Pyro (Aaron Stanford) alongside him, but he also enlists a couple of new ones including Juggernaut, a man with superhuman strength (played by an abysmal Vinnie Jones) and Callisto (Dania Ramirez), a woman with superhuman senses.

Battle lines are firmly drawn and once again, Magneto faces the usual suspects who are also joined by Colossus (he can convert body tissue into a steel-like substance), Shadowcat (she can pass through solid matter), Angel (in addition to superhuman strength, he can fly) and Beast, also known as political activist Dr Henry 'Hank' McCoy (played by Kelsey 'Frasier' Grammer). It's the war to end all wars, but the ultimate weapon cannot be controlled by anyone, not even herself. The Phoenix has risen – and she's mad as hell.

Boldly Going Where X-Men Has Never Gone Before

The X-Men themes of prejudice, division and equality, are a constant with the franchise, so don't be too surprised to see them yet again. But as familiar as the old conflict often feels, there's still room in the script for astounding bombshells; the kind that will have you choking on your popcorn. Slick direction and efficient pacing sees a gradual build to an unforgettably thrilling climax.

X3 benefits from a simpler storyline than X2; with less strain on the brain, the audience is free to fully marvel at all that's on display here. Just as well as there are scenes that will literally take your breath away. And they mostly involve Jean Grey's alter ego.

Pulp Fiction's Marsellus Wallace promised a rapist that he would, "get medieval on yo' ass." In X3, Phoenix goes beyond medieval – she gets biblical. When her power is unleashed, words cannot do justice, they simply cannot convey how awesome, how stupefying, how breathtaking, the seamless special effects are; they're outstanding anyway, but when Phoenix's destructive force is unleashed, the ante is definitely upped.

Other standout segments include a terrific tussle between Pyro and Iceman (it should've been longer!), Wolverine's bad-ass fights, every frame involving Mystique, Shadowcat and Juggernaut's parallel run, Beast's first appearance, the fate of the Golden Gate Bridge and the final confrontation between Wolverine and Phoenix/Jean Grey, which is beyond mind-blowing; it will have you scrabbling on the floor for your missing jaw.

For the most part, the cast is superb. In the hands of a lesser actor, Magneto would be a two-dimensional villain, but Sir Ian McKellen makes him chillingly plausible. Even though you expect Niles or Sideshow Cecil to pop up at any minute, Kelsey 'Frasier/Sideshow Bob' Grammer proves inspired casting, providing wonderful comic relief at times: "I hear you're quite an animal," he observes to Wolverine. "Look who's talking," is the response.

The Final Stand

There are negatives; the script is run of the mill and, on occasion, cheesier than a Gorgonzola factory. Shadowcat, Rogue and Iceman's promising love triangle feels under-developed, which is a shame. What's more, some fans may rue just how little Rogue is utilised; it's not easy fitting so many mutants into two hours. In baseball, it's three strikes and you're out – let's hope that applies to Halle Berry because as stunning as she undoubtedly is, she still doesn't convince as Storm, despite having more screen time. Truth is, she's a lightweight, delivering her (admittedly clichéd) lines with about as much conviction as a Ferreira in EastEnders.

But at least Halle can draw some comfort from the fact that the worst performance in X3 isn't hers; if Vinnie Jones has to be in movies, he should be virtually mute again, a la 'Gone In 60 Seconds'. He only has a few lines here (including, "I'm the Juggernaut, b*tch!"), yet he still manages to screw them up; slamming your tongue in a door is less painful than listening to him. Ultimately, a better footballer than actor. And he was a dreadful footballer.

But thankfully, the positives outweigh the negatives, and with the exception of one clunky scene (just before the last stand), it's Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine that has the measure of Magneto; alternatively disrespectful yet sensitive, insolent yet caring (but always sexy), Jackman is a colossus in the lead role, commanding every frame; no mean feat considering the large cast. His interplay with Jean Grey/Phoenix provides a searing emotional punch, a welcome break from the politics of mutant v mutant and mutant v human.

Unlike most franchises, this is one series where each movie gets progressively better. Vinnie Jones and Halle Berry notwithstanding, X3 is a visually stunning spectacular. It's dark, often exhilarating and as pure an adrenaline rush as you're likely to get without flying all the way to Disney World's Tower of Terror. Oh, and a friendly warning; stay until the credits finish rolling for the surprise twist...

A gripping, pulse-pounding, monster of a blockbuster. Summer starts here. RATING: 8/10

Reviewed by Lorna Cooper, MSN Entertainment Editor

MSN REVIEW

 

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Firstly - is it as bad as the early reviews and trailers make it out to be?

No.

But is it as good as the first two X-Men movies?

Not even close.

Director Brett Ratner doesn't tread any new ground in this, the third outing of superhero squad the X-Men. The only thing this movie treads is water. But that water is the build up of the characters and story in the previous movies, and the strength of the source material and so it can hold it's own. The actors who return from the earlier films keep the movie afloat as they all look very comfortable in their characters. This is usually balanced out with all but one (I'll explain who in a minute) of the new characters being left looking a little bit lost, and unsure as to who they are and why they're doing what they're doing. This comes through to the viewer - I've got an extensive knowledge of the X-Men universe and I couldn't work out who some characters were meant to be (names don't get used often).

The one new character who works (and gets a good amount to work with) is Hank McCoy aka Beast (Kelsey Grammar). While I thought the early promo shots of Beast looked like a guy in a rubber mask, the film incarnation looks covered in fur. He moves wonderfully in the fight scenes, perfectly capturing The Beasts animalistic nature without losing the character underneath. I would say he is more like his comic counterpart than any other character in the series. His delivering of his catchphrase "Oh my stars and garters" was spot on.

As for other newbies...Kitty does the part well but about 5 minutes total is spent on Kitty, Iceman and Rogue (with a lot of presumed knowledge). It is very cool to see Iceman finally take on his ice armour, even if it looked a bit tacky. Angel looks lovely soaring around New Orleans, but likewise doesn't much in the way of screentime. Jauggernaut doesn't look nearly as bad as he did in early shots, and Vinnie Jones was DAMN good in the role! If only he'd left out the word '*****'. Even he looked hesitant about it. Multiple Man works well, but is only in the movie twice and felt wasted. Supporting players such as Psylocke and Omega Red might as well have not shown up.

Phoenix. I accept that for some seeing Famke Jennson will be worth the admission price. The Phoenix story has it's moments (particular Phoenix VS Wolverine towards the end) but is predictable. For the most part it seems as though Phoenix's mutant power is to recycle special effects from other films.

The rumours of massive time and budget cuts are evident in parts. Magneto's underground liar looks like cheap paper mache, but the effects are used well in general.

The story is fine...the script sucks. Cheesyness abounds ("What have I done?!"). Don't expect lines like "Yes...it comes up out of the baseketball court".

My biggest gripe is the strange desicion to play mix and match with the mutant powers. Callisto has Quicksilver's mutant powers, Arclight has War's mutant powers, Omega Red has Marrow's mutant powers...I don't understand why they don't just use Quicksilver, War and Omega Red instead. About 90% of the audience aren't going to know/care, so I guess they didn't bother (but what the hell was going on with Psylocke? I wanted to see a psi-blade!).

This is in no way a groundbreaking film, but it succeeds in being an X-Men movie, as opposed to a bank deposist for Fox. Yes it could've been better, but I feared much, much worse. Enjoy it with beer and pizza.

***1/2 Three and a half
(That's an extra half just because I get a kick out off seeing the X-Men in action.)

On a side note, i asked him what the audience reaction was like and he said he couldnt tell because it was a press screening and everyone was writing.

Austrailian Fan review.

 

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http://www.moviehole.net/news/200605...ast_stand.html

Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Vinnie Jones
It’s time to take a look at one of the years most hotly anticipated & debated films of 2006, Brett Ratner’s take on the “X” franchise, “X-Men: The Last Stand”. Set shortly after the events of “X2”, “The Last Stand” finds the band of Mutants in a state of disarray. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) is apparently dead, and with Cyclops (James Marsden) shirking his responsibilities at Professor Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) school for the gifted, fellow “X-Man” Wolverine is taking on substitute teacher duties alongside Storm (Halle Berry). In all of their minds though, the seemingly deceased Jean is reaching out to them from her grave, leading to disaster for all of them when the resurrected “Phoenix” emerges in her place.
While these events are unfolding, Warren Worthington II (Michael Murphy), in an attempt to “cure” his own son (Ben Foster as “Angel”) has discovered a strange source of vaccine against the “X” gene, that seemingly has the ability to convert any Mutant back to a mere mortal – but whether or not they voluntarily take the treatment or it is forced upon them is taken up by Magneto (Ian McKellen) & his “Brotherhood”, including Pyro (Aaron Stanford), Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) & Juggernaught (Vinnie Jones) amongst others. Adding to the mix is the Secretary of Mutant Affairs, Dr. Henry McCoy (Kelsey Grammer) otherwise known as “Beast” who juggles his personal beliefs in “curing” mutants alongside his professional standing; Rogue (Anna Paquin), who believes her boyfriend Bobby (Shawn Ashmore) is developing feelings for newcomer Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) due to her inability to touch him without killing him. It all comes to a massive climax involving the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz island, as both Humans & Mutants wage a mammoth battle against and with each other, and have their (dun-dun-dah!) Last Stand.
Alright, so it’s complicated to describe this film, because there is a hell of a lot of stuff going on it. Hopefully that’s given you some indication of the general idea, but apart from that, you need to know where it stands in the “X” trilogy (so far), and to do that, we have to talk about Brett Ratner, or more specifically the Internet backlash against him.
Seemingly from the moment he was announced to helm “The Last Stand”, there has been a collective bashing of him, and I can’t for the life of me figure it out. I don’t claim to be some kind of genius when it comes to what I like, I just like it. So therefore, movies like “Rush Hour”, “Red Dragon” & even “Money Talks” have been enjoyable films for me. Are they perfect examples of their genre? Hell no! Are they entertaining? To me, absolutely. It’s with that in mind (and the great job he did with the “Prison Break” opener) that I didn’t get involved in any of the hating, choosing to wait and see what the final product was like. Here’s the thing – “X-Men: The Last Stand” is not the disaster some of you have been expecting, it is in fact a very entertaining movie that fits in well with the first two films. As has been the case with both 1 & 2, there is definitely cheesy dialogue (thankfully nothing comparing to the embarrassing “coming out” scene with Bobby in part 2) in places, some of the effects work doesn’t look the greatest at times, and some of the supporting parts are as thin as can be, but as with the other entries, the stuff that does work far exceeds the things that don’t. A few particular standouts that have been mentioned in some of the other early reviews include the FX that surround “Phoenix”, the de-aging of Magneto & Xavier by 20 years, “Beast” unleashed during the final act of the film, and the fact that also like the first films, Rebecca Romijn is still smokin’ hot.
Hugh Jackman has always been the standout in the “X” franchise, and it’s never been more obvious with what he’s given here that they are pretty much solely writing the film around him. The one thing that I will say about him is that outside of a quick comment by Jean in the film, there is nothing to do with his history that was such an integral part of “X2”, and that does feel like kind of a let down. Famke Janssen & Halle Berry both return to their roles with a little bit more relish from the second outing, Janssen making a good turn at being the “nasty” Jean, and Halle actually getting to do more than show up for 5 seconds at a time before disappearing in the background and Kelsey Grammer is perfect for Dr. McCoy – you’re not likely to look at the character in a comic again without hearing his delivery of the lines. Patrick Stewart & Ian McKellen by this point have their characters so well down that they could sleepwalk through the part sand still come away smelling like roses (it is great to see when they were working together during the early flashback of the film though). Unfortunately though, as is the case with at least one of the acting parts in the 3 films to date, some are sorely underused, and this time out, the honor goes to Anna Paquin who gets a grand total of maybe 10 minutes onscreen. Considering the amount of presence that Vinnie Jones gets as Juggernaught (and I do like Vinnie), there really should be a bit more of a trade there, for someone who is supposed to be a pretty big part of the underlying thread of the film.
Here’s the thing – if you’re one of these people who have gotten caught up in the “I hate Brett Ratner” scene, you will most likely come away from this film disappointed, because you are hoping that this film will really suck badly. On the other hand, if you’re a fan of the “X” movies to date, and go in not caring about who’s calling the shots, I think that you will probably walk away enjoying this at least as much as “X-Men 2” (but I do miss Nightcrawler). There are some very good (and very surprising) twists that happen during the course of the film that really give it a great sense of forward momentum, and along with the always great Jackman front & centre, “The Last Stand” is well worth your time for any fan of the franchise - and make sure to stay until the credits finish.
Rating :
Reviewer : Adam Weeks

Moviehole Review

 

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Good job AD!

 

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http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home...1879&s=Reviews

X-MEN: THE LAST STAND
SYNOPSIS:
When the Worthington Corporation finds a cure for mutations, driven by Warren Worthington's (Michael Murphy) desire to 'cure' his own Angel-empowered son, (Ben Foster), Magneto (Ian McKellen) gathers an army of discontent mutants who want to destroy humans to avert the threat, while Prof. Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) preaches tolerance and the way of reason. But even among his followers, there are those who are attracted to the idea of being free of their powers, especially Rogue (Anna Paquin) who is denied a normal life with relationships since she can kill anyone she touches by absorbing all their powers. Magneto's army of mutants sets off to destroy the Worthington facility on Alcatraz island, along with Jean Grey's Phoenix (Famke Janssen) whose previously repressed and unstoppable telekinetic and telepathic powers threaten to devastate humans, mutants and anything else in her path, unless Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), who has fallen in love with her, can somehow stop her.

Review by Louise Keller:
There are flaming cars, levitating houses, walls of water and an X-travagant action scene in which the Golden Gate Bridge is devastated and repurposed in spectacular fashion. The credit list for stunts and visual effects for X-Men 3 goes on forever, and it's not surprising. The stunts are non-stop and we marvel at them all. Yet the heart of this third film about the mutant Marvel comic characters is overtaken by splashy effects. That's not to say I didn't enjoy director Brett Ratner's showy, visual style, but emotionally, I felt a little like Anna Paquin's Rogue, unable to touch the characters I love.

All our favourites are back as well as some fresh new faces. Look carefully in the opening sequence, when Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier and Ian McKellen's Magneto enjoy the benefit of anti-ageing software, when they are shown twenty years earlier. Good effect. Stewart and McKellen are worthy adversaries, as they remain on opposing sides of the new war which battles for the survival of mutants as a race. The notion that individuality should be treated as a disease is an interesting one and can be considered as the starting point for many lively discussions.

Love yourself as you are, is the moral of the film, and while love plays a central part, our emotions seem to be too gobsmacked by the action to be overly affected emotionally. There are too many characters doing too many things. In the beautiful body stakes, Hugh Jackman impresses again as Wolverine, and Halle Berry is mysteriously exotic as the weather-controlling Storm. Ellen Page as Kitty, who can walk through walls is a welcome addition, and the scene when Vinnie Jones' massive Juggernaut crashes through the walls through which tiny Kitty has already morphed, is a wonderful comic touch.

In chess, the pawns go first, says Magneto, and while pawns, bishops and kings alike reach the end of the game, X Men 3 X-cells at the X-tremes.

Andrew L. Urban:
In the suspended reality of comic book stories about people with super-human powers, the X-Men have an ongoing relevance. Much like games, these characters and their adventures provide us an opportunity play out deadly scenarios without getting hurt. Like the games of cowboys and Indians of old, we can replicate the primal conflicts of baddies and goodies, of evil against decency, right against wrong, in a variety of computations. But along the way, we can also ask some probing questions about the human condition, and perhaps even learn how to manage our sorry little lives just a fraction better.

The Last Stand proposes that mutants can be cured; the genetics are not discussed, but we are told - and even the President of the US is assured - that, yes, it's true, Worthington has come up with a drug that will turn all mutants into standard issue human beings. While for most of them this looks like a dull option, some, like Rogue (Anna Paquin) toy with the diea, ready to be rid of the powers that have a downside: she can kill those she loves simply by touching or kissing them.

The deeper resonances of those conjecture involve individuality, being different, and the desire to be a unique individual - although here that is transferred onto the mutants who live in the Mansion, under the patriarchal Charles Xavier.

But of course most fans will be able to ignore all the references and symbolism, and go straight to the action heart of the matter, following their favourite X-Men (and women) as they go about the serious business of maintaining the status quo - against extraordinary odds. The filmmakers have turbocharged the franchise for this closing chapter of the trilogy, escalating the effects and the enormity of the issue. And on their terms, the film works very well indeed, keeping us involved with the main characters through dramatic conflict and personality shaping, while much of the action is like a superdome sized magic show, as the various powers are put to effective use.

Review from Rotten Tomatoes.

 

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X-Men Films.net review:

X-Men: The Last Stand starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, and a million others dares to thrill audiences this Summer, as the most ambitious film in the X-Men franchise. But does it succeed? Mostly yes, and partly no, depending on who you ask.

The film is easily the most emotional of the three, digging into your mind and making you really think about issues such as a cure for the mutant gene. Compare mutants to any minority in the world, and you can see why the X-Men property as a whole seem to be so deep. I myself was not a fan of the comics, but I was a fan of the films, so please bare with me if I sounds 'out of the loop' on some things.

Director Brett Ratner really managed to make this film more action-packed, and epic in scope. I enjoyed Bryan Singer's X-Men films, but there was always something I felt was missing. He would always get the drama aspect of the films right, but in terms of action, it always felt flat. Not here. X3 got the 'Fantastic Four' approach, in terms of action (that's not a negative). We finally get to see the X-Men work as a team, and use their powers for more than show and tell.

I was one of many people who didn't know if Ratner could pull it off. With the time he had, I think he did exceptional. Not to say that this film is flawless, because it's not. I would say there was about 30 percent of the film that I just did not like, mainly because it felt like something was missing.

I don't know if this was a final cut or a test, but there are certain editing choices that left me scratching my head (Rogue's finale, Cyclops' role, scenes that felt off due to certain special effects). Maybe they'll fix these slight problems. I wasn't sure if this was the final cut/ print or not.

The film feels a bit short. I'm estimating the print I saw at around an hour and 40 minutes. After we get past the main titles, the film races at a quick speed and doesn't let you rest. It might depend on who you ask. Some my think it works for the film, and others might hate it. Personally, I didn't like that.

Many characters got no development, since there was simply no time. Dania Ramirez as Callisto was one of the more interesting new mutants, but you really didn't get to know what she really was about. Ok, she runs fast, kicks Storm's butt for a second, and looks stunning in leather, but what else? I would love to see her future films for more backstory, but that probably won't happen.

Anthony (XMF's webmaster) told me to look out for certain things, to see if they were in the film. Is Gambit in? Not that I know of. I didn't see any flaming cards anywhere. Is Jubilee in this film? I barely noticed Kea Wong. Are Sentinels in? Yes, in one fun scene. Does Bobby use his ice slide? No, but the character ices up, finally!

Famke Janssen returns as Jean Grey...wait? Didn't she die in X2 at Alkali lake? She did, but this time out they explain her coming back due to a cacoon she formed around herself under water. This is definitely not the Jean Grey we knew before. At her first arrival, we get to see an awesome display of what she can really do. If that's not an entrance, then I don't know what is.

Janssen thrills in her role, and gets one of the more interesting plots compared to the other characters in the film. Too bad she didn't say much. I can't remember exactly how much the character spoke in the film, but it was a lot less than I was expecting.

Hugh Jackman, and Halle Berry return as Wolverine and Storm, respectively. They are really the main characters of X3. The 'eyes' of the film, so to speak. I'll wasn't very impressed with Wolverine's role in this film, because it was the same stuff we saw in X-Men, and X2. I felt that he hadn't really gone through much evolution since the first time we saw him, he's just always the 'bad ass' character, who has a heart.

Halle Berry did much, much better this time out. I was not a fan of her character in X-Men, and thought her role in X2 was ok, but forced. In this film, they really put attention towards the character. In my opinion, Storm is the baddest character in this film, right next to Jean Grey, and Ian McKellen's Magneto. She flies, turns herself into a tornado, and whoops collective booty. Unfortunately, she doesn't go one on one with Jean in the final battle, which is what fans probably really wanted to see.

The special effects for the most part were really well done. Shawn Ashmore's Bobby, and Aaron Stanford's Pyro have an expensive looking battle, where the Iceman ices up! Clear your mind about why Bobby's ice can bend and not crack, and just enjoy the scene! It's little things the effects wizards probably forgot about, but oh well. Storm's effects look good, and beautiful as always. Jean Grey is scary as hell in this film. I really have to give them kudos for where they took her character in terms of effects...really wicked, but where's the pink flames from X2? Where's the continuity?

Missing from X3 is Xavier's speech, which was on focus at the beginning of X-Men, and X2. Not sure why they didn't include one, because there was one in the first film trailer. It kind of screwed with the continuity of things. Also, make sure you stay after the credits. They never did this in the other films, but there's a scene that'll pop up, that should make you smile!

Is this the end of the X-Men franchise? Judging by this film, I would say that this really isn't the last stand. There's a feeling of calm at the end, but many of the character's story arcs are still left wide open for possible future use. Some characters who should've got complete closure, don't really get any. It's all open to interpretation, really.

So my final word. Did X-Men: The Last Stand succeed? Yes. If you can forgive about 30 percent of the film, the product as a whole really works, and is a fitting chapter in the X-Men saga. It's better than the first X-Men, and is mostly on par with X2. I loved X2 more for the overall storyline and dramatics, but I love X3 more for the action, and shocking moments. Either way you put it, the X-Men trilogy should go down in history as one of the most solid trilogies in the comic book medium.

Grade: B

-Aaron

http://www.xmenfilms.net/xnews/x3review1.html

 

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Film Focus Review:

In Brief: A mutant cure has been discovered in the mutation of a young boy (Cameron Bright) and a way to harness its power has been developed; much to the chagrin of Magneto who sets about to destroy the cure, and the one who carries it, once and for all. As the X-Men make their last stand, all will be at stake.


In Full: Plucking the most interesting of its ideas from Joss Whedon's special run on the X-Men comic books, X-Men: The Last Stand had the potential to be the greatest of all three films. Building on the massive success of X2, perhaps one of the finest superhero films to date, and combining it with one of the X-Men's most exciting and challenging storylines - that of a mutant cure - was a recipe for success that was ever so nearly impossible to get wrong.

So, that X-Men: The Last Stand is no better or worse than the entertaining first outing in the X-Men franchise is, in fact, a dire disappointment, for the film wastes no time in abandoning the brilliance of its concept - a concept which might have given us the best superhero film ever. The mutant cure is, here, an excuse for yet another stand-off with Magneto, the ethical implications of its conception only coming to play when Rogue decides her boyfriend is losing interest.

For, like most in Hollywood, The Last Stand finds the black and white without ever finding the grey; Magneto is a bad guy, the X-Men are the good guys and audiences want to see the good guys win. But the mutant cure concept is so much more complex than that, hinting at serious ethical and personal conflict that is never explored. As the humans develop guns with which to shoot mutants with the cure the audience is left wondering if we shouldn't be rooting for Magneto's alliance. No cure at all is, after all, far preferable to one forced on those who don't want it.

And, once again, the ensemble nature of the X-Men universe proves difficult to translate; only Kelsey Grammer's Beast gets adequate exposure and even he could quite easily be left at home in favour of the established cast. The other new additions are thrown a line or two here and there and used as nobody's-safe fodder in the climactic Last Stand. Of course, by that point we've been given neither motive nor means to care for them and so the ultimate battle between good and evil is only as fraught with peril as any other battle in the franchise.

Which is not to say that X-Men: The Last Stand isn't entertaining on those base levels a superhero film should be entertaining - it's beyond even Brett Ratner to make the X-Men boring - but it's not a patch on the film it could and should have been. Indeed, the only ramification it leaves for the franchise is in the characters that don't survive, and only one of those deaths feels anything less than unjustified.

In the hands of genuine storytellers, X-Men: The Last Stand might have achieved real greatness. In the hands of Brett Ratner, Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn - who seem merely puppets to the studio's desire to milk fans of the franchise for all they're worth - it's never anything more than average.

Final Verdict:



User Comments: Post New Comment

RE: X-Men: The Last Stand
Comment by: sneakthief

This is really upsetting news - I've been looking forward to this film for ages and the buzz that has been coming back from people who've had advance screenings has been flat to say the least. X-Men has always been a very mainstream title, but simply because it's the one with the most universal themes. To have ****ed it up in such a big way (even though three stars is still acceptable it's not X2, is it?) is absolutely unforgiveable. I'll reserve judgment until I've seen it, but at the moment it can only be better than my flatlined expectations.

Posted: 15/05/2006 07:52:44

 

[Advanced Dark]

Rohann's review (brief)

Today, 10:06 AM #40 Rohann vbmenu_register("postmenu_8842232", true);
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 17

Re: [BIG SPOILERS] I saw the premiere of X3... About the Jean/Xavier fight...
Quote:
Originally Posted by RagingTempest
Great!!! So how would you rate the movie out of 10?



Minus Logan? I'd give it a 9 (wanted more Phoenix... and no Phoenix raptor (only a small wink to it on the water at the end of Alcatraz))...


Overall... 8.

 

[TNC9852002]

Anymore?

-TNC

 

[-Æ-]

Bah beat me to making a thread like this.

 

[Spidey 2007]

when is X-men premieing at cannes? we will get bombarded with reviews that day or so.

plus CNN' show... Showbiz Tonight, will host a live review of X3 after its premiere.

Davinci code was reviewed tonight....

 

[TNC9852002]

Da Vinci Code isn't doing the greatest (either) so far, review-wise...

-TNC

 

[Spidey 2007]

Da Vinci Code isn't doing the greatest (either) so far, review-wise...

-TNC

lol who cares....

we want x3 to do good.... could care less about davinci....

 

[Spidey 2007]

LOL CNN is ripping it apart....


the davinci code that is

 

[TheWeatherMan]

This is a great thread... thanks AD!

 

[Spidey 2007]

and i find it funny people who didnt even see the movie voted... intresting.

ill be sure to vote when i see it.

 

[Advanced Dark]

If you guys who voted really saw the film that post your review here. If you're just screwing around...grow up already. Jeez is it that hard not to click. I'll just ask the mods to wipe the poll clean on May 26th then.

 

[Spidey 2007]

If you guys who voted really saw the film that post your review here. If you're just screwing around...grow up already. Jeez is it that hard not to click. I'll just ask the mods to wipe the poll clean on May 26th then.

thats a good idea whiping the poll clean. should make this a sticky aswell

 

[Bluefire]

agreed it pleases my hemmoroids.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Empire Online review from other thread:

REVIEW HERE!

When studio execs willingly allow a successful franchise to be torn asunder as effectively and completely as this, clearly all is not well within the cosmos. The Last Stand indeed!

Pulling no punches, this runaway train embodies a fitting coda to a very fine series of comic book adaptations first introduced to us by the ultra-talented Bryan Singer in the year 2000. This time around, however, Singer slips the mutant baton to Rush Hour director, Brett Ratner. Uh oh! Crappy sequel alert! BWEEP! BWEEP! But, no! Ratner digs deep and throws down the gauntlet to his predecessor, challenging him to make good on his own comic book flic, Superman Returns. Meanwhile, from Angel's (Ben Foster) touching backstory to Magneto's (Ian McKellen) mighty crushing of a government convoy with mere hand gestures, Ratner has delivered a bold, energetic and sentimental film which is difficult to dislike.

Playing to it's strengths, the strong performances are brought to the fore, while the weaker performers (yes, James Marsden, I'm looking at you!) are pushed into the background. Appropriately Wolverine and Storm are placed front and centre; Hugh Jackman maintains his resonant screen presence from the first two films, albeit sharing the limelight with Halle Berry's brand new power haircut (which is hawt, by the way).

Throughout the course of the trilogy, our mutants have matured from fractured champions to high calibre superheroes, but we pine for their wellbeing nonetheless. Whether it be by the strengths of the previous pictures or by the sole merits of this film is uncertain, but a definite emotional connection is evident between the audience and the heroes (and anti-heroes); we wince as they take the hits, and cheer when they strike back (if only introvertly)!

A few minor flaws present themselves: the musical score is a little heavy handed, at times underlining the dramatic momentum to the point of obtrusiveness; in a perplexing script oversight, Phoenix (Famke Janssen) is sadly under-utilised; a completely redundant love triangle develops; and the final sequel tantaliser is sorely misplaced given the brutal (and seemingly final) carnage which precedes it. Additionally, serious themes of justifiable control vs. oppression, and the right to a freedom of choice are hinted at, but are never allowed to interfere with the film's primary motive as an action blockbuster; correspondingly, the film exhibits a decided lack of depth. But like it's predecessors, The Last Stand so overwhelmingly succeeds in being a seat-of-your-pants action juggernaut that to criticise these few shortcomings seems nitpicky.

It's probably worth stating for the record that I am not well-versed in the X-Men universe (having read only a few of the early comics and watched the cartoon series on TV), so it stands to reason that much of the impact of this film may be lost on viewers more X-savvy than I; more the pity to them! Regardless, it's doubtless wide appeal will likely pose a serious challenge to The Da Vinci Code in the coming weeks, and that film's distributor may well regret allowing their picture to go head-to-head with this Marvelous movie.

9 out of 10.

and this is his response to the last review (by g_funk) at the aussie Empire forum.....

After writing my own review, it's now safe to check out Funka's Wink and, well........I think it's harsh! I think you may be a little too close to the X-Men ethos, FunkaMan. I think you may be in the category that I describe in my last paragraph, and sadly it's to the detriment of your enjoyment of the film. It didn't bother me that they mixed and matched characters with abilities, or that they mostly remained nameless, because their names mean nothing to me anyway. Sure I've heard their names before, but I lack an intimate knowledge of their abilities, so Psylocke could have been Panama Canal gate attendant for all I knew! I don't even know which character she was supposed to be; if it were not for the credits, I wouldn't know she were in it. Besides, there isn't the time to develop all those peripheral characters, and to try to do so would needlessly bloat the film. I think it's length was just; short, sharp and straight to the point! Well, I guess, I reckon it should have been about 2 seconds shorter to edit out that ridiculous sequel suggestion which devalues the gravity of the events we have just witnessed.

I guess the message to the diehard fans out there is that when you see this movie, don't be too precious about established X-Men conventions; just go for the ride! And a highly enjoyable one it is.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last edited by dd boi : Today at 12:58 AM. Reason: updated

 

[LEX]

So, is this a thread where you post reviews from other professional critics? Do the reviews from the Hypsters count or will there be another thread?

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ Of course the Hypsters reviews count. That's why I put a poll here too. Read the first post.

 

[Sunstar]

Advanced Dark, is that the Empire review everyone was waiting to see?

Also a link would be nice!