X3: The Last Stand - movie review

I was SO excited for this release that I bought my ticket at lunch so I could go right after work. As an avid fan of the first two films - I was not going to miss this last installment. And the trailer was spectacular enough to increase my anticipation further. My only concern was that Bryan Singer was not back to direct. I was right to be worried.

The biggest thing that most reviews will say about X3 is that new director, Brett Ratner, hasn't ruined the franchise. Well, he may not have destroyed it in that Joel Shumacker-Batman kind of way, but he hasn't upheld the greatness of it either. X3 is louder, busier, and sexier than the first two films but it is also less smart, less engaging, and less complete. Whereas Singer built his action around themes of acceptance and identity and character, Ratner's X3 is a superficial exploitation of the universe.

The film opens with optimistically enough by going back to the beginning of the Jean Grey story. But quickly, the tone changes as we are thrust into a fantastical fight scene that sees the newest X-team members in training. The problem is that this scene doesn't fit with anything seen in the films before and rings false from the start - which it turns out to be. From this point the film skips along introducing new characters and plugging in action scenes without ever building thematic cohesion. Sure, you could say such context is unnecessary in an action film but its development has always been a source of strength in the X-universe so to lose that is unfortunate. The nature of humanity is still the underlying concept but Ratner does not link the many storylines effectively to this thread and by the end of the film everything feels frayed. And in the end, forgettable.

On the good side, Hugh Jackman continues to be in excellent form. He is such an amazing presence as Wolverine. And following the resurrection of Jean we are treated to a bit of sexy action - I would wager that Jackman and Jansen are one of the few onscreen pairs that can give Brad & Angelina a run for the money. And Halle Berry is finally given more to do. However, most of the characters are pushed aside to make room for showy CGI scenes. And the addition of new characters - Beast and Angel, in particular - is more for the eyes than the story as well. Much feels forced (Bobby & Kitty's relationship) or is wasted in order to move on to more action (Magneto's rejection of Mystique). In all, the film does not achieve balance between its character and action goals and some beloved heroes are lost in the shuffle.

Overall, X3 is a fine film in the popcorn action sense. But this is one time when that description is not satisfying. More was expected. More was deserved. This particular evolution was not for the better.