‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ a Worthy Finale
He did just fine. This is an answer to those wondering if newcomer (to the ‘X’ franchise at least) director Brett Ratner could maintain the bar-setting quality of the previous two X-Men films. X3 is a tightly told story about humanity that, of course, is strung together with fantastic action and special effects. And although some action didn’t blow away the comic book fan in me, the film steadily impressed and entertained.
In the world of this story, evolution has created mutants; beings that have special powers, usually either physical or mental. Similar to our struggles with many controversial social issues, mutation has humans and mutants alike aggressively fighting for solutions. This story revolves around one new “solution” – a drug that will transform mutants into humans. Most humans like this idea. Most mutants don’t.
We follow to camps of mutants amid this controversy. The first is led by Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart), who encourages mutants to control and use their powers for good. The second camp is led by Magneto (Ian McKellen), who believes mutants must fight back in order to survive human persecution.
We’ve seen this scenario during the last few movies, and things now finally come to a head. As Magneto leads a fight against humans, Xavier’s X-Men stand in the middle, trying to protect the very humans that oppress them. The selfless, high road nature of the X-Men is the heart of their stories, and it never seems to get old.
Newcomers include Kelsey Grammer (‘Frasier’) who plays Beast, a blue-haired politician with X-Men ties. Grammer is believably stoic and cerebral, providing one of the film’s best performances. The dialogue between him and Wolverine are especially entertaining. Also standing out is Vinnie Jones who plays Juggernaut, an oversized man who can plow through anything, seemingly. Jones is a professional English footballer who shot to fame because of a photo of him “marking” a Newcastle opponent by grabbing his testicles. Jones is a fabulously tough guy with screen presence, and he is well cast.
The X-Vets do a great job too. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), who has always been the series’ star, gets mega screen time, and it’s a good thing. Jackman is uncannily right for playing Wolverine – it’s a kind of Christopher Lloyd-as-Doc Brown kind of fit. One forest fight scene in particular is a treat (and word on the street is that Jackman has signed on for a ‘Wolverine’ movie spinoff).
So the story is solid, and the actors well cast. One downside, though, to X3 is that some action scenes fail to impress. With so many abilities and possibilities to draw from with these characters, the action scenes should be inventive, inventive, inventive! It may just be the comic book fan in me, but I was disappointed with the film’s climax and with how some final battles played out. But I’m complaining about the icing while the cake was great.
All in all X3 is a worthy conclusion to a series that has (along with ‘Spiderman’) defined what comic book movies should be. Brett Ratner tied together a good movie that asks us to consider how to use power when it is given to us. Too bad this may be the last time we see the X-Men use theirs.
Grade: A-
Chris Blakesley is a film critic for the Utah Statesman. Send comments to cblakes@cc.usu.edu. Check out his blog at: cblakes.wordpress.com.