Review: X-Men: The Last Stand
BTD Greg is also going to review this movie when he sees it tomorrow, so I’ll keep this one nice and short (and spoiler-free).
I’ve talked before about evaluating sequels and inviting comparisons to prior movies in a franchise. So it goes with X-Men: The Last Stand (which we shall dub X3). There are a couple of questions: first, is it any good? Second, how does it compare to the others in the franchise?
The answers await below the fold.
IS IT ANY GOOD?
Yes. It’s quite good, in fact. Surprisingly good. Delightfully surprisingly good, considering Brett Ratner (who? Oh yeah, the Rush Hour dude) is at the helm. The studios said to Brett: go forth and make X3, and thou shalt make it like unto X2, except more action, please. And Brett went forth and did just that. The look and feel are nothing new to those who saw X2, and that’s welcome here: X2 was well-executed and an enjoyable (if imperfect) film. X3 looks identical, but ramps up the action. The basic, well-known premise: a “cure” for the mutant gene is discovered, based on the DNA of another mutant (hmm. Sounds like X2!). Jean Grey returns from her watery grave (no, that’s no spoiler — she’s in the POSTERS, for crying out loud) and the X-Men must fight to survive.
So yes, it’s good. A great summer movie, one to enjoy on the big screen with some popcorn and butter flavoring.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
Comparison is tricky business — there are lots of different criteria to choose from. Speaking generally, X3 is superior to the original X-Men, which was heavy on exposition and watered-down in every other respect. Whether or not it is superior to X2 is a matter of taste, but I would weigh in favor of X2, which had some emotional depth via Stryker and his son. Here, the action is more prevalent and more entertaining — the mutants are unleashed and their powers at last reach levels we read about in the comic books. Magneto shows his full power, and Wolverine’s claws are well-used. But new characters are added as afterthoughts and show-pieces (with the exception of Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, which suits him to a T), and the emotional depth of X2, not a very deep pond to begin with, isn’t replicated in X3. Like the copy of the medallion in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ratner only had the superficial side of X2 to copy — they’re digging in the wrong place! In terms of emotions and character, X3 digs in the wrong place a few too many times. X2 was a geniunely good movie: X3 is a good superhero movie, above-average in its genre. I damn it with faint praise, but it’s really pretty good.
Overall: a very enjoyable popcorn movie, a pretty good superhero film, and an extremely pleasant surprise.
Nice review, I’ll be checking it out on Thursday.
Comment by BobC — May 22, 2006 @ 11:40 pm
they’re digging in the wrong place!
Even morning should begin with that quote. Ah, Indy!
Comment by Ronan — May 23, 2006 @ 6:25 am
I think I’m going to arrange to buy our Friday tickets sometime today, if possible. Any suggestions for best theater to go to in NYC? I imagine X-Men will appear on IMAX.
Comment by danithew — May 23, 2006 @ 6:31 am
I’m so excited to see this. It’s ridiculous. So Excited. We are going on Monday - blatant disregard for my modified bedrest and all. It’s X-Men!
Comment by gabby — May 23, 2006 @ 8:33 am
BTW Steve, there’s some kind of rumor that there’s something additional that shows after the credits roll. Can you confirm this at all?
Comment by danithew — May 23, 2006 @ 9:59 am
Dan, nothing for me.
Comment by Supergenius — May 23, 2006 @ 10:40 am
I should clarify that I didn’t stay through the end of the credits, though, and I’ve heard the rumor of a 30-second coda for one of the main characters.
Comment by Supergenius — May 23, 2006 @ 2:15 pm
I agree with the review, though I think it was better than steve lets on. You will enjoy the movie, then think after: “wow, x character and y character were pretty much superfluous or underdeveloped.” That said, it is very fun.
Comment by Freeloader — May 23, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Yes, there is a little bit of a bonus scene after the credits. I just saw it. And unlike most movies, you have to stay all the way through a very long set of credits to see it. I won’t spoil it, but I will say that the bonus scene has the same effect as the one that came at the end of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
My review will be available sometime later tonight.
Comment by BTD Greg — May 23, 2006 @ 9:26 pm
Thank You. Seriously, thank you all. I have heard nothing but bitching from everyone even though we all knew they were going to see it. I admit, i was skeptical the first time i saw it, but the second time I saw it, it was even better.
Comment by Arggie — May 26, 2006 @ 6:48 pm
Um, you’re welcome?
Comment by Supergenius — May 26, 2006 @ 9:02 pm
I already said this on the other X3 thread but I’ll say it again. I just saw X3 with my wife and we both loved it. Awesome movie. Definitely wait through the credits as there’s a crucial tidbit waiting for those patient enough to sit for a few minutes.
A friend we went with was seeing it for the second time in one day. I’m hoping to see it again too. Soon.
I am surprised at the mixed reviews I have been reading. Maybe it’s because I used to be an X-Men junkie of sorts … but that didn’t stop me from being more critical of the first two films. This is the best one so far.
Comment by danithew — May 26, 2006 @ 9:30 pm
Danithew, I agree. Sort of. At least as far as telling the story, this one was my favorite. X2 especially just had too much crammed in, plotwise. This one was less muddy and a lot of fun.
Comment by Allison — May 26, 2006 @ 9:44 pm
Dan, I’m a big X-men fan, but believe me, the more you reflect back on the movie, the less it holds up.
Comment by Supergenius — May 26, 2006 @ 10:07 pm
it was fun. but that’s it. ratner is great at emulating other directors’ styles, but lacks the ability to make me care.
Comment by Sean Cassity — May 26, 2006 @ 10:57 pm
Damn straight Sean. Ratner’s a good imitator, but he’s hardly an innovator and the scope of this one was way past him.
Comment by Supergenius — May 26, 2006 @ 10:59 pm
this movie was a piece of shit, are you sure you are all talking about the same one?
Comment by don cogn — May 27, 2006 @ 8:28 am
Maybe when more people have seen the movie we can talk freely about what worked and what did not work. I’d like to see it hashed out.
Comment by danithew — May 27, 2006 @ 9:37 am
I liked the movie. But the Beast character did not live up to my expectations. Just because you paint Kelsey Grammer in blue latex, glue on a bit of fur here and there, and make him walk around with a some extra padding doesn’t qualify him as a very impressive mutant. What was his mutant talent, anyway? That he was blue? That he shed on the furniture? I think I’d want the cure too, if blue skin and fur were my only mutation
Comment by Elisabeth — May 27, 2006 @ 4:33 pm
Elisabeth: Well, I guess he can read upside down…
Comment by Allison — May 27, 2006 @ 5:17 pm
He also has super fighting jumping butt-kicking powers.
The movie was fine. Nothing to get real excited about. I have some complaints about the story and the characters but overall it was good enough.
Comment by Tom — May 27, 2006 @ 5:38 pm
Let’s just say some mutant powers are more useful than others. And there were some pretty interesting androgynous mutants in X3 - like the sonic waves girl/boy at the end. That was a cool power.
By the way, another movie I saw this weekend (on DVD) was Mrs. Henderson Presents, with Judi Dench (who was nominated for an Oscar last year for her role) and Bob Hoskins, with a large cameo by Christopher Guest of Spinal Tap, Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman fame. It was great - check it out! (p.s. despite the subject matter, there really isn’t that much to see. Disappointing :P)
Comment by Elisabeth — May 28, 2006 @ 7:00 am