X3

by BTD Greg

If you’re a fan of the X-Men movies, or of superhero movies in general, the latest X-Men movie, X-Men 3: The Last Stand (or “X3″), might feel a bit like eating from the lunch buffet at one of your favorite restaurants. There’s a lot to like and plenty of variety, served up with a comfortingly familiar flavor. But after it’s over, you may feel like you overindulged and that maybe if you had ordered off the menu, a little more care would have gone into the details of preparing your meal.

But enough with the metaphor, let’s talk about the movie. Brett Ratner directs, taking over for Bryan Singer who declined the opportunity to direct his third X-Men movie so that he could work on the upcoming Superman franchise revival. Ratner, who’s perhaps best known as the guy behind the Rush Hour movies, takes the “more is more” approach. There are more of just about everything in this movie: more characters, more explosions, more special effects and more peril. Even when something isn’t blowing up, everything is played big. There aren’t very many small moments in this movie. Thankfully, the one thing that Ratner does not overdo is the running time. The movie clocks in at a judicious 104 minutes, which feels about right.

The premise is familiar to the franchise: a pharmaceutical company has announced a “cure” for mutantism, and Magneto and his anti-human cohorts (which, in this movie, seem to consist of goth kids who camp out in the Pacific Northwest awaiting further instructions from the arch villain) are determined to destroy the vaccine (and possibly all of humanity in the process), believing that the new drug will be used to exterminate all mutants.

Several new mutants (both heroic and villainous) are introduced into the mix. Kelsey Grammer is surprisingly effective as Dr. Hank McCoy, former X-Men team member turned presidential cabinet member. The most interesting new character development involves the reemergence of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), who was left to an uncertain fate at the end of the last movie. Here, she emerges as Phoenix, an ambiguously unstable, but extremely powerful, mutant with a complicated relationship to the others in the film. It was nice to see Phoenix emerge because the Jean Grey character was pretty dull in the previous movies. Other new characters introduced here include Juggernaut (an unstoppable brute), Angel (an innocent mutant with an impressive wingspan) and Colossus (a heroic metal man). The requisite love triangle—it’s just not an X-Men movie without one—is provided by Iceman, Rogue and Kitty Pride, a pubescient mutant whose talents include running through walls and making Rogue crazy jealous. Sadly, Nightcrawler, the best character from X Men 2: X-Men United, never makes an appearance.

The acting is generally pretty good. Ian McKellan chews up the scenery with relish, as we’ve come to expect, though a couple of times it seemed that he was being asked to play everything a bit too broad. Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Patrick Stewart (Dr. Charles Xavier) continue to carry their respective roles with confidence and workmanlike competence.

X3 benefits from the genius of Stan Lee and the Marvel universe. Although there are clear heroes and villains, it’s not obvious which side has the better argument, or how we should feel about the actions taken by the humans in the film. The themes addressed in the plot (individuality, free will, determinism, radicalism), are all sufficiently meaty to add a layer of depth to what is, of course, a comic book action movie. The production design and, for the most part, the special effects, are also top-notch. The film’s main weekness, however, is that it never really connects emotionally. Several scenes that aim for pathos, or at least emotional shock-value, end up falling somewhat flat. Even though the story presents interesting viewpoints and perspectives, it fails to deliver any empathy for the characters. Granted, that may be asking a lot from this type of film, but movies like Batman Begins and Spiderman 2 both managed set the bar fairly high, letting us know it can be done. For that matter X2 was more successful on an emotional level. At the same time on a few occasions X3 aims low for cheap laughs, going for kicks to the crotch and one-liners that are more glib than clever. And while the directing is competent, it wasn’t anything special either.

If you enjoyed the first two X-Men movies, you’ll probably enjoy this one too. I know I did. As summer movies go, it works well on the level of a popcorn-and-soda flick. But don’t blame me if you come in with high expectations, and leave with the cinematic equivalent of a tummy ache.

30 Comments

  1. I’m pretty sure I’m going to like this movie. The first two X-men movies had their little issues that rankled, but I still enjoyed them as well. Sounds like this one will follow that pattern.

    I am wondering why Nightcrawler doesn’t show up at all. I’ve heard a few times that he isn’t in the movie but there’s no explanation for it.

    I’m curious about the Callisto character. In the seven-minute-preview she demonstrates she has super speed. Any other skills show up in the movie?

    Also, in the seven-minute-preview there was a character who clapped his hands together to create some kind of disturbance or force wave. Who is that character and what exactly is he doing? I’m wondering if this is the mutant that showed up in the comics under the name Avalanche or if it’s another character.

    Comment by danithew — May 24, 2006 @ 2:49 pm

  2. Dan, it’s not Avalanche - it’s Arclighter.

    Comment by Supergenius — May 24, 2006 @ 2:55 pm

  3. I actually liked this movie better than X2. For all the weirdly un-touching moments and missing characters, I think it told the story a little better. X2 seemed a little rushed and kind of muddled to me, like there was too much stuff competing for attention.

    Comment by Allison — May 24, 2006 @ 3:17 pm

  4. Thanks Supergenius. That character is new to me. In the old 80s comics I used to buy, there was a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (led by Mystique, not Magneto) named Avalanche. I’ll have to learn something about this Arclighter character.

    Comment by danithew — May 24, 2006 @ 3:38 pm

  5. Wikipedia is doing a pretty good job of answering questions in this entry for X-Men III: The Last Stand. Now I recognize Arclight. Back when I was reading comics, Arclight was a member of a ferocious killer group called the Marauders. I’m not sure why Arclight was placed alongside Callisto in the new movie. In the original comics, Callisto was the leader of a underground group of mutants called the Morlocks. In that story, Arclight went underground with her group and massacred Morlocks. That would seem like a great story for a future X-Men movie to pick up. Oh well.

    Comment by danithew — May 24, 2006 @ 3:47 pm

  6. Thanks for the review, Greg! I look forward to seeing the movie. My sister made my day this morning when she gleefully called me to say that she couldn’t wait to watch Kelsey Grammer as the Beast. I had no idea what she was talking about (although I have seen the first and second X-Men movies), and Frasier isn’t exactly scary enough to be any kind of beast creature, but she’s really excited about it.

    Comment by Elisabeth — May 24, 2006 @ 8:32 pm

  7. I saw this free on Tuesday. It’s not bad if you don’t know anything about the comics, but otherwise it left a bad taste in my mouth.

    Pro: Lots of mutant stuff on display. A few good lines.

    Con: Violent injustice to continuity. Less-than-subtle subtext.

    Comment by Ben S. — May 26, 2006 @ 10:28 am

  8. I loved this film. In my opinion it was the best of the X-Men movies yet.

    Anyone who goes should make absolutely sure to sit through the credits as there is something to see at the end.

    Comment by danithew — May 26, 2006 @ 7:54 pm

  9. Will someone tell me what happened at the end credits! I’ve seen the movie but i didn’t know about the thing at the end.

    Comment by JarenL. — May 29, 2006 @ 4:22 pm

  10. SPOILER ALERT!!!

    JarenL.,
    We see the comatose/brain dead man that Professor Xavier used as an example in the ethics class that he was teaching to the students. The camera moves so that the man is no longer in the picture and focuses on the nurse’s (Olivia Williams) face. We hear Professor Xavier’s voice say something to her and she is surprised. That’s it.

    Comment by Tom — May 29, 2006 @ 4:30 pm

  11. I can’t remember what he says, but I don’t think it’s significant.

    Comment by Tom — May 29, 2006 @ 4:31 pm

  12. Terrible film. Very predictable. First one is my fave.

    Comment by David J — May 29, 2006 @ 4:53 pm

  13. David J,

    There were plenty of things wrong with X3, but I didn’t find it particularly predictable. Also, I wouldn’t rank the first one ahead of X2. I thought the original X-Men movie was too rushed and too full of exposition to really take off.

    Comment by BTD Greg — May 29, 2006 @ 11:35 pm

  14. I’ve seen the word “predictable” used in many criticisms of the film. So I’m wondering, what was predictable?

    Comment by danithew — May 30, 2006 @ 6:55 am

  15. Greg and Dan, you didn’t think that it was completely predictable that Wolverine would kill Jean Grey?

    Comment by Supergenius — May 30, 2006 @ 8:23 am

  16. Fellas, sorry, maybe it’s just me. I saw Wolverine’s killing of Jean from a mile away as well. I also foresaw Magneto getting hit with “the cure,” and to top it off, I also foresaw it coming that some of his power would not leave him despite the cure (ie, the little chess piece at the end). I also saw Storm’s leadership of Xavier’s school coming from far off, for reasons too politically incorrect for me to enumerate in public (oops, did I just give it away???). ;)

    Okay, okay, two things that were unpredictible: that they did almost nothing with that little boy whose mutation was to reverse mutation, and I gotta admit, I didn’t see Xavier’s death coming.

    The only thing I liked about X2 was that we found out more surrounding Wolverine’s funky past.

    Comment by David J — May 30, 2006 @ 9:23 am

  17. I agree with everything David J says except the last sentence.

    Comment by Supergenius — May 30, 2006 @ 10:39 am

  18. I thought Wolverine would somehow break through to Jean, who would magically gain some self-control through the power of love. I was prepared to gag.

    Comment by Allison — May 30, 2006 @ 11:57 am

  19. David, I can see why a number of those things were predictable … mainly because in the comic books themselves Wolverine kills Phoenix and Storm becomes leader of the X-Men. These things appeared in the comic books storylines way back in the 80s.

    I didn’t foresee the cure being used on Magneto or Mystique. I especially didn’t see it happening to Mystique that early in the movie.

    The whole cure scenario appeared in the comics years ago as well, except it was some kind of special gun blast (not a plastic dart). The person who got hit with “the cure” in the comics was Storm.

    Now that I think about it a little, part of the predictability of Wolverine killing Phoenix was due to the commercials and trailers where you clearly see Jean Grey saying to Wolverine “kill me”.

    I didn’t foresee Xavier, Cyclops or Callisto getting killed.

    I’ll just have to shrug off the mixed and negative reviews, which seem to have appeared in the blogs and from the critics. My impression is they can’t stand the director.

    [p.s. In the comics, Leech was a Morlock, a group under the leadership of Callisto.]

    Comment by danithew — May 30, 2006 @ 12:27 pm

  20. danithew, WOW! I had no idea all of that stuff was in the comics. I must admit that I never knew anything of the comics and hadn’t seen a single trailer or teaser trailer for X3 before I went to the theater to see it. All I knew of X-Men before the movie franchise was the interactive arcade game of the same name which appeared in the mid 1990s. Colossus was my favorite in the game, and I was happy to see him in X3.

    Superman, on the other hand, I know quite well, and I’m preparing myself for a disaster.

    Comment by David J — May 30, 2006 @ 2:54 pm

  21. David J, why are you so down on Superman? Bryan Singer has a pretty good track record. The trailers look good. My only concern is that it seems follow the movie franchise a bit too reverently. I would have liked to have seen a reinvention, a la Batman Begins.

    Comment by BTD Greg — May 30, 2006 @ 4:17 pm

  22. Supes Returns is going to rule all. I say it now. RULE ALL.

    Comment by Supergenius — May 30, 2006 @ 5:54 pm

  23. Obviously, if Superman Returns beats X3 I’ll be a very happy man. You won’t hear any complaints from me on that score. I have a thing for comic book movies.

    Comment by danithew — May 30, 2006 @ 7:58 pm

  24. BTD, my fear is that Superman will become passe and boring or worse, unnoticed. I don’t know. I fear we’re going to see a Superman that has all of the “modern” Supermans mixed into one — Smallville, Lois and Clark (was that the name of the Terri Hatcher version?), etc. I like vintage Superman. Superman II was the last good one, I thought. “Dear God.” “It’s Zod.” Great line.

    And yes, a “Superman Begins” would have really hit the spot if they would be faithful to the story (seems like Batman Begins [delightfully] deviated somewhat, but I’m not a Batman pro — anybody verify this?). But I have read that there will be some “history” in the new film, and even a guest (read: cgi) appearance from Marlon Brando, whose voice I believe I heard in one of the trailers (taken from the original film).

    This is terribly tangential, but the ending of this season’s 24 reminded me of something — the last time our hero found himself in dire straits in China, he came home as Batman…. Jack Bauer in a cape, anyone??? ;)

    Comment by David J — May 30, 2006 @ 10:21 pm

  25. So why didn’t Wolverine just give Jean Grey the cure instead of stabbing her to death? (Or am I not supposed to ask those questions?)

    Comment by BobC — May 31, 2006 @ 11:05 pm

  26. Bob, the answer: because the movie sucked.

    Comment by Supergenius — June 1, 2006 @ 12:43 am

  27. I’m not sure how you would have gotten something like a syringe full of “cure” close enough to Jean to poke her with it. It’s one thing if you’re a super quick healer and have an adamantium skeleton, but please stow all objects securely.

    Comment by Matt — June 1, 2006 @ 2:34 pm

  28. Wolverine didn’t kill Jean Grey/Phoenix in the comics. She committed suicide during one of her lucid moments while fighting the X-Men and the Shi’ar on the moon, mentally activating an ancient Kree automatic defense weapon and killing herself while Cyclops watched.

    Yes, I was reading the X-Men back in 1980. What were you doing?

    Comment by Russell Arben Fox — June 2, 2006 @ 1:42 pm

  29. RAF, thanks for correcting me. I don’t know how I got that impression …

    I was kind of hoping that the Brood would eventually show up in an X-Men movie. Hasn’t happened yet. Maybe the Brood are too much like the creatures in the Alien moies. There is certainly a remarkable resemblance.

    Comment by danithew — June 2, 2006 @ 4:13 pm

  30. Plus, just one dart wouldn’t do it with JG/Phoenix.

    They needed four for Magneto & It still might not have worked.

    The bit at the end with Xavier at the end was a bone thrown to the fans who want the franchise to LIVE!

    I think Patrick Stewart told the studio this is his last gig, so they came up with coma-guy to continue Prof X with a new face.

    Time will tell.

    My husband is officially pissed at the lack of Jubilee.

    & the sentinels -until I pointed out that the opening simulation was definitely a nod (hee) to the big S.

    Comment by Jennifer — June 5, 2006 @ 12:11 pm