The Notion of Prequels and Sequels In Hollywood Productions Suffers Its Greatest Setback

Rating: 3/10 (12 July 2006)

Going to this film with the notion it would be as tragic as it turned out to be, wasn't even being considered as I lined up to purchase my cinema ticket. The previous X-Men films rank along side the likes of the Spiderman films and Batman Begins, in terms of being effective multi-layered superhero/comic book adaptations without merely relying on the gratuitous action sequences. Alas this instalment ranks alongside the likes of Episode I as a severe disappointment.
Where in the prior two thirds of this "trilogy" action was balanced with well thought out plot and character developmen,t cleverly utilising the original graphic novels, and while the notion of a cure is encapsulating, and indeed, plausible for the first minute segment, all is sacrificed into turning Wolverine into a "last action hero".
Character development boils down to singular monosyllabical sentences of ripened clichés, as, all but, in turn the X-Men reveal their own personal appraisals of the "cure" situation, and that is all. Rogues relationship begun to blossom throughout the second trilogy, yet she chooses a strange path not befitting to her character, and we only have one single statement of intent as justification for such an act. Beast, whilst voiced amiably by Kelsey Grammar, enters from utter obscurity, as the mutants the audience grew attached and form links with in two are jettisoned for quick fix characters whose whole purpose for existence in the film is to provide "different moves".
The love triangle is what bothered me more than all the films inept moments combined, as Scotts demise is hurried and non-sensical (i.e. Anakin - Episode III) leaving Wolverine as the sole proprietor of deeply emotive feelings directed toward Jean ala Phoenix. Cyclops was presented as a mere shadow of himself and utterly untrue to the graphic novels, however this surprisingly is the least of my concerns, seeing as the prior two have been loose adaptions, it is merely the manner in which everything is achieved in this film through gritted teeth. It forces what you do not wish to see down your throat, as you as an audience member, are forced to watch as piece by piece the trilogy defragments into dust and oblivion.
While picking out specific moments in the film both positive or negative is somewhat taxing, the impression left on the viewer in the aftermath is what is noticed, and this indescribable feeling of disgust, resentment and regret consumes you whenever you try recalling the shambolic ending to a promising saga. It's enough to make you want to watch The Fantastic Four. Yes. X-Men 3 was really that bad.