Great film, but a strange sense of disappointment.

Rating: 7/10 (6 June 2006)

***MAJOR SPOILERS***
I was expecting this film to be one of those films where at the end you sit back and go "wow"... But X-men 3: The last stand left me leaving the cinema quietly with an overwhelming sense of disappointment and confusion. Several questions came to mind, and even more answers.
1. A lot of attention has been brought to the fact that this IS the LAST 'X-men' film in the TRILOGY. But at the end of the film we see Magneto playing chess by himself, he clearly makes a metal chess piece move (although only slightly). And I'm left asking myself "What is the point in the whole film if the "bad guy" still has his mutant powers at the end?" And especially if its the end of a series of films. Where would we be at the end of star wars if Darth Vader were still alive! It clearly opens up the door for a FORTH film in the TRILOGY. Doesn't quite work does it?
The only response I had to this question is that I know there is a film being made just based around Wolverine, and the only way it can make any sense is if Magneto is the enemy in that film. Although it's obvious who would win that battle.
2. We are introduced to a new mutant in this third film, "Angel" (Ben Foster) is quite an elaborate character, and is quite a nice addition to the original X-men we are used to. But there is no detail into his origin, his life, and where he goes with it. At the start of the film we see him as a young boy destroying his wings. We see him almost being given the "cure" and escaping. And we see him saving his fathers life and flying off into the sun set... that's it, he doesn't say much, he doesn't do much, and he doesn't really interact with the other mutants (this could be deliberate by the director, maybe to emphasise how much of an outcast he is) but what's stranger? Having beautiful white wings... Or having spikes come out of your whole body? I don't see why he is such an outcast, and why nothing much is done with his character.
3. The death of Scott Summers(James Marsden), or better known as Cyclops comes quickly and pointlessly; he storms off out of the school to search for the voices in his head. Next thing we know, he's dead, his glasses floating around the shore of the lake created at the end of the second film. Well...
Make of it what you will, but I thought in all honesty it was kind of crap. I love to see one of the main characters die as much as the next fan, and I wasn't surprised it was Cyclops, but it was so sudden and with no investigation that the audience don't care, they want to know what Magneto is up to.
4. Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) Magnetos main henchman (if that's the correct term) is turned into a human by a guard during her rescue scene, and Magneto leaves her naked in a smashed up coach in the middle of know where... Well apart from my girlfriend yelling "bastard" out load in the cinema at Magneto, nothing much happens with this either. We see her later in the film giving details of the where about of Magnetos mutant army "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" indeed, but lets at least see her walking down the street and trying to turn into someone and everyone just looking at her like "What's she doing?" We don't get to see the effect of becoming human on the mutants that receive treatment.
Other then those main complaints I did enjoy this film, my favourite part was defiantly when the army thought they where surrounding Magnetos mutant army, only to find it was just Multiple Man (Eric Dane) multiplied out into about 100 guys. Very clever. And I knew Wolverine would say some sad cheesy line during a fight scene, thank god it was a classy one! "Grow those back" Very cool. I know I complained about the whole Magneto moving the chess piece at the end, but when it moved it did give me Goosebumps, he is one of my favourite characters and I would love very much to see a come back.
If your one of those people that like to watch a film with no questions left unanswered at the end, then this film IS NOT for you. However if you love a good old action film (especially a marvel one) with a great ending which leaves you bouncing of the walls asking the question "Has he still got his powers!? Has he still got his powers!? Has he still got his powers!?" then this film is defiantly for you.