3rd in the series delivers the goods

Rating: 6/10 (28 May 2006)

With a new director, Brett Ratner, replacing Bryan Singer there was bound to be some concern amongst those of us who enjoyed the first two movies. I need not have worried: Ratner delivers in spades, skillfully managing to pack an enormous amount of plot-weaving into the 105 minute running time. Indeed there are so many characters in X-Men: Last Stand it's beginning to feel like a Tolstoy saga!
Once again Wolverine and Storm are strongly featured, and there are good performances all round - particularly from Famke Janssen; her turn as the resurrected Jean Grey/Phoenix is terrific. Ian Mckellen is a sumptuous (once again) Magneto. He's a complex character, far from just an out-and-out villain, and you sympathise with him in his battle against the mutant "cure" that's floating about. And indeed this is the central thrust of the film, examining the implications amongst the mutant community. Do you cure yourself of that which makes you different? To some it's a hideous curse; to others a blessing to revel in. There's much angst to be had here as both the X-Men and The Brotherhood of Mutants have tough decisions to make.
And of course, this being a summer blockbuster, there's action in spades. Ratner and his screen writers give us little snippets of stuff throughout, before unleashing a monumental climax every bit as spectacular as the Spider-Man Doc Ock train scrap in Spidey 2. It's breath-taking stuff.
There's a few weaknesses - it isn't as emotional as it ought to be - you should care more about the characters by the time we get to film three, but this doesn't spoil things. I'm trying not to give too much away here - there's some real surprises in store, and the ending just made me wish for another instalment. This is one franchise that has definitely NOT worn out it's welcome.