Big Let Down

Rating: 5/10 (1 June 2006)

I am a huge fan of the comics from way back (mid 80's) and I enjoyed the first two X-men very much. I would put them just above Spiderman as the best super hero adaptations thus far. However X3 was a huge disappointment to me. The basic story, about the "mutant cure" was OK, but almost every new mutant was presented with no character development or worthwhile dialog. The effects were OK, but not great. Some things I thought were lame:
1) Magneto would not have ditched Mystique and left her naked on the truck. I know we are supposed to think he is a jerk, but he doesn't HATE humans, he fears an upcoming conflict between humans and mutants, and wants to nip it in the bud. She was not a threat, she was his right-hand gal, he would have compassion for her. 2) There apparently was no need for Magento to create his army of mutants to attack the facility. None had any "real" powers, and he let them all get captured/beaten, then attacked with just him, the Juggernaut, the fast chick, and Pyro. That's all he needed. He could have snuck up and gotten the mutant kid any time with just those 4. 3) what the hell is with Phoenix killing Scott and the Professor? I haven't read the X-Men comic in a few years, but when the hell did that happen? I am assuming she is so all powerful as the Phoenix that they are really not dead, just maybe thrown into another universe, but geez. 4) Horrible casting and use of mutants. Calisto was in this? I had to look her up. What a waste. And Spike? Why?
On the plus side it was nice to see Chris Claremont have a cameo, and Magneto seemingly getting his powers back at the end is a good sign that they realized the script left a big dead end. Hopefully they will crank out X4 quickly and with a good script to counter this debacle.