Not as good as X2, but still pretty good

Rating: 7/10 (29 May 2006)

Worthy follow-up to the near-masterpiece X2, perhaps the best comic book movie ever. Ratner isn't as talented as Bryan Singer. The film is a lot clunkier and imbalanced. The plot is somewhat less clear and a bit slow-moving. But the story is good, and it is generally very entertaining. Several of the action sequences are exceptional. My favorite sequence was the one where Juggernaut chased Kitty Pryde through Alcatraz Prison (she can move through walls  he can smash through walls). I'm sure a lot of die-hard geeks will have plenty to say  some of their favorite characters are disposed of rather nonchalantly. A couple of the main characters  Cyclops and Rogue  have almost no screen time. I was a little bothered that Ratner and his screenwriters weren't able to wring the proper amount of emotion out of the deaths of some major characters. I won't say who, but several characters go away in one way or another. Two of the main villains have more powerful final moments than three of the main good guys. Of course, the title hints that this will be the last X-Men movie, but there is plenty more story to tell and I will certainly be in line for the inevitable X-Men 4: Give Us More Money.