Get ready for the summer of less-than-stellar Blockbusters!

Rating: 3/10 (22 May 2006)

Watched a press screening of "X-men: The Last Stand", and before commenting on the film, let me mention that I am a huge fan of the previous films and the franchise... Now let me commence with the bashing. First thing tomorrow morning, Brett Ratner should apply for a teaching job at USC film school... because as the saying goes "those who can't DO, TEACH". Why is this guy working? I mean come on... look at his resume! Sure, he's responsible for the "Rush Hour" series, but seriously folks, was HE RESPONSIBLE for it's success, or was it the great script, casting and chemistry of Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker? Helen Keller could have been at the helm and it still would have worked. Brett should be putting his "Rush Hour" D.P's kids through college, for the doors that film opened for him. The guy's a hack, plain & simple.. and has not one artistic bone in his body. I mean, come on, he's dating Linsey Lohan and partying all the time?!? When's the last time you read about Lucus out on a binger? Anyways.. the movie was less than stellar. And as I've noticed with most of the ten-pole blockbusters coming to a local cinemaplex this summer, they whiz by you and you're well into the third act before you realize that there was no substance at all. Then the credits roll, the lights go up, and the usher is laughing cause you paid 15 dollars to see this crap! The movie itself has NO CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, NO GREAT DIALOGUE, NO SENSE OF URGENCE... it just revamps what has come before it and with little success. Sure the special effects are cool.. (note. not special!) and if you are truly a fan of the franchise, you root for the point at which it's going to get interesting.. but it never happens. Hollywood thinks we are morons that will shell out our hard earned cash for trite entertainment... and this summer might be the tipping point where it comes back to bite them right where they notice it most.. The Weekend Gross! Overall, this was a mildly entertain movie, but not what you'd expect and I put the sole blame on Brett Ratner. Singer probably would have done a great job and required a re-draft on the script. Ratner was too worried about if he had bottle service at "Hyde" last night... Check it on DVD!