A much missed Singer in a empty, but entertaining action-movie

Rating: 5/10 (27 June 2006)

X-Men: The Last Stand could have become the ultimate blockbuster this year but it doesn't. Why this is I think is pretty obvious, director Bryan Singer is much missed from the very opening of the movie and it's not putting under the carpet that it was Singer that made the whole X-Men franchise more than the average action-movie. Singer had structure and depth, and the second installment of the X-Men series may just be the best superhero-movie of all time. With Singer departing the production and making his go for the new Superman-movie, X-Men was left behind and they had to make a problematic solution; Brett Ratner.
Brett Ratner makes the third one big and explosive, probably the most crowd-pleasing of them all. The set-pieces are fantastic (Magneto removing the Golden Gate is one especially memorable), the action is louder and rougher and there's thrown in many new mutants with fascinating skills. Though Singer had a brilliant way of putting Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in focus, Ratner looses touch and grip of his character and Wolverine falls behind and is overblown by freaks as Magneto and Phoenix. X-Men: The Last Stand hasn't got the punch and grit of the two earlier movies, and this is very much felt and so Ratner has to do what he does best; making explosive action. And some of the scenes are outright impressive and without doubt highly enjoyable watching. Even Famke Janssen's returning Jean Grey aka Phoenix makes some burning' hot scenes here, though her ex-boyfriend Cyclops is wasted and so is Professor Xavier (!!) X-Men: The Last Stand offers new superheroes too, and though they're all okay Ratner makes a huge mistake offering Vinnie Jones a role here; playing the ridiculous Juggernaut he is the biggest throwaway.
X-Men: The Last Stand has got several good times but also some bad things and what's supposed to be the last roll of the dice even hints at a fourth coming. Let's hope for Singer if so.