Too Many New Characters

Rating: 7/10 (17 November 2008)

I assume that people reading reviews for the third X-Men film will have seen the previous two, if not stop reading now as it is impossible to review this without giving away the ending to the second film.
Those people who enjoyed the first two films will be pleased to know that most of the characters return, including one that we thought had died at the end of X-Men 2. Unfortunately as soon as Jean reappears it is clear that she isn't the woman she once was as she kills Cyclops who was the one mutant who didn't believe she was dead. If this isn't enough to worry about a company has developed a "cure" for mutants that will instantly remove their powers. Not surprisingly Magneto decides this must be stopped even though it is claimed that it is purely voluntary. When he tries to liberate Mystique from custody he learns that it is not fully voluntary as her guards are armed with weapons that fire darts that contain the cure, unfortunately they used it on Mystique so one of the best characters makes an early exit from the film.
For me the main weakness of this film was the introduction of a large number of new mutants, so many in fact that it wasn't really possible to care about them as much as it was in earlier films. That said I was pleased to see Kitty Pryde. now played by the excellent Ellen Page, getting a larger role than before. There was also an over use of special effects; the moving of the Golden Gate Bridge while looking impressive felt like it was being done because such an effect is now possible not because the story needed it. All that said I still enjoyed the film and think it is worth watching, especially if you enjoyed the first two instalments even if only to find out how it ends. Talking of the end; don't switch off when the end credits start as there is a short extra scene after them.