Climactic (and climatic)

Rating: Null/10 (4 June 2006)

Bryan Singer directed two passable X-Men tales, but left this third outing for the mutants to Brett Ratner (three "Rush Hour" trips), while he went off to direct "Superman Returns". The other distinguishing feature of this sequel is that there is a strong narrative idea - the discovery of a 'cure' for mutantcy - so that the plot is easier to follow, although the full political potency of such an interesting concept is not explored. As with the two earlier films, there are some superb special effects and entertaining action sequences.
The great appeal of the X-Men franchise is the multiple variations in the extraordinary powers possessed by them and how these work with and against each other. So many of the old favourites are back, including the noble Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his colleagues Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and - in a more developed role - Storm (Halle Berry), the maniacal Magneto (Ian McKellan) and the wonderfully exotic Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), and crucially the super-powerful Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), although this time it's unclear where she stands among these opposing forces. Then, as always, we have some new characters to entertain us, such as hairy and blue-skinned Beast (Kelsey Grammar), huge-winged Angel (Ben Foster) and the unstoppable Juggernaut (a typecast Vinnie Foster).
Cleverly the whole thing comes in at half an hour shorter than "X-Men 2" so that, at 104 minutes, it doesn't outstay its welcome. It all comes together in a climactic (and climatic) battle set on Alcatraz Island with Golden Gate Bridge playing a spectacular role (although the whole is actually shot in Vancouver). Of course, the good guys win but there are some losses and the final seconds of the movie creates the opening for a further sequel ...