X-Men 3 Well Done Except.....

Rating: 9/10 (15 June 2006)

First of all I thought the movie was really well done and the acting was top notch. Beast played by Kelsey Grammar did a good job, better than expected. Because of him I could forgive the lack of Nightcrawler, who I never liked the movie version of him anyway (though still awesome effects in X2). I simply didn't like Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, he has always been devilishly handsome in the comic book, and well....Alan Cumming is not. In the movie having Juggernaut be British was an interesting twist and the fight with him and Shadowcat was a memorable milestone in the movie. Personally I would have liked to have seen more of Jubilee, also in the movie credits is Psylocke who would have been a nice addition since the team psychic was the villain and Professor X dies in the first hour.
My first disappointment was that Phoenix though mentioned as a latent personality of Jean Grey (great twist) never actually became the fiery Phoenix bird (key placement would have been when she arose from the lake) perhaps it could have been lack of funding but I think it was required.
Second Disappointmen, why weren't characters properly introduced? I had no idea that the girl with super speed was Callisto since super speed is not one of her powers. Also, I thought Archlight was a strange mix of Rictor and Avalance in female form, I had completely forgotten about the Marauder Archlight, which after seeing the movie a second time I did hear someone in the movie quickly use her name.
Third Disappointment was Angel....OK he was integral to the plot but Ben Fosters run out the window was a little sad...his arms were just too campy as and I think Angel should have been a returning student like Beast was and possibly been played by Ethan Hawke....Cary Elwes...or an unknown blonde pretty boy/man. Also having Phoenix actually fight the X-Men would have been nice, yes they had their hands full but having Phoenix throw Colossus around or did more besides trying to disintegrate Wolverine would have been cool. Losing Rogue was strange...I didn't like Anna Paquin as Rogue could have picked someone a bit more Southern if you ask me, but having her "cured" was a bit of a let down but I do understand her reasoning. FINALLY Iceman became Iceman (when fighting Pyro) I was happy and Beast's fight scene was awesome. I wish they would have used Multiple Man a little more (very cute actor)he was funny and portrayed Multiple Man well.
Fourth and final disappointment Cyclops, Mystique, and Professor Xavier all got taken out way too early in the movie. Especially Cyclops. I can't believe they killed Cyclops (or did they? it would be a nice opening story line for X-Men 4). Having Mystique lose her powers angered me though I did give a chuckle when she got Magneto back by leaking information to the feds. Professor X dying (though watch after the epic credits and you will see him in another body with Moira-who by the way Moira was fabulous).
Now despite my complaining I really did like the X-Men 3 movie I'll get it when it comes out on DVD. I Don't try to compare it (story line wise) to the comic book because that would be 40 years crammed into 3 movies and the X-Men have always been portrayed in "alternate realities".