Disappointment

Rating: 5/10 (31 May 2006)

I have been a fan of X-Men for just short of forever. I read the comics, I watched the series, I collected trading cards, bought action figures, the whole nine yards. when I saw a movie was going to be made, i was afraid it wouldn't do the franchise justice, but it was very well done. When I saw a sequel, I buckled a bit because sequels are rarely as good as the first movie, but X2 blew me away. When I heard a third movie was made, I became quite excited and was anxious to see how they dealt with the open plot lines they left (Phoenix). I talked to people about it, read production notes, and waiting with held breath, went to a midnight showing and watched...
and cried...
I don't think I had ever considered that the movie would be such an atrocity to the franchise. I don't even know where to start. The plot line was entirely too stretched thin. The appearance of Angel seemed only to further the idea of Storm taking over the school (any scientist could have had the idea for the cure, it didn't have to be Warren's dad). The characters were given minimal substance, the plot twists were predictable (as soon as the professor expired, i instantly remembered the body Moira was taking care of, that had no other point in the movie except foreshadowing). Kitty Pryde and Colossus never really go into HOW they became members of the team from just students, they just are, and we are expected to just go with it.
And Phoenix... Phoenix was played out more as a maniacal ruthless murdered instead of a cold calculating villain. I personally don't like Cyclops, but originally, Phoenix was tamed by love for Scott. That, in my opinion, would have been a MUCH better way to play this, leaving Jean and Scott open for another movie. Here, Scott was killed pointlessly (pointless except for his filming for superman started soon, i guess) and without context. There were so many better ways to do the Jean/ Scott relationship that would have left doors open for further expansion into the franchise. As many others have commented, the battle scenes were great with some of the most enjoyable choreography hat really pulled you in, but as soon as someone started to feel something, the scene changed.
I felt like Ratner was told by the producers "We don't want another movie, so make sure there is no doubt this is the last." So characters were killed with reckless regard and the ones who lived were given shallow enough development where no one really cares. Poor showing.