Another entertaining sequel with lots of dazzle but no substance.

Rating: 5/10 (16 June 2006)

One more sequel, one more trip to the theater knowing it wont even be as good as the last one, more lowering of expectations (this is no 3 remember),more writing about ordinary sequels (despite the lowered expectations), more hoping that this is not the end of the original action movie.
This is the emergence of a disturbing trend in Hollywood movies, make sequel (or prequel) to a well established franchisee (comic or movie), pump it up with mind boggling special effects, satisfy a number of people from a wide range of audiences (harcore fans, special effect buffs, feminists, women, teens etc etc)and you have another movie that may not shatter any records or tempt critics but will guarantee that the studio coffers are filled.
Also alarming is that there are hardly any new action movies coming out that are not based on comics, video games or even rides. One one side you feel that its great that a vast pool of potential is now being put to use, but on the other side its alarming that there is nobody that is able to deliver a completely new action movie to Hollywood.
This movie follows the formula to the fullest.
They have succeeded in getting most of the cast (ones that were most popular at least) from the earlier two movies and as expected they have delivered as much as possible on the acting front. In fact all the cast including the side cast has been good and that has helped this mediocre movie to come across as convincing.
However it is clear that almost everyone has wanted a bigger more central role in this film and that means that we have an entire story revolving around a few X-men (way to much of Famke and Halle). Luckily this also means more of Sir Ian who is the only one who has played his role with the same panache as he played it in the original.
There are hardly any new interesting mutants or characters added to this film and I'm sure that most hardcore fans will be disappointed with this film. The two characters with most potential were The Juggernaut and The beast who were I'm sure sacrificed to the contracts of the bigger stars.
Way to much focus is put on Famke Jensons character which is completely bores you by the end of the film.
This movie however raises more questions than it answers and has at least a dozen plot holes and I've not even read the comics.
The most promising part of the film was the cure for mutancy but that was wasted and most of the focus was shifted to famkes character (who predictably can destroy the world hell we even have the hyper clichéd "WHAT HAVE I DONE" god please spare me!!!!!).
Again we have a movie that in the ending is about love, why the hell cant we have simpler motives that have spurned the greatest action movies such as survival, duty maybe even sacrifice.
This film does have its memorable moments such as the moving of the bridge and my favourite scene with Juggernaut and Kitty. Also it is peppered with great one liners and a couple of good action sequences.
Also the short length ensures that before you are about the start cribbing the movie is over.
In all a so ordinary sequel that can be watched with highly lowered expectations, which is peppered with flashes of brilliance, mind boggling special effects and great one liners.
+s great special effects, a couple of memorable scenes, great one liners, short length, good acting especially from Sir Ian.
-s dozen plot holes, tooooooo much focus on some characters, not enough side plots or stories, boring, clichéd and humdrum ending, doesn't even meet lowered expectations.
total 5/10 (in absolute terms more of 4)