Summer's Big Disappointment

Rating: 5/10 (25 July 2006)

Sure, I have given other summer releases worse reviews (see "My Super-Ex Girlfriend"), but X3: The Last Stand is truly the summer's biggest disappointment. The first two X-Men films were highly enjoyable thrill rides in the hands of Bryan Singer (Superman Returns). They both set up the Dark Phoenix arc, a chilling tragedy that is the true heart of the X-Men comics. The transforming of kind telepath Jean Grey (Famke Jannesen) into a cold, calculated killer is an emotionally fragile story, and one that falls to pieces in the hands of Bret Ratner. Yes, it's clichÃ© to blame the guy behind the Rush Hour films blew this movie, but he did. Bryan Singer juggled social consciousness with popcorn fun effortlessly. But Ratner switches gracelessly between the two. A plot point about a "cure" for the mutant "disease" quickly loses all meaning and becomes a metaphor for homosexuality. The action setpieces are constant, yet none of them are truly memorable. The final battle is an overcrowded bore, and the movie rushes the story to a forced conclusion. The rock and redeemer of this movie is the ensemble cast. All the X-Men (and women) fit well into their respective parts, no matter how brief they are. John Powell's score is a sweeping addition to the film as well. Overall, X-Men: The Last Stand is crammed full of plot, but at the same time, running on empty.