X-Men: The Last Stand
From AwardAnnals
 | |
| Director(s) | Brett Ratner |
|---|---|
| Series | Part 3 of The X-Men trilogy |
| Distributor | 20th Century Fox |
| Honors | |
| In the motion picture trilogy’s climax, a “cure” for mutancy threatens to alter the course of history. For the first time, mutants may choose to give up their powers and become human or retain their uniqueness, isolation, and alienation. The opposing viewpoints of mutant leaders Charles Xavier, who preaches tolerance, and Magneto, who believes in the survival of the fittest, are put to the ultimate test—triggering the war to end all wars. | |
In the motion picture trilogy’s climax, a “cure” for mutancy threatens to alter the course of history. For the first time, mutants may choose to give up their powers and become human or retain their uniqueness, isolation, and alienation. The opposing viewpoints of mutant leaders Charles Xavier, who preaches tolerance, and Magneto, who believes in the survival of the fittest, are put to the ultimate test—triggering the war to end all wars.
Honors
Reviews
Amazon.com
X-Men: The Last Stand is the third installment in the popular superhero franchise, and it’s an exciting one with a splash of fresh new characters. When a scientist named Warren Worthington II announces a “cure” for mutant powers, it raises an interesting philosophical question: is mutant power a disease that needs a cure, or is it a benefit that homo superior enjoys over “normal” human beings? No surprise that Magneto (Ian McKellen) and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants resist the idea that they need to be cured, and declare war on the human race. But it’s a little tougher for the X-Men, led by Professor X (Patrick Stewart), Cyclops (James Marsden), and Storm (Halle Berry). If you’re Rogue (Anna Paquin), for example, your power means you can’t even touch your boyfriend, Iceman (Shawn Ashmore). To compound matters, someone previously thought dead has returned, and might be either friend or foe.
With director Bryan Singer having moved on to Superman Returns, the franchise passes to the hands of Brett Ratner (Rush Hour), whose best work is done in the big action sequences such as a showdown between mutant armies. But it’s difficult to manage the sheer volume of characters when adding longtime comic-book stalwarts such as Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and Angel (Ben Foster), and one character in particular deserved better than an off-screen dismissal. And fans of the original Dark Phoenix comic book story might be underwhelmed by the movie’s resolution. X-Men: The Last Stand is presumably the last film in the series, but the ambiguous ending leaves possibilities open. Look for the two writers most responsible for making the X-Men who they were, Stan Lee and Chris Claremont, in early cameos. —David Horiuchi
Barnes and Noble
he X-Men trilogy draws to an eminently satisfying conclusion with this highly emotional, action-packed installment focusing on the final showdown between the “good” mutants led by Dr. Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and the “evil” ones led by Magneto (Ian McKellen). The latter's carefully calculated rebellion against human society gathers momentum when the government announces its plans to implement a recently discovered “cure” that neutralizes the mutant gene, but the X-Men (and -Women) remain steadfast in their defense of the status quo—even though it poses risks to them as well. Director Brett Ratner, who made his bones helming the Rush Hour movies, demonstrates his mettle by steering the complex story line through a maze of plot complications and new characters. He also shows himself more than equal to the task of staging elaborate action sequences that rely heavily on cutting-edge special effects, and the film's climactic donnybrook is one that X-Men fans will long remember. One thing, though: Prepare yourself for a high body count. Several major characters in this franchise won’t make it to the final fadeout, although colorful new ones—including Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, Ben Foster’s Angel, and Vinnie Jones’s Juggernaut—take their places. Of paramount importance is the fate of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), resurrected from the dead as the aptly named Phoenix; her character is the linchpin of the whole story. As superhero movies go, X-Men: The Last Stand is top shelf in every respect, and it’s sure to hold up in repeated viewings. Ed Hulse
