Hoping for more, but hey it's Brett Ratner

“X-Men : The Last Stand”
Starring: Ian McKellan, Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Paquin
3 stars out of 4


The X-Men series has maybe gasped it’s last breath, if ended now it would stand as a fine trilogy and antecedent to all comic-book trilogies. Now in the hands of Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, Red Dragon) who gave his best effort under a tight shooting schedule and supposed lower budget.
Bryan Singer directed the previous two installments, which both fared well at the box office and in critics favor, some critics felt X2 was one of the better superhero films in recent time. Singer has moved onto bigger and maybe better things as he tries to resurrect the Superman franchise, most fans felt he owed the X-Men series one last hurrah before he bid farewell.

Ratner has stepped into his place, not knowing what to expect, The Last Stand ends up standing fine on it’s own two feet. The regulars are all back including some new faces such as Kelsey Grammer playing Beast/Hank McCoy, who can walk in both worlds as he stands as a representative for the Government on behalf of mutant betterment, and also as a friend to Xavier’s students.

The struggle between humans and mutants is growing stronger, along with the dispute that has waged forever between Magneto played wondrously by Ian McKellan, and Charles Xavier who looks to cure one of his own, Jean Grey. Grey has been taken over by a dark force called Phoenix who can make her turn her anger, love, and passion into rage and destroy anything in her path, Magneto would love to use her in his fight against the humans.

Meanwhile the Government looks to permanently cure mutants, some will turn themselves in and be accepted, some will fight for who they are. Rouge is one of the ones looking for change, as she longs for human touch and emotion, the cure is her only freedom. Along with many mutants from the Xavier house, Wolverine and Storm will lead the charge as several of there friends fall victim to Jean’s Phoenix creation.

The film is about equality, and fighting for it. The first X-Men was introducing all of the main characters and there traits, explaining the difference between Magneto’s view along with Xavier’s view of human and mutant equality. X2 brought Magneto’s followers and the X-Men together against William Striker, a military rebel of sorts looking to end all mutant activity.

The Last Stand knows where it lies, I believe it’s a tad better than the original, but no where near as good as X2. Some faults to note, Ratner is extremely clumsy when handling important deaths among the characters, he uses Wolverine’s intensity as an exciting character in a throw away fight in the woods. Why not add another 15 minutes on to the film to add some meat and color in some grey and forgotten areas, make Beast a little more intriguing. Ratner did what he could, with what he could, the film was rushed if you ask me, I’m sure Ratner could have made a great follow up to X2, instead he makes a good one that doesn’t mess up to bad. If this does turn out being the last X-Men for a while, I think the fans will accept Ratner’s trademark of directing, which is being conservative

Rookie director Abrams saves the series, barely

“Mission Impossible:3”
Starring: Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ving Rhames, Keri Russell, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Ryhs Meyers, Maggie Q, Laurence Fishburne, Billy Crudup
3 stars out of 4


Once again new blood is brought to the helm of the spy series, this time it’s in the hands of the creator of Lost and Alias. J.J Abrams who makes his directional debut here, leaves nothing to chance and sticks to what he knows best, non stop action that audiences crave.

Cruise is back as super agent Ethan Hunt, who is now engaged and is actually in love. Michelle Monaghan plays his fiancée Julia, who doesn’t know the true nature of his work. In a quiet scene that Abrams makes work, Ethan tells Jules to just trust him, that all that he asks. This time the villain is Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman who plays Owen Davian, an international arms dealer who has a long list of clients and an even deadlier list of merchandise. Davian is after the “rabbits foot” which he will sell for a large price and the buyer will probably use it for world domination.

It’s Hunt’s mission to detain Davian and grab possession of the rabbit’s foot. Hunt’s team consists of his long time friend Luther(Rhames) and new IMF blood that includes Rhys Meyers and Maggie Q. Abrams fast pace scope takes us to Germany, Rome, Shanghai and every stunt in between. The set pieces are there, it just up to this good looking cast to perform well in front of them.

The problem with the last 2 films of the series, was that with the first one a lot of the cast is killed of early, no character development anywhere. The 2nd installment placed in John Woo’s hands contained to much action, it was basically Ethan against the world, especially no character development there. Abrams knows how to show relationships, he does it all to well with his gold mine T.V series’, but he shows a strong relationship between Ethan and Jules, MI:3 shows emotion and some humor, both sorely lacking in the series so far. With this film most likely being the final installment, Abrams goes out with style as he mashes together a handful of movie stars and let’s them have fun. Laurence Fishburne plays the head honcho over at IMF headquarters, Billy Crudup does fine work as the hands off mission leader for Ethan's team.