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