X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Director: Brett Ratner
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen

Synopsis:
The development of a so-called mutant cure prompts Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants to escalate their war against humanity.

Impressions:
Bryan Singer built up quite a bit of good will with comic fans with the quite good first film and its much improved sequel. However, when he decided to do Superman Returns instead of this film, things went right down the crapper. It doesn't help that the Dark Phoenix Saga is gutted of all its worth and its hollowed-out shell is paraded in front of us, but that's just the start of this movie's many, many problems. It's generally higher rated by critics and fans alike over X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but both are thoroughly busted films with limited redeeming value. I will say that it was genius to cast Kelsey Grammer as Hank McCoy and to give him the role of Secretary of Mutant Affairs. It was also cool having R Lee Ermey do the voiceover when the Army is getting suited up with its anti-Magneto gear. That's about all I have to say that's positive. It seems like Cyclops' character was punished for James Marsden following Singer to Superman Returns (where he plays a much more interesting character anyway) and Halle Berry gets the bigger role she'd been agitating for (and thoroughly demonstrating why sidelining her in X2 was a good thing). Kid Omega has to be about the most garbage mutant in the history of ever (though I won't begrudge Ken Leung a paycheck). I like to imagine that Bill Duke as Trask is related to Peter Dinklage's Trask from Days of Future Past. There's a spinoff for you. Ugh. I could go on about other miserable aspects of the film like the clumsy Rogue-Iceman-Kitty love triangle, but what's the point? This movie followed by X-Men Origins very nearly did in the franchise. My natural inclination is to just tell you to skip this garbage heap, but as I was somewhat merciful to XMO:W, I figure I should do the same here. (Kelsey Grammer is pretty cool as Beast, after all.) If you're feeling generous, give it a watch, but you may wish you hadn't.

Rating:
50/50