Okay, for those of you who traded in your X-Men geek credentials a while ago, there are some things to know.
X-Men and X2 were directed by
Bryan Singer of
The Usual Suspects fame. Singer was also heavily involved in the story of the first two films.
Post-X2, there's some drama surrounding the series and Singer. I'm not entirely clear on the details, but it likely has something to do with a good many movie producers being dumbshits. The upside to Singer leaving the X-Men series is that he's directing
Superman Returns, which pairs him with Kevin Spacey for the first time since
The Usual Suspects.
So, for X-Men 3, we get
Brett Ratner. Now, while I enjoyed both Rush Hour films, Ratner isn't exactly an artistic genius, and it shows in the film. Singer has a great sense of composition (I particularly like the shot of Nightcrawler in front of the JFK portrait in X2). Ratner, not so much. Ratner's not really all that much different from your stock Hollywood director.
Now, I enjoyed the film, but it certainly doesn't hold a candle to the first two.
Some rapid fire thoughts:
Alan Cumming doesn't return to reprise his role as Nightcrawler. This sucks.
The Danger Room makes an appearance. We see a Sentinel, too, but it's only a creation of the Danger Room, not a real world threat.
A "cure" for mutation is found. Presumably this is lifted from the similar plot line in Joss Whedon's
Astonishing X-Men. A pity they didn't borrow the man's skill in writing while they were at it.
Speaking of Sentinels, Bolivar Trask, creator of the Sentinels, has a small role in the film. At least they kept those nice touches around for the fans.
Jean Grey isn't dead. Fans worldwide are shocked.
Cyclops dies. Thank god.
We finally get to see some of that moral ambiguity Charles Xavier is famous for. Too bad Jean/Phoenix reduces him to his component molecules before we actually delve into that thought, heaven forbid.
Ian McKellen is awesome, despite Ratner's best efforts to the contrary.
We briefly see Bobby Drake/Iceman sport that ice armor he's so famous for.
We see the fastball special. Twice.
Some punk-ass mutants ask Magneto why he doesn't have a mark. Catch a short nap, because you know the next few minutes of dialogue.
Stan Lee and Chris Claremont make cameos.
In one of many brazen acts of fanservice, Famke Janssen displays how a powerful telekinetic might go about getting it on.
Mystique uses the phrase "slave name." Score one for allusions blunter than Juggernaut's head.
Jean dies. Again. We all pretend to be surprised. Wake me when you kill her ten times in one film.
Fan favorite Kitty Pryde shows up. The writers are actually true to her character, giving her brains over brawn.
Did I mention how happy I am that Cyclops isn't in most of this movie?
Logan keeps forgetting that his skeleton and Magneto don't mix.
Why does Jean only get a memorial at the school after she dies for the
second time?
If you stick around until the end of the credits, you see that Xavier isn't exactly dead. Place your bets on when and how Jean and Cyclops will be resurrected in X4: The Last Stand, We Mean It This Time.
Okay, I did enjoy the film, but honestly, I'm
really waiting for
Superman Returns. Worth seeing, but see a matinee. Your wallet will thank you.
