Summer Review #3 -- X-Men: The Last Stand

I have been wanting to see the third X-Men film ever since I saw the end credits for X2. :-) The first two were terrific films and adaptations, with an interesting cast and meaningful themes woven throughout the exciting stories. I was a little worried when I heard that Brett Ratner was taking over directorial duties from Bryan Singer but, as it turns out, Ratner has succeeded in keeping the spirit of the first two films, one that Singer had flawlessly transferred from page to screen.


**POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD**


In the third installment of the franchise, the U.S. government lab has invented a cure for the X gene, placing mutants on both sides of the fence. Some mutants are eager to revert back to a more normal life, but some see the cure as merely the authorities' attempt to rid them of their individuality. On the other hand, whereas Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his X-Men see the cure as an ambiguous omen, Magneto (Sir Ian McKellen) and his Brotherhood see it as an unnecessary evil, created solely to exterminate their superior powers. While the unrest over the cure is brewing, the incredibly powerful entity Phoenix is born from the ashes of Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and she has yet to choose a side...

Just like the previous two films, The Last Stand poses some moral issues regarding individuality vs. conformity. If you could rid yourself of whatever makes you unique, just for the sake of possibly fitting in among the rest of the world, would you do it? Is the cure really what it seems to be or is it oppression in disguise? Whether it makes life easier or not, you would doubtlessly need to think well and hard about the consequences, which makes us understand both Magneto's resistance and Rogue's enthusiasm. I found both the story and the film's visual aspects to be much darker than those of X-Men and X2. The prospect of a final war and a final defense of sides is colored in sombre and often hopeless hues. The action sequences are much more violent than in the previous two installments. Much of the humor of the first two films is gone, replaced by melancholy elements that fit into the film's themes; however, some of it pops up occasionally, perfectly timed to brighten up the mood.

The way the film approaches the Phoenix legend is almost Gothic in its beauty. Famke Janssen is fantastic in the role, conveying a devastating mix of uncontrollable power, confusion and sadness, all the while hinting at the Jean Grey trapped underneath. She is excellent at using body language and glances to display emotions. Some of the Phoenix scenes are heartbreaking and serve to bring other characters together. One cannot help but feel the film's nostalgia for the characters' much happier times.

The only thing that could have improved the film is... well, more of it. Considering all the storylines, it should have been at least 20 minutes longer. I would have wanted to see more of some mutants' personal developments -- particularly Jean Grey/Phoenix, Pyro and Angel -- instead of seeing others, like Callisto and Arclight, merely for effects.

Finally, I appreciate Ratner staying on course with the series' fusion of action and metaphor. Thankfully, he does not go overboard with action and CGI, choosing to keep the focus on the human component. This part of the films gives them their soul and Ratner understands that.

This movie is a wonderful conclusion to one of the best trilogies ever made, and yet another hopeful metaphor of tolerance for our dysfunctional world.

8/10