As I hinted at in my last review of a film from this franchise, for years the much maligned “X-Men: The Last Stand” has been my favorite movie of the original trilogy. After my recent rewatch of “X2: X-Men United,” however, I thought I may finally come around and join the majority of people who hate on this installment. While I would say the second film is now my favorite of the trilogy, I cannot say that I hate this film.
After the traumatic ending of “X2,” one would think things couldn’t get much worse for the titular mutant team. Think again. As it turns out a pharmaceutical company has developed a “cure” for mutation, which forces lines to be drawn amongst mutants thankful for this salvation, and those who take umbrage with the very idea …show more content…
The parallels between the mutants and real life are lessened here, and those still present are handled less effectively. There is also more of a reliance on big, CGI-filled action scenes as a central aspect of the movie, whereas intellectual and emotional issues and largely practical fighting made up the previous two. The new CGI fights are OK, but the best moments come from the old, simple methods.
Most egregiously, though not in the term of the films biggest flaw, Kinberg and Penn cannot solve the bane of this trilogy’s existence: character development. “X-Men: The Last Stand” introduces every new character poorly, as they feel rushed and unsatisfactory. Even characters who play a fairly major role in the narrative, like Phoenix and Beast, get only a scarp of explanation.
Kinberg and Penn also mention to introduce a new problem to this category, as they cannot even kill characters well. This film sees two main characters die, with two more suffering something akin to death for them. None of these deaths, for those on the side of good or evil, packed any emotional punch. At least a couple of them should, but because of how poorly and unceremoniously they are handled audiences never feel the true power of these characters’
After the traumatic ending of “X2,” one would think things couldn’t get much worse for the titular mutant team. Think again. As it turns out a pharmaceutical company has developed a “cure” for mutation, which forces lines to be drawn amongst mutants thankful for this salvation, and those who take umbrage with the very idea …show more content…
The parallels between the mutants and real life are lessened here, and those still present are handled less effectively. There is also more of a reliance on big, CGI-filled action scenes as a central aspect of the movie, whereas intellectual and emotional issues and largely practical fighting made up the previous two. The new CGI fights are OK, but the best moments come from the old, simple methods.
Most egregiously, though not in the term of the films biggest flaw, Kinberg and Penn cannot solve the bane of this trilogy’s existence: character development. “X-Men: The Last Stand” introduces every new character poorly, as they feel rushed and unsatisfactory. Even characters who play a fairly major role in the narrative, like Phoenix and Beast, get only a scarp of explanation.
Kinberg and Penn also mention to introduce a new problem to this category, as they cannot even kill characters well. This film sees two main characters die, with two more suffering something akin to death for them. None of these deaths, for those on the side of good or evil, packed any emotional punch. At least a couple of them should, but because of how poorly and unceremoniously they are handled audiences never feel the true power of these characters’