In this last battle there is a terrifying new vaccine for the condition that causes mutancy, will it be given as a needed drug or imposed in weaponised form? Following on from the awesome X2 movie, X3 starts of slightly more sedately setting the scene for what will be the last fight for many of these genetic mutated humans, known as the X-Men. Old rivalries are still in place between Cyclopes and Wolverine who has not forgiven him for the death of Jean, the woman he loved. Ice Man and Pyro are back to fight it out and hopefully Ice man can tight the wrongs of his old friend and now enemy Pyro.
Again throughout the movie are good X-Men with their counterpart rivals on the evil Magneto's side. Magneto (Ian McKellen, The Da Vinci Code) does not come across as bad he has been in the two previous movies. He seems to have mellowed slightly and that coupled with some scene setting flash backs show Magneto and Professor X (Patrick Stewart, Excalibur) as friends and colleagues as they try to enrol Jean in their academy. It's a shame that such friends become such enemies.
As the movie progresses and the battle lines are drawn, (I will not describe here as the synopsis sums it up so well) mutants face mutants and also mankind in a vicious stand off that will ultimately end in bloodshed. The action comes fast and furious as the battle begins. Rumour has it that many of Wolverine's (Huge Jackman, Van Helsing) scenes were cut to make this movie less violent. With this knowledge in hand I tried to count how many he slayed but without success.
The editor must have cut as much has those razor sharp titanium talons. Each and every one of the main X-men characters is as clearly defined throughout the trilogy however, some slight exceptions and new additions to one in particular are made in this outing. Jean (Famke Janssen, Goldeneye) is not the person you thought she was. Sadly some top characters don't make it though this movie, but not to worry as it is the end game and as it is a trilogy all bets are off anyhow.
Look out for the unstoppable Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) as well as a heavily made up Kelsey Grammer as Beast. You will not be disappointed with The Last Stand, the whole Marvel comic entity is far from finished, the implementation of live action is just the next progression, characters can be made to do almost anything on screen now. Ever seen anyone move the Golden Gate Bridge?
It looks like the franchise is not over yet, some spin off movies about the characters are already in post production. Look out for Wolverine and Magneto.