Just saw X-Men III (Now with spoilers!)

[Firebeetle]

We previewed the latest installment last night. I was very, very pleased with it and felt it a worthy addition to the franchise. Moreover, it dares to go where few sequels have gone. This is definately an "all bets are off" picture. There are multiple deaths by IMPORTANT characters. Other characters are profoundly changed. Further, all deaths and changes serve to further the plot. As an English major, I'm very satisfied by the story.

As in the other two, the movie handles characterization brillantly. You quickly understand each character's emotional base and the interaction is terrific. Further, the characters are always morally grey, not black and white. You know why Professor X and Magneto respect each other, why Logan love Jean. This one really "completes the set" and makes for a true trilogy.

Of course, the fight scenes are spectacular. Entire structures are bent to the mutant's will. Whole ecosystems are brought low by them. The final battle scene is truly a battle. It's all incredible.

I'm sure someone will find something to complain about in this film. Right now, I'm too awestruck to think of it. Definately a "must see."

 

[Klaus]

I have a suspicion that one of my favorite X-Men will die, so spoil this one for me:

Spoiler

Does Cyclops die?

Thanks!

 

[Firebeetle]

I have a suspicion that one of my favorite X-Men will die, so spoil this one for me:

Spoiler

Does Cyclops die?

Thanks!

Nothing to see here, move along.

Spoiler

In the first ten minutes and the killer is quite a surprise.

 

[Klaus]

Nothing to see here, move along.

Spoiler

In the first ten minutes and the killer is quite a surprise.

I have a nagging suspicion that I will not like this movie...

 

[NiTessine]

I have a nagging suspicion that I will not like this movie...

I know I didn't. As an action flick, it's passable. As an X-Men movie, the badness is of such intensity that the earth quakes, oceans boil, and mountains come tumbling down.

 

[horacethegrey]

Just came from seeing it myself. Here be my thoughts:

WARNING!!! SPOILERS DETECTED!!! PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION!!!

Where to start? Well perhaps I should begin with what I liked about the movie. Here goes:

The gutsy storytelling- as Firebeetle pointed out, this film took no prisoners. Several important characters bite the big one, and others have their fates irrevocably changed. Plenty of surprises for those who were expecting more of the same.

Beast- Without a doubt the movie's best character. Kelsey Grammer does an excellent turn as everyone's favorite freakish intellectual, despite having to act under layers of blue makeup.

Phoenix- Notice that I don't refer to her as Jean Grey, and rightly so. I liked how the movie explained the Phoenix's existence without having to go through the whoile alien entity bit from the comic. Kudos to Famke Jansen (whom I always felt was never given the chance to shine in the previous films), for making her a true force to be reckoned with.

Iceman- Always liked the film version of his character, finally we get to see what he's capable of. Shawn Ashmore is always decent as Bobby Drake.

The action- The wonders of what a bigger budget can do. I always felt Bryan Singer downplayed the action in the previous films, but now Brett Ratner takes the action to a whole another level. Highlights include the Phoenix and Xavier showdown, and the Brotherhood versus X-men showdown at Alcatraz.

Now with the stuff I didn't like.

Character sacrifices- While I do like the risks the movie took, I felt the offing of some characters was handled badly. Cyclops' demise felt like a footnote, and not the emotional punch to the gut that it should have been. Mystique's sudden abadonment by Magneto felt like a disservice to the character. She deserved better. Only Xavier's death seemed to achieve tragedy in spades.

Too many bloody mutants- One of the biggest problems I've had with X-men is the focus on too many characters. The movie seems content with concerning itself with a select few, that others are just left in the background. In particular, Kitty and Colussus, whose character development was just left on the wayside. Rogue, she was such a big character in the previous films, why doesn't she get a chance to shine? Angel? What was his big contribution to the plot? All the other mutants? Just like the aforementioned Cyclops before, bloody footnotes.

The Wolverine show- Regrettably, my point above may be the result of everyone's favorite Canuck hogging the spotlight once more. Take note that I like Hugh Jackman and have always enjoyed his portrayal of Logan. But he hogs too much screentime that the other characters impact on the story suffer for it.

Brett Ratner- Okay, I'll admit that he didn't do a bad job. Unfotunately, it's quite clear from the film how much he pales as a director compared to Singer. For one, he can't seem to deliver on the emotion like his predecessor could. Two, he moves the film at too fast a pace, and seems intent on resolving all the plot point in the least amount of time possible. Three, he fails to bring any sort of genuine atmosphere to the settings.

Anyway, that's all I have to say about it. It was a good film, despite it's flaws, and is worthy enough to be an X-men film

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

I wonder why they (the movie makers) chose to kill all those characters? And do the killers repent?

 

[JoeGKushner]

Wonder what the chances are of an X-Men 4 given the heavily casualties.

 

[nikolai]

I've seen it.

I thought it was franchise killing, really. The X-Men's Batman Forever. The film was fun to watch, mostly because it was a bunch of special effects set pieces strung together. But it felt like they were just going through the motions.

 

[Elemental]

I wonder why they (the movie makers) chose to kill all those characters? And do the killers repent?

Spoiler

Drama? Xavier especially caught me by surprise, because it's an accepted rule that in comics, nobody dies. And it did up the stakes--Phoenix is dangerous, and she was royally pissed at Xavier, and showing how far she would go to resist being made captive again was a real jolt. And Jean is horrified when she finds out what happened to Scott.

And I'm told that if you wait till the end of the credits--

Spoiler

It turns out Xavier had a contingency plan, which was hinted at earlier.

Overall, I liked it, though it could have done with another 20 minutes or so to tell the story--the film felt a little rushed in places.