X-Men 3 (aka X-Men: The Last Stand)

"When an individual acquires great power, the use or misuse of that power is everything. Will it be used for the greater good? Or will it be used for personal or for destructive ends? Now this is a question we must all ask ourselves. Why? Because we are mutants." - Professor Xavier

release year: 2006
genre: superhero action/adventure
viewing setting: home Bluray 3/21/17 and home DVD 8/14/12 and theater, 5/26/06

synopsis: Things are building to a dangerous breaking point, as mutant-human tensions and a "cure" spur the "bad" mutants to form an army and go to war.

impressions: This was the big battle X-Men movie, with the quasi-racial issues coming to a head. The humans have come up with a way to permanently remove mutant powers, which upsets all sorts of people. In the midst of all this, the supposedly-dead Jean Grey returns...but she's far more powerful, and has a dark side. This movie incorporates many elements and characters from the classic run of the comic series, and some formerly second-tier heroes and villains get more time here. I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say that this is probably the last of these movies, and with that in mind, the writers made sure that some characters were killed or otherwise rendered sequel-proof.

things to watch for: When Magneto's army marches on Alcatraz.

something this movie has that no other movie has: People being dissolved with a mere thought.

acting: Some formerly prominent actors have lesser roles here, while those who have been second-tier characters get more time now. Ian McKellen really does a great job here as the main bad guy; his role as a chessmaster of sorts shows him willing to sacrifice other pieces to get what he wants. Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry are also pivotal to the story.

final word: Outstanding (and probably last) movie in this series.

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