I have never left the theatre as disappointed as this time in my entire life.

It is not as much as the movie was disappointing (even though it was). It was more that this series, that I really love, had to end this way.

I'll make it short because I already elaborated on it longer in GCT and will try to put up a review tonight on the site:


To me, the film was similar to Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Similarites have always been there to begin with. The first two movies of both franchises are considered good/very good and then a director change happened in the third....

I gave the first X-Men film an A/A+ while the second earns a certain A+ from me and a spot in my all-time Top Ten, so what I am telling is just for me and in comparison to other installments...

Just like T3, X3 is an entertaining romp. The action is splendid (even though it sometimes doesn't make sense, it is still great to look at), the effects are great. The old ensemble cast is still very good. Ian McKellen is excellent (especially towards the end) and Hugh Jackman is good as ever.

But this movie justdoesn't quite...cut it. X2 was excellent because it took what was good in the first film and developed it further adding something new. This film doesn't bring a single character any further. A lot of good/evil ambiguity is missing here. Many things simply don't make sense. I am usually never the one to pick on plot holes or film mistakes in popcorn films, some things in the film, especially towards it end really tested me.

While the finale battle is great and most of the characters' powers are well-used, the resolution of the climax is just disappointing. Some character deaths come unexpected, but only one of them works well and somewhat powerful. Most will just leave you shrugging.

Brett Ratner will get a lot of blame and I agree with some of it. But the blame should also go on the screenwriters at least in the same amount. The makers just didn't have a good hand for characters. The storyline was by far not as involving and elaborated as in the last film. There is a very good movie somehwere underneath this film, but it just needed the right makers. Moreover, the movie's running time of jhust under 110 minutes is way too short. It feels as if the climax just comes halfway into the film. Most of the new characters (like the heavily-promoted Juggernaut and Angel) are flat-out wasted. Angel is barely in the film.

Those who are just out for some not-so memorable entertainment will enjoy this. It is fun and rewatchable. But as a Marvel and X-Men fan, I just found it disappointing. The X-Men franchise was one of my most favorite ones, maybe even THE most favorite.

My grade:

B


It does leave a small door open for a potential sequel, but somehow I doubt we'll see one soon. As I said, the fact that the trilogy had to end like this disappoints me the most about it...

Sad to hear, but I guess after that clip a month back, it's not totally unexpected. I love the series so far (both films get an 'A' in my book), but I'm just hoping for some solid, summer entertainment. Hopefully, I'll get more...

Yeah, X2 is also for me the highest quality superhero movie ever made(X1 isn't too far behind), but even with that I've known for a long time that this movie just would be disappointment central. My expectations have been really low ever since I read that screenplay review, and when this presumably turns out just ok I'll be saddened though not shocked in the least.

That clip looks actually pretty good if put into the context. I had zero problems there. Actually the entire first half was really good, it just went more and more downhill towards the end.

Nice review, Dr. L.

Too bad it ends this way since X-2 is one of my favorite superhero movies.

As I said, I found the relation of T3 to T2 pretty fitting when comparing X3 to X2.

Do you think casual moviegoers may like it enough because of the action/effects?

Certainly. They won't find it as good as X2. I am sure of that. But they won't be really disappointed either. It is nice summer fun with some gaping plot holes...but still entertainment.

Well from this i think ill find it enjoyable. pity it isn't a match to X2 but i guess everyone was prepared for that.

Yeah, well.

I'm not exactly expecting Million Dollar Baby 2 here.

Although the second movie was a lot, lot, lot better than I would have expected after seeing the first one (not that the first one was bad, it just wasn't amazing or anything).

I'm expecting X3 to be on the same level as the first.

It's worse.

But you still gave it a B. The first X-men was the worst and most overated of the series. I seriously didnt like it. The second one improved alot from the first one so even if its not as good as X-2, your grade didnt seem as bad as what most people would make it out to be. I'll see how it goes since my KOH opinion differed than yours. Then again like you said, the production was sort of rushed since Singer said FU to Fox and abandoned them to do SR for WB

Well, as I said, it's like with Terminator.

T1 - A-
T2 - A/A+
T3 - B

X1 - A/A+
X2 - A+
X3 - B


So, certainly that is disappointing for me.

I would by no means give the original X-Men an 'A,' so I have no problem thinking Last Stand will be better, considering more than one person has told me it is.

By the way, before the film, there was A Night at the Museum teaser playing...

Now that film looks like FUN!

Hmmm Interesting we have 4 confirmed trailers for X-Men 3 so far

Superman Returns #2 Trailer
Eragon
Ghost Rider
and now Night at the Museum?

Certainly. It is just a teaser, but a really nice one, involving a T-Rex skeleton.

They did leave the window open for a sequel.

I have postponed seeing this movie. My friend and I decided to wait and here how it is first.
I certainly wasnt a HUGE fan of either of the first two movies. Both were decent/good superhero pics. The second being a little better than the first.

I've never had to deal with emotional attachment to xmen becuase I never grew up with the comics as a kid.

I could care less about seeing it. Really. But. There is always a but... I have the chance to see it Thursday in IMAX, so... I'll probably go. 50/50 chance. Heads I go, Tails You Die.

hey lecter .. just got back.

i'm mandated not to review this film officially but i'll leave just a few remarks here.

X3 is that bitter sweet film. Its bittersweet cause you're going into xmen watching a bunch of mutants take each other out .... its the action film of the year and when you walk out, you feel disappointed. yet it is still surprising because it exceeds what you expected off it (due to all the bad vibes the marketing gave)

the problem with x3 is this.

its got a compelling story, some depth in character, the ambigous moral delimma and dont get me wrong, its got shit loads of action sequences ... its got every element you'd ever want in the film. the makers tried really hard to give you something thats good as opposed to something that sells.

but till the last 30 minutes of the film, none of it properly clicks. the entire execution seems to lack .. a lot. the fight scenes are cool but they annoyed me to hell cause even though theres tonnes of mutant powers displayed, i just never understood why they chose to use them the way they did outside of making it look cool. most of it would have been accomplished in much easier fashions. the first half of the movie felt rushed, sticking to the story plot and never detering from it ...seemed like one scene upon scene we just had to concentrate on cause the story MUST be developed ... there was no break ... and it just felt bleh cause i couldn't get into it.

anyhoo, thats it for now. i think i've already said too much.

http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=23427

Here's some more X3 Bashing courtesy of oner of Knowles henchman who attended the sneek preview with him.. Ladies and Gentlemen what we have here looks to be a comicbook movie that will divide the fanbase 50/50 down the middle on those who either really enjoyed it or simply hated it.. How about this: 6 Months from now, give or take, they release X3.5 on DVD with an extra 30 Minutes deleted from the movie or Alternate Scenes like X2 and X-MEN had?? Would that satisfy the comic fans such as yourself cause that's what it looks like FOX is doing to me to make more $$$ off of it..

You tell them B to the K to the B
These comicbook geeks keep haten on the man Ratner just because Knowles has some bipolar switcharo hate for the man. Also they probably have an agenda to get people to think Superman Returns is better so what better way than to bash the competition. You notice how many of those bad reviews kept emphasizing on Ratner

By any chance do you know who that mutant that looked like the artist formerly known as Prince is?

I loved T3 and thought it was a great addition to the film. I hear the best comparision is with Return of the Jedi. Because of all the extra action and cheese its sometimes the most liked of the series, but thanks to overall direction and some poor choices in the end, quality wise its not the best.

But that being said, it is still and X-men film.

My big question is to Lector, does it blow Superman III and Batman Forever out of the water? To be the best 3rd superhero film in a series.

I feel bad for X3 and T3...

They both follow/ed up AMAZING movies. There's not much more that they can do with their respective series'...

You can't blame them