X-Men: The Last Stand(www.the-usher.com)

"They say they've found a cure..."

When a 'cure' is found for the mutant X gene, Magneto (McKellen) sees this as the US Government's attempt to wide out their uniqueness forever. Professor Charles Xavier (Stewart) and mutant government representative Dr. Hank McCoy (Grammer) see this as the first time that mutants actually have a choice to be what they are or become human. As Magneto gathers together an army to fight back, Xavier and Logan (Jackman) have bigger problems when Jean Grey (Janssen) returns from her watery grave.

After losing their director to the Man of Steel, the X-Men return to face their biggest threat and that is not just from the die-hard fans.

Replacing Bryan Singer was always going to be mammoth task for the studio and 'Rush Hour' and 'Red Dragon' director Brett Ratner was never the fans choice but the good news is that he destroyed the franchise.

We all know that he can direct action and he can handle big name stars but unlike Singer he is a big Hollywood director. Comic book fans prefer their directors to have honed their craft in low, budget character driven pieces that are noticed by award panels and most importantly Oscar. After what Christopher Nolan achieved with 'Batman Begins', the style and look of Ang Lee's 'Hulk', indie cult director Sam Raimi's gargantuan success with 'Spider-Man' and most importantly what 'Usual Suspects' Oscar winner Bryan Singer did with the first two movies, fans expect great things for the big comic book stars and Brett Ratner certainly doesn't live with these heady comic book movie helmers but fortunately he comes into the franchise with everything already in place.

With only one backstory to tell, Ratner and this filmmaking team can hit the ground running and continue on from where X2 left us but as with all of the X-Men films, 'The Last Stand' suffers from the same problem as the previous two films, too many characters and therefore too many stories. The third movie has two major storylines and one of them is bound to suffer. Unfortunately it is a fans favourite that bears the brunt of suffering.

The story of the mutant X gene cure and the battle to save Mutant rights could have stood on its own without any problems but because of the final scenes in second movie the writers also had to include the Dark Phoenix story. Instead of making this the lead story however it is only used as a way to bring back Jean Grey and set up a final confrontation between the Brotherhood of Mutants and the US armed forces. For fans this will come as comic blasphemy but for everyone else the two parallel stories do give the characters of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Magneto (Ian McKellen) and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) the chance to shine.

The problem is that 'X-Men' isn't only just about those three characters but a collection of mutants that are each fan favourites. The scope of the two main stories drowns out all of the other characters involved and they neither get the screen time or the development to do them justice. The love triangle between Bobby (Shawn Ashmore), Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page) and Rouge (Anna Paquin) is just glossed over and feels like filling. Pyro's (Stanford) anger towards Professor X is never explained or developed. Warren Worthington III (Ben Foster) is only really introduced as Angel and the new and old Brotherhood of Mutants characters such as Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), Mystique (Rebecca Romijn), Callisto (Dania Ramirez), Multiple Man (Eric Dane) and the many others do not get enough screen time make a real impact.

'X-Men: The Last Stand' is far from a disaster and worth watching for the finale alone. Action packed and still managing to raise a social issue like the first two movies, the third film is a decent addition to the franchise but is not up to the same standard as Bryan Singer's brilliant second film, which is arguably one of the best comic book adaptations. It is also not the last stand as it does leave it open to continue, especially if you watch the extra scene at the very end of the credits. This is still a good comic book movie with characters that are now screen icons and an adventure that everyone can enjoy.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented well.

BONUS FEATURES

Disc 1

Deleted Scenes (9.24 mins)
Entitled 'Jimmy in the laboratory', 'Pyro tells Magneto about the cure announcement - bearded and clean shaven versions', 'Alternative version: Guard yells at the president', 'Original Version: Jean displays her power at the encampment', 'Plastic weapons manufacturing', 'Magneto asks Jean for help in the battle', 'Alternative version: Here's Juggy', 'Magneto tortures Logan', 'Extended Phoenix destruction' and 'Alternative ending: Rogue returns', these deleted or extended scenes are accompanied by optional director and writer commentary by Brett Ratner, Simon Hinberg and Zak Penn

Producer Commentary by Avi Arad, Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter
The three main producers of the trilogy of X-Men movies talk about bringing the third movie to the silver screen. The trio talk about the returning cast members and the introduction of new characters from the X-Men universe. They also talk about the differences between Bryan Singer's and Brett Ratner's directing styles but they highlight the fact that Ratner didn't want to deviate from the world that the director of the first two movies had created. This is a good commentary from three people who feel passionate about the franchise, the actors and the X-Men fans.

Coming Soon
Previews of 'Prison Break: Season 1', 'My Super Ex-Girlfriend', '24 Season 5', 'The Omen 666' and 'Night at the Museum'

Inside Look
An animatic from the new trailer for 'The Simpsons Movie'

Disc 2

Documentaries

Brett Ratner's Production Diary (41.18 mins)
Director Brett Ratner, production designer Ed Verreaux, first assistant director Jamie Freitag, associate producer David Gorder, special effects supervisor Mike Vezing and stars Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Shawn Ashmore, Ben Foster, Ellen Page, Vinnie Jones, Eric Dane, Dania Ramirez and Cameron Bright take you behind the scenes of the making of 'X-Men: The Last Stand'. From pre-production preparations through to filming key scenes in the Danger Room, Alkali Lake, the mutant prison truck, the Grey's house, the lab, the Golden Gate Bridge and the X Mansion.

X-Men: Evolution of a Trilogy (43.07 mins)
Director Brett Ratner, producers Lauren Shuler Donner, Avid Arad, Ralph Winter and stars Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Anna Paquin, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Aaron Stanford, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, Shawn Ashmore, Ben Foster, Ellen Page, Kelly Hu and Vinnie Jones take you through the evolution of the trilogy. From the first film, through X2 and onto the Last Stand, the cast and crew look at the evolution of the X-Men over the three movies.

X3: The Excitement Continues (20.24 mins)
Director Brett Ratner, executive producer Kevin Feige, producer Lauren Shuler Donner, Avi Arad and Ralph Winter, writers Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn, associate producer David Gorder, X-Men creator Stan Lee, comic book writer Chris Claremont and stars Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Anna Paquin, Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Aaron Stanford, Shawn Ashmore, Ben Foster, Ellen Page and Vinnie Jones take you behind the scenes of the production of 'X-Men: The Last Stand'. The documentary looks at the plot, the X-Men mythology, the Dark Phoenix storyline and introducing Beast Juggernaut and Angel.

Featurettes

X-Men Close Up
Here you can look up information on the history and powers of Beast, Storm, Angel, Professor Xavier, Rogue, Pyro, Colossus, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Mystique, Juggernaut, Magneto, Iceman, Callisto, Kitty Pryde and Cyclops.

Anatomy of a Scene: Golden Gate Bridge (12.03 mins)
Director Brett Ratner, executive producer Kevin Feige, producers Ralph Winter and Lauren Shuler Donner, special effects supervisor John Bruno and miniature supervisor Patrick McClung take you through the storyboards, animatics, background design and miniature construction needed to the Golden Gate scene to life.

PreViz Animatics (24.41 mins)
Watch computer generated pre-visual designs for 'Young Jean Grey', 'The Danger Room', 'Mystique's interrogation', 'Jean rises from the lake', 'Logan and Storm look for Scott', 'Jimmy meets mutant playmate', 'Angel escapes', 'Mystique's prison break', 'Angel lands in school', 'Magneto talks to Jean in the woods', 'Logan fights with Spike', 'Multiple Man decoy', 'Magneto moves Golden Gate Bridge', 'Angel joins the battle', 'Angel saves Dad', 'Omega muties break into lab', Juggernaut chases Kitty' and 'Dark Phoenix finale'

Vignettes (25.57 mins)
Entitled 'Prophecies', 'X-Men Politics', 'Clothing vs. Costume', 'Makeup chair confessions', 'Weapon of Choice', 'On Set Effects' and 'Learning to Fly' with contributions from director Brett Ratner, producers Ralph Winter and Avi Arad, associate producer David Gorder and stars Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Shawn Ashmore, Ben Foster, Ellen Page, Vinnie Jones and Dania Ramirez, these mini fun featurettes take you behind the scene of 'X-Men: The Last Stand'.

Blogs (14.26 mins)
Watch the previously online blogs from Dangerroom.net, they are entitled 'Production Teaser', 'Live from the Danger Room', 'Marvellous cameos' and 'Editing magic'.

Galleries
View character stills, concept drawings, storyboards and models from 'X-Men: The Last Stand'

Trailers
Watch the A, B and extended trailers that were shown in the cinema and online to promote the movie.

OVERALL

Fox has done an exceptional job with the DVD treatment for 'X-Men: The Last Stand'. With over three hours worth of extras, this is simply a joy for fans of the film but the only thing that stops it been a five star DVD release is that Fox always release an even better version a year or two down the line, which is a little frustrating. This double disc version is still an X-cellent however.

DVD

X-Men

X2 - X-Men United

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2006