Fridae

After the first two films X-Men and X2 introduced
viewers to the wild and wonderful world of mutants, fans have begging
for more, more, more. But more is not what you get with X-Men:
The Last Stand, the third installment of this superhero series.
Though there are indeed more characters and subplots, the film lacks
the dark moody atmosphere and fully-fleshed characterizations that
made the first two so compelling.

Unlike the first two which were directed by Bryan Singer, the third
is directed by Brett Ratner, an action director best known for Rush
Hour. (Bryan is busy with Superman Returns. Bryan
is also frequently rumored to be gay, which explains why the first
two films have such a strong gay subtext that equated mutants with
homosexuals.) As a result, The Last Stand delivers the
action goods with plenty of wham-bam special effects but very little
soul.

The sprawling storyline revolves mainly around a "cure" that is
said to suppress the mutant genes. Proud mutant villain Magneto
(Ian McKellen), perpetually at war with humans, summons his mutant
army to destroy the "cure" and the boy who carries it in his blood.
It is up to the good mutant Prof Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his
team to stop the terror and destruction.

Slick and action-packed, but disappointingly superficial and soulless.