Writer/Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen
‘Passable Entertainment’
When it comes to beloved comic book heroes, it’s worth discussing the X-Men. Following their introduction during the 1970’s, the X-Men is a superhero team that has played a pivotal role in movies. With their larger-than-life characters, colourful stories and special superpowers, the team has become a powerful piece of popular culture. The team has been portrayed on the big-screen several times. While some movies have been successful, others have failed to capture what makes the superhero team so special.
In a successful franchise, “The Last Stand” is one of the few films that doesn’t quite work. It is one of those movies which sticks out like a sore thumb in the celebrated franchise. Bryan Singer’s blockbuster provided a fun but flawed interpretation of the superhero team. Boasting breathtaking action, bold visuals and strong performances, it’s a well-made comic-book movie. That being said, it lacks the spark that made the previous movies in the franchise so successful. It’s unevenly paced, and builds a formulaic conclusion. Nevertheless, it offers excellent entertainment that fans of the commemorated franchise simply wouldn’t be able to resist.
Following the events of “X2”, “X-Men: The Last Stand” follows the superhero team taking a last stand. Patrick Stewart embodies Charles Xavier, a powerful professor guiding students whose lives are in danger. Trapped in a dilemma, the X-Men struggle to cope with the loss of their beloved team member Jean Grey. As the X-Men experience tensions, they question whether it’s possible to survive in a world where mutants face extinction.
Bryan Singer is no stranger to the comic-book genre. Singer achieved appreciation by bringing the iconic superhero team to the big-screen in “X-Men”. With “The Last Stand”, however, the filmmaker crafted his biggest blockbuster in the franchise. It marked the filmmaker’s first attempt to bring together various characters in the X-Men franchise but he succeeded. Through captivating cinematography, Singer captures the X-Men team’s journey taking a last stand against catastrophe. Visually, the movie is a feast for the eyes. Singer effectively uses practical effects to recreate the world of the X-Men. The effects are breathtaking and showcase how far effects have advanced throughout the franchise. For instance, the motion-capture used to capture the Beast is a clear example of this technology. Through captivating cinematography, Singer honours a superhero team’s legacy.
Another admirable aspect of “The Last Stand” is the action. The action sequences are cleverly executed, and one of the highlights of the movie. Singer excels at using cross-cutting capturing a superhero team collaborating to complete missions. For instance, cross-cutting elevates the lake fight scene. During this tense scene, the X-Men embark on a journey to lakes to save Cyclops from catastrophe. One admires the cross-cutting capturing the X-Men’s teamwork in styles recalling Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers”. Like the Avengers’ ability to work together to save the world from danger, the X-Men collaborate to fight danger. Through astonishing visuals, the filmmaker captures a team embarking upon a dangerous mission.
Amidst the thrilling action, it’s a shame that “The Last Stand” finds little time for telling a compelling story. The movie is poorly written, and lacks compelling storytelling of prior films in the franchise. Singer’s main issue is that he decides to focus on multiple characters all at once. There are several subplots, villains and mutants to keep track of in the movie. Some subplots are more engaging than others. For instance, a subplot involving an Angel mutant feels out of place. Whereas the first two films had a strong focus on the X-Men, this sequel feels like a clumsy mess. The strong focus on character development emphasized in the prior X-Men movies is unfortunately missing from this instalment. Comic-book movies thrive based on balance between action and storytelling, and in this regard “X-Men: The Last Stand” falls short of expectations.
Thankfully, though, the strong performances from the talented cast keep “The Last Stand” from falling apart. The actors do their best with the material they are given even when it isn’t great.
Hugh Jackman delivers one of his best career performances as the Wolverine. At this point in his career, Jackman had become used to playing the character. He had played him several times in the past, and here he pretty much steps into his comfort zone. With bold expressions, Jackman captures the angst, desperation and grief of a hero on a dangerous mission. While he doesn’t get the best dialogue to work with, Jackman as always excels at playing the character. It’s a superb performance that marks one of the few bright spots of the movie.
Ian McKellen is incredible as a magnetic villain seeking world domination. In his third outing as the iconic antagonist, McKellen brought a rare humanity to the character audiences had not seen before. Whether he’s arguing with Xavier over what’s best for the world or showing rare sympathy for mutants, McKellen succeeds at capturing a villain facing a predicament by his expressions. It’s one of the best performances ever given by the British thespian.
Finally, Famke Janssen is fantastic as Jean Grey. As a conflicted mutant, Janssen brings an air of mystery to the movie.
Despite its excellent performances, however, it’s a shame that “The Last Stand” is let down by a formulaic ending. Singer struggles once again to bring these movies to a satisfying conclusion. The movie builds to a conventional ending that lacks satisfying resolution. It’s a formulaic action-packed finale without a satisfying resolution. It seems intended merely as a marketing plot to set up future sequels. Comic-book movies thrive based on strong conclusions, and in this regard “The Last Stand” falls short of expectations.
In the end, “The Last Stand” is a fun but at the same time flawed movie in the X-Men series. It is worth seeing for its entertainment value but doesn’t have much else to offer.
Nearly 30 years following the introduction of an excellent team of superheroes which took the world by storm preventing destruction, it’s a disastrous reminder that not all movies that captured a team taking a last stand to save the world ended up being successful in a franchise which has over time been stabbed by sharp claws of studios seeking profitable compensation.
3/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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