Plot: What’s it about?
As tensions rise between mankind and some of the mutant population, lines have begun to be drawn in the sand. A band of renegade mutants led by Magneto (Ian McKellan) lies in wait and makes plan to launch an attack against mankind. After all, they feel as if mankind are the inferior species and don’t want to be cataloged or forced to register themselves. Magneto’s wrath soon elevates from discussion to action however, when a drug company announces they have created a cure for mutants. One needle and the mutants are turned into normal people, which thrills some, but angers Magneto to no end. At the same time, Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) heads up his own band of mutants, but he wants peace and common ground. The death of Jean Grey (Famke Jannsen) has left Xavier’s group in a down state, but when she suddenly returns, things aren’t as smooth as expected. Grey is not as calm and peaceful as before and soon, she is sought after by both Xavier and Magneto, though for totally different purposes. When both find her at the same time, her incredible powers spiral to epic levels and in the process, Xavier is killed. Magneto soon attacks a center offering to cure mutants, which sparks retaliation from the government. But as Magneto and his forces close in to eliminate the source of the cure, will Xavier’s troops be able to withstand this final conflict?
The epic saga continues with this third installment, as old favorites return and a wealth of new faces arrive, all in time to brave the final confrontation. Bryan Singer abandoned ship for this third volume and new director Brett Ratner makes the series his own. And by that, I mean he chooses to lose the storyline driven action from the two previous films and focus on pure popcorn entertainment. All the stops are pulled out and while there is a ton of action on screen and endless special effects, X-Men: The Last Stand pales by comparison. I love action, don’t get me wrong, but the other two films just nailed the balance between action and storyline so well, I wasn’t pleased how over the top Ratner took this installment. I loved the concept of the “cure,” especially when used as a weapon, but that wasn’t enough. Even a huge influx of new characters, including the awesome Juggernaut isn’t enough to cover up the flaws. The movie smashes us over the head with melodrama at times, but I prefer a more refined, effective approach to such scenes. X-Men: The Last Stand is impressive as far as visuals and special effects, but it can’t hold a candle to the previous two films overall. Even so, the movie is ideal for a one time watch if you want to turn off your brain, so not all is lost.
Video: How does it look?
X-Men: The Last Stand is presented in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen. This film has a dark, very dark visual scheme and while a few hiccups can be seen, this is still a top notch transfer and fans should be pleased. I saw a little more grain than expected, as well as some softness, but given the dark, complex visuals, I can forgive some small mistakes. The contrast seems to be dead on, with rich black levels that never obscure detail, although a couple of scenes do look soft, though only to a minor degree. I found the colors to be well presented, though darker hues tend to dominate, at least in most scenes. A few small flaws aside, this is a terrific looking visual effort and as per usual, Fox proves they can deliver on all fronts.
Audio: How does it sound?
In a welcome move, Fox has given us dual surround options, so we can choose between Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES soundtracks. This is a fast paced, aggressive movie and as such, the mix has power to spare and should push your system, especially in a handful of key sequences. I do think the focus on power is a bit much at times, as the mix lacks the small touches I had hoped for, which is a let down of sorts. Even so, the basic elements come through in sharp form and I have minimal complaints to lodge there. The musical score has a broad scope and uses the front channels quite well, though it doesn’t move into the rears often, which took me a bit by surprise. The dialogue is clean and always easy to understand also, with a solid volume balance and no clarity issues to discuss. The DTS option nosed ahead at times, but in either case, Fox has supplied very impressive audio mixes here. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
I sampled both of the commentary tracks here and to be honest, neither of them sparked my interest. The first is with director Brett Ratner and the screenwriters, which is decent, but never provides that much insight, while the trio of producers on the second track don’t fare much better. You will find some production information in both sessions, but not enough to warrant the investment of two additional screenings. The only other bonus goodies are some deleted scenes. A separate Collector’s Edition promises more supplements, but this review only covers the single disc release.
