X-Men: The Last Stand

May 27, 2006 - Despite the title of this 2006 movie, I doubt that it will be the last of the series. The final scene leaves it open for a sequel. And, speaking of sequels, you should probably watch or re-watch the first two X-Men movies before seeing this one. But, it's not totally necessary.

The movie is set, as it states, in the not too distant future. The mutants have come a long way, baby. In fact, one of them (played by an unrecognizable Kelsey Grammer), sits on the President's cabinet.

But, while some mutants are comfortable with their powers, others are not. In an opening vignette, we see a young mutant trying to cut off his wings. Now, years later, a corporation headed by the boy's father has discovered a cure of sorts which can make mutants fully human. The key is another boy, and he's under lock and key at the company's lab on Alcatraz Island.

Mutants are offered the chance to voluntarily submit to the cure. Magneto (Ian McKellan) thinks this is the worst idea he's ever heard, and he gathers an army of mutants to take Alcatraz and get the boy. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry) and a small band of mutants loyal to Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) set out to stop them. At the center of it all is Phoenix, a.k.a. Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), who is the most powerful mutant ever.

Overall review: *** I don't know. The plot seems to have a lot of holes in it, and not everything makes sense. But, there's plenty of action, good special effects, a little bit of humor and the good guys win. What more do you want from a comic book movie?