X-Men 3: The Last Stand - (may contain spoilers)
 

Alright. X3 opened here in the Philippines today.

Just got back from watching the movie.

And I'm going to say that I'm a bit underwhelmed by it.

Perhaps because there's so many damn mutants in the story that they just didn't have time to develop the characters more. And you can really tell they're moving towards the upcoming Wolverine movies.

Oh, and brace yourselves... several key characters actually DIE in this one.

Meh. I'm an easy guy to please, but after watching The Da Vinci Code and V for Vendetta, X3 leaves a bitter taste in my mouth just because the previous two movies were better.

Thumbs in the middle, ever so slightly pointing up.

Yeah, from watching the trailers on this, I'm really not expecting much right now. X2 was probably much better.

On the other hand, I'm geeking out over the new Superman Returns trailers.

From what I've read, regular movie-going types will like the film.

Comic book fans will HATE it, since it goes in a wildly different direction from any of the comics, and basically spits in the face of the established Dark Phoenix Saga.

I don't know. I am a huge X-Men fan. I've read every X-Men comic from Giant Sized X-Men #1 (intro of the "New X-Men") through some point in 1992, right around where Wolverine got his adamantium ripped out. I read all the cross-overs, the "What Ifs", all of that.

I don't really care if the film "basically spits in the face of the established Dark Phoenix Saga." I don't see the two being all that comparable. At all. Basically what I expect from the movies are that the characters are reasonably well represented and not wildly different than in the comics. I fully expect the actual plotlines of the movies and what goes on in them to be different.

So far, the first two X-Men movies did a really good job with the characters. Magneto, Professor X, and Wolverine have been perfect. Nightcrawler was great. Cyclops has gotten the short shrift, but he's basically been Cyclops. Haley Berry sucks as storm. The others have been decent.

I still don't hold up high hopes for X:3, but I don't reckon my complaint will be because they changed around the Dark Phoenix Saga. I never expected a complete re-creation of the comics.

I wonder if the movie will mention the millions of dollars in property damage Mutants did from the late 80's to the mid 00's?

I can't stand this glorification of this "condition" when, for the most part, Mutants at that time were nothing more than juvenile delinquents.

Oh, ha. You're funny.

Well its not like they have 5 movies to full go in depth into things that came out from the comic books. This may indeed be the last XMen movie (it is called "The Last Stand").

Well. This one just basically diverges from the comic books entirely.

But that's not what ticks me off... what ticks me off is how goddamn easily and un-emotional how the key characters die. You try to have some empathy towards their deaths, but the movie's pace doesn't allow you to feel sad... you're just left there, sitting... "Did they really f'n kill that character off!?"

One character dies 20 minutes into the frikkin' movie...

Saw it tonight in an advance private screening. I enjoyed it. Ended up having a great discussion afterwards with all types of people. Those who read all the comics, those that knew some of the story's from teh comics, and those that only knew what the movies have shown. Everyone enjoyed the movie, and all had some critique of things they would change. I agree that the death of the character 20 minutes in seemed to happen without much emotion, but no one really knew they were dead until later in the movie. As for some of the other deaths, well "that's why you send in the pawns first" ;)

As for one of the other deaths in particular, did you guys stay until after the credits? Cause there is an added scene that makes you go "Hmmm"

Again, I am basing my opinions on the one movie I have set as my personal standard for 2006, V for Vendetta.

I guess I was just spoiled by V for Vendetta, because Vendetta was more substance that sizzle, while X-Men 3 was more a nice action romp. Maybe it's because the movie is waaaaaaaaaaay too short for something as epic as X3 wanted to be. They put it within 1:45, when they could have easily stretched it to 3 hours.

Pawns first indeed. :)

I just felt that I really didn't have any emotional investment in any of the characters, and didn't feel much of their pain, joy or sorrow.

I saw the 'Hmmm' scene. Not really a 'Hmmm', but a "Oh... wow... nice." :) If what the ending scene proposes is true, then we just might have an X4. ;)

I thought it sucked. I know Ebert gave it 3 stars, but I have to agree with Neon. This movie is in no way better than V or Da Vinci Code. Hell, to me MI3 might even be better. So far of the summer "blockbusters" it's defintely 2nd or 3rd, and will only drop further.

Also, the pacing of the movie just seems off. I don't understand why they felt they needed to cram the movie into a 104 minutes.

i think you mean 86 minutes.

thats right. its under an hour and half

(and it sucks, ive seen it)

I think that they could have done SOOO MUCH MORE with the material they had. The potential for the movie to be fucking ridicoulously great was huge.

FYI if/when people do go see the movie stay till the credits are over for about 3 minutes of extra movie...

so is it worth going to see? I've got the day off tomorrow and nothing to do and i was thinking of going to see either this or something else, just so that i'm not completely bored all day.

this? mi3 (as much as i hate tom cruise)? something else?

It's only about 30 seconds long, but IMHO, worth sitting through the long ass credits.

MI3, more bang to your buck.

Da Vinci Code, much better... :)

No, it's not. It's 104 minutes. No more, no less.

It's about 55-60 seconds.

who dies

I know of one ... but that might spoil it.

I can PM you the death details if you really want to know.

yes

PM sent.

well, i dont know where they are getting that number from. i checked my watch when i saw it, and im telling you its not longer than 90 mins. but see for yourself.

Would one of you nerds please bring an atomic stopwatch to the next screening of X3 so we can settle this argument?

So, essentially, the movie is 104 minutes long, but its breakneck pacing and taut action scenes transport the viewer into thinking that only 86 minutes went by. Got it.

But, is the return of Superman worth the Bad x-men movie? Without Director Bryan Singer and a couple of Sreen Writers he took with him over to the Superman Lot, X3 does not have the same Character development as the previous x-men movies. Reminds me a lot of Jurasic Park 3; More is not always better.


BTW Count me in as one of the people who will be spending the extra money to see Superman Returns in 3D on the Imax screen.

From the watching the movie itself, from the IMDB page, from Ebert's review. Everything in the world says it's 104 minutes, except you. I believe my eyes, the movie company themselves, and Ebert, before I'll believe you.

Yeah, while watching the movoe, you can tell that it's an entirely different director.

I just got back from seeing this in a matinee. I had low expectations, but, surprisingly, I enjoyed it.

It did not suck. And it's definately worth sitting through the credits to see the bonus scene.

It really sucked.

I liked the movie quite a bit, but then I've never read the comics so I didn't notice where story lines weren't followed.

Well, I was an X-Men comic nut as a kid, and I didn't really expect them to follow the storyline there at all, so I didn't get my panties in a wad over things like "Juggernaut isn't REALLY a mutant" or "Dark Phoenix is really supposed to be an alien."

My only complaints, upon reflection, were:

1. The movie was too short to really do any character development, especially with all the new mutants that were introduced. I would have preferred a little more screen time, especially for the bad guys, who came off as "generic evil mutant #1, 2, 3, etc."
2. The Golden Gate Bridge was an entirely unnecessary plot device. It basically seemed to me like an excuse to throw out a big special effect.

Otherwise, I didn't have a problem with the film. I didn't even mind the loss of a few of the main characters.

Psylocke, Alterlight and Kid Omega could've used more lines/camera time.

I didn't see Psylocke, and I have no idea who the other two are...

Did they spin the world backwards? It sounds like there might be a tear in the time space continuum. Were they by chance showing a Star Trek: Next Generation trailer in an adjacent theatre?

Went to see it tonight, liked it a lot but was never into comic books. I think Famke Janssen is so hot, and she's 40! Incredible.

Oops, i meant Arclght, not alterlight.

They were three of the mutants with Magneto.

Kid Omega (played by Ken Leung) was the one with the spikes all over his body, Arclight (Omahyra) was the one with the shockwave powers, and Psylocke (Mei Melangcon, from the Philippines)was the 3rd mutant with them, the girl with the purple hair.

Callisto (Dania Ramirez) was the hispanic girl who could sense Mutant powers.

That's what the casting says on www.imdb.com

I have never been in to comic books but might want to give it a try but not really sure where to start. There is just so much to choose from.

I have looked a bit around the internet and the Ultimate Marvel series might look interesting. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I think I'll go see it over the weekend then.

If you want to read X-Men specifically, the Ultimate titles are a good place to start, since they don't have as much continuity bringing them down. You can buy trades that take you up to the most recent issue, and they're well-written.

If you're interesting in reading good comics that aren't necessarily X-Men, well, there's alot to choose from, depending on what genre you like:

Superhero: Supreme Power, by J Michael Strazacantspellsky
Horror: Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman
Topical: V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore or anything by Greg Rucka
Pretty Art: Batman: Hush, by Jim Lee
My recommendation: Ultimates by Mark Millar or Authority #1-12 by Warren Ellis -- both have the same artist, who is absolutley amazing.

All have Trades and Hardcover compilations available from Amazon.com.

I'm doubting they killed off Storm, but if she were to die, the franchise would be heading in the right direction.

I've got a spoilerific review over here:

http://www.digitalstadium.org/smf/index.php?topic=279

Thanks for the advice. I just placed my order with Amazon so hopefully I have my two first books in about a week.


1 "Ultimate X-Men Vol. 1"
Mark Millar; Hardcover;

1 "Ultimate X-Men Vol. 2"
Mark Millar; Hardcover;

Ulitmate X-Men is good. It's basically very similar to X-Men Evolution, the cartoon series. Not sure if UXM was the basis of XMEN Evo, or the other way around... but it's pretty good.

Couldn't agree more. I've been a huge fan since I saw her in that James Bond movie. I made a mistake once talking about some Hollywood starlet with Lady H_B. Lady H_B commented that this starlet (I forget who) was attractive and my reply was "She's no Famke Janssen." I have yet to live that one down.

No. Superman is boring. X-Men rule. Though I still love "Superman 2." One of the finest sequels out there (along with "Empire" and "Aliens"). I love General Zod. There is none higher.

I liked it alright. There were definite plot holes, and I agree with the lack of emotion in the deaths. But it is a super-hero movie, not Shakespeare.


I didn't stay past the credits, so I'm pissed. I hate when movies pull crap like that.

Between 41 and 43 million dollars in sales for Friday alone. Second biggest one-day total for an opening movie in history, second only to Star Wars Episode I.

Not bad.