X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

Director:

Brett Ratner

Writers (WGA):

Simon Kinberg (written by) &
Zak Penn (written by)

Release Date:

26 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Take a Stand

Plot:

When a cure is found to treat mutations, lines are drawn amongst the X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier, and the Brotherhood, a band of powerful mutants organized under Xavier's former ally, Magneto.

Plot Keywords:

Mutant | X Men | Battle | Outrage | Regeneration

Awards:

4 wins & 29 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Sept. 11	6:00 PM	FX
Sun. Sept. 12	4:00 PM	FX

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Hugh Jackman	...	Logan / Wolverine
Halle Berry	...	Ororo Munroe / Storm
Ian McKellen	...	Eric Lehnsherr / Magneto
Patrick Stewart	...	Charles Xavier / Professor X
Famke Janssen	...	Jean Grey / Phoenix
Anna Paquin	...	Marie / Rogue
Kelsey Grammer	...	Dr. Henry 'Hank' McCoy / Beast
James Marsden	...	Scott Summers / Cyclops
Rebecca Romijn	...	Raven Darkholme / Mystique
Shawn Ashmore	...	Bobby Drake / Iceman
Aaron Stanford	...	John Allerdyce / Pyro
Vinnie Jones	...	Cain Marko / Juggernaut
Ellen Page	...	Kitty Pryde / Shadowcat
Daniel Cudmore	...	Peter Rasputin / Colossus
Ben Foster	...	Warren Worthington III / Angel

Also Known As:

"X-Men 3" - Singapore (English title), USA (working title)
"X3" - International (English title) (informal short title), USA (promotional abbreviation)
"X-Men: Final Decision" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, some sexual content and language.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Canada | USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | UK:12A | Sweden:11 | Norway:11 | Denmark:11 | Germany:12 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | New Zealand:M | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Brazil:12 | Ireland:12A | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42477) | Hungary:16 | India:A | Netherlands:12 | Malaysia:U | Chile:Y7 | Italy:T | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:12 | South Africa:10M | South Korea:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | France:U | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

When Bryan Singer was still set to direct, he intended the Dark Phoenix storyline as the sole focus of the film. He also intended to feature the villain Emma Frost/White Queen as a major character, with the role intended for Sigourney Weaver. With Singer's departure, the character of Emma Frost was dropped, and the Dark Phoenix story was relegated to a subplot in favor of the "cure" storyline. He also planned on introducing long time fan favorite Gambit into the film, to serve as both the new recruit as well as a romantic rival of Iceman's for Rogue's affection. For the part, Singer had planned on casting Channing Tatum. However, once he left, the script was changed, and Gambit was reduced to a minor cameo, then ultimately dropped from the script. Gambit appears in the non-Singer film X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009).

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Magneto raises the Golden Gate Bridge the towers are shown shattering as if constructed of concrete. The unpainted piers are concrete but the painted towers are in fact steel.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Eric Lensherr:I still don't know why *I'm* here. Couldn't you just make them say yes?
Prof. Charles Xavier:Yes, I could, but it's not my way. And I would expect you, of all people would understand my feelings about the misuse of power.
Eric Lensherr:Ah, "power corrupts" and all that. Yes, I know, Charles. When are you going to stop lecturing me?
Prof. Charles Xavier:When you start listening. And you're here because I need you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "20 to 1: Adults Only 20 to 01: Hottest Stars on the Planet (#8.7)" (2009)

The last stand? I hope not

I'll be truthful, I didn't like this film very much. Of course, it had a lot to live up to, of course, with the previous two films high standard. The film opens well, with strangely disturbing versions of Xavier and Magneto visiting a young Jean. It also goes straight into to the action, the two main plots of the story soon becoming apparent. Both however, come second place to special effects in this film. At just over 1 and 30 minutes, it would be almost impossible to cram a finale worthy of the trilogy without missing out some things. I just don't see why it had to be the emotion. With the cure side of the story, it seems we never get an insight into the characters worries and feelings towards it. The phoenix part is also extremely disappointing, we aren't ever told why Phoenix does what she does and who is in control. You can only go so far as to blame Brett Ratner, he does a good job with the battle scenes but always seems to want to rush anything involving a character's emotion. I can imagine him on set hurrying along the actors as they try to get into character for the harrowing scenes. So if newcomer Ratner isn't the problem, what is? The script. It's as if the writers truly want this to be the last film, killing off characters early to make way for new ones. Rogue is put on the back seat, even though the central theme of the cure should have her at the forefront. The final battle is also inexplicable, with both sides not really sure what they should be doing. It does allow for one of the great moments of the trilogy (Kitty and Juggernauts chase through - and I mean through - the facility). Still on the script, don't forget the corny lines ("I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!") and terrible ending which seems to forget the events of the rest of the film. Vinnie Jones and Halle Berry are both below par in the acting stakes even thought they didn't have much to work with. I don't want this to be the last stand as I think the saga deserves better than this. The previous films had intelligence and emotion, compared to explosions and annoyances. Maybe X4 will prosper without many of the main characters, well, one can only hope.