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

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 | Denmark:11 | Sweden:11 | Norway: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:

Rebecca Romijn and Sam Elliott have both played major and supporting roles as different characters throughout the Marvel Universe. Sam Elliot played a major role as General Ross in Hulk (2003) and a supporting role as the Caretaker in Ghost Rider (2007). Rebecca Romijn had a major role as Mystique in all three "X-Men" movies, and played a supporting role as Joan (Frank's neighbor) in The Punisher (2004) - which also featured Ben Foster, who played Warren Worthington III/Angel in X3, as a supporting actor (Frank's neighbor, Dave). Additionally, Donal Logue played Quinn in Blade (1998) and then played Mack in Ghost Rider (2007).

Goofs:

Continuity: At the final battle, when the X-men are lined up, Wolverine is too far forward from the light pole to just swings back and cut (as he does) so it falls onto the attacking mutants. When the pole is falling down, the lights are still on, even though the power line should be cut through. Then as Wolverine is fighting off more mutants, the light pole can be seen right behind him still up.

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:

Spoofed in Church Ball (2006)

What happened to the story?

I saw this on the first night it was out, and I left feeling so disappointed. Something was missing, everything was missing. As afaithfulday noted, the first two movies were good, the third was mostly clichéd Hollywood crap. The only thing it had going for it was a little bit of suspense/tension, but that was not enough.

In the first two movies, there was a resonating story, strong themes woven throughout. In this one, it seemed to be all about cramming in as many witty one-liners and special effects as possible. There were a few weak attempts at stringing a story together, but it was so choppy and rushed there was almost no continuity. I left the theater thinking that there had to be a super-extended DVD release in the works, because what I had just seen couldn't possibly have been release-worthy.

What a shame. It could have been (should have been) so much more.