X-MEN:THE LAST STAND
I can only assume that anyone
interested in seeing “X-Men:The Last Stand” knows everything they need
to know from the first two “X-Men” movies. Little time is spent rehashing
the “X-Men”
manifesto - doing good works for the benefit of mankind. All the major characters
are on hand like Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (
The sledgehammer plea for tolerance and understanding for anything and anyone who does not fit society’s definition of normal in the first “X-Men” movie set the stage for the conflict between humans and mutants. It also paved the way for Logan‘s angst driven quest to find out how and why he became the Wolverine in “X-2.” In that second rousing sequel he became a reluctant role model, protector, and mentor to the inexperienced young mutants at Professor Charles Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) unique school.
“X-Men:The Last Stand” begins with Wolverine diving head first into his new role like a D.I. at Paris Island putting his recruits through a survival course under a barrage of firepower. The battle may be staged but the danger is real. One mistake could mean the difference between life and death. It’s a thrilling start that has little to do with the plot.
The action revolves around a serum developed by Worthington Industries that can neutralize the mutant gene and turn mutants into ‘normal’ people. The motive for the serum: Warren Worthington Sr. (Michael Murphy) longs for his son to be normal. Jr. -aka Angel - sprouts wings and flies the coop. It’s a boon to some and a threat to others. Rogue sees it as a cure that would let her be affectionate with the people she loves without sucking the life out of them with her simple touch. Magneto sees the serum as a weapon to wipe out the mutants. He is determined to steal it. Prof. X - Charles Xavier - believes in freedom of choice. To complicate matters Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), thought to be dead, awakens from a suspended stated and rises from her watery grave with the dark side of her split psyche in full bloom. She is a walking talking weapon of mass destruction capable of turning the world around her into finite particles of atoms through pure mental energy.. Magneto longs to control her. Xavier wants to bring Grey’s mental capacity back into balance. Wolverine uses all his resources to stir the loving memories they once shared hoping to restrain her evil impulses.
Director Brett Ratner keeps the action ratcheted up to a high level with a finale pitting humans against mutants and the forces of Magneto’s Brotherhood playing both ends against the middle fighting off the X-Men and humankind. Jane Grey is caught in the middle in one of the most hair raising endings I’ve ever seen since the end of “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The final denouement strongly hints that Wolverine’s role at Prof. X’s school will continue to evolve. He is the most like to be Professor X’s successor. And Magneto is guarantees to return to weave his own special brand of mayhem.
“X-Men:The Last Stand” had three major action highlights. The opening which foreshadowed the survival techniques Wolverine uses in the final battle; a flashback to Jane Grey’s childhood when Xavier and Magneto visit Jane Grey as a child with unbridled telekinetic power; and the Last Stand - the final battle at which Grey taps into her telekinetic powers to destroy everything within reach of her brain waves. It was reminiscent of the endings of three films: “Carrie,” “The Fury” and “Five Million Miles to Earth.”
“Carrie” from 1976 starred Sissy Spacek as a shy, introverted teenager who gets her revenge against her peers on prom night for treating her like a freak. She destroys everything in her psycho-telekinetic sight, just like Jane Grey. Director Brian De Palma used the same idea in “The Fury” from 1978. It has a school for ‘gifted’ children who are being groomed to become secret weapons of mass destruction.
“Five Million Miles to Earth” is an amazing film that is rarely shown on American TV. It is a low budget masterpiece with James Donald as Dr. Quartermass, the scientist who is summoned to examine what looks like an alien space ship found by workers at a construction sight in a run down part of London. An alien life force that takes the shape of its creators in the form of a silhouetted electronic field is unleashed on London. Like Jane Grey, it begins to destroy everything in its path. The finale of this little British Indie film from 1968 is every bit as riveting as the end of “X-Men: The Last Stand.”
Other Mutants and the actors who play them:
The good guys - one dies and one is new
Iceman = Shawn Ashmore
Colossus = Daniel Cudmore
Cyclops = James Marsden
Kitty Pryde = Ellen Page
The bad guys - one dies and one is new
Pyro = Aaron Stanford
Mystique - Rebecca Romijn
Callisto = Dania Rodriguez
Copyright 2006