ROTTEN TOMATOES: Critical Consensus: "X-Men: The Last Stand" On Shaky Ground

Critical Consensus: "X-Men: The Last Stand" On Shaky Ground

by Tim Ryan | May 25, 2006

We've only got one wide release this week, but it's a biggie: "X-Men: The Last Stand." Brett Ratner is at the helm, virtually all the principle characters are back, and some major plot developments are in store for X-fans. Do the critics say "X" marks the spot, or do they feel this one wasn't built to "Last?"

Within the superhero genre, the "X-Men" series has been something of a creative and commercial high-water mark, as well as a not-all-that-thinly-veiled commentary on the experiences of minorities and outsiders. So it may be something of a disappointment for fans of the series (and they are legion) to report that critics are pretty split on the third, and perhaps final, installment, "X-Men: The Last Stand." The plot involves the creation of a cure for mutantcy, and the divisions that it creates within the mutant community. Oh, and Jean Grey is back, and her return is, shall we say, fraught with complications. Some say the film continues the mix of drama and action, while others say it flirts with the strengths of the earlier films without matching them. At 52 percent on the Tomatometer, this is the worst-reviewed "X-Men" flick to date.

X-Men Movies:
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80% -- X-Men (2000)
87% -- X2: X-Men United (2003)

Recent Brett Ratner Movies:
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17% -- After the Sunset (2004)
70% -- Red Dragon (2002)
50% -- Rush Hour 2 (2001)
52% -- The Family Man (2000)
56% -- Rush Hour (1998)

Related Items

Celeb:	Brett Ratner
Movie:	Rush Hour
	X-Men
	The Family Man
	Rush Hour 2
	Red Dragon
	X2: X-Men United
	After the Sunset
	X-Men: The Last Stand

(1-20 of 80 posts) | Reply

SozeStrangelove writes:
on May 25 2006 04:18 PM

[b]NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!![/b]
Hopefully it will go up in a week

(Reply to this)

retroxxx3 writes:
on May 25 2006 04:18 PM

[b]I'll stil watch it.[/b]
I'd rather watch an X-Men movie at its worst over Fantastic 4 any day.

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the_dude_abides writes:
on May 25 2006 04:19 PM

damn you Ratner!

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t-joint writes:
on May 25 2006 04:22 PM

In reply to this comment (#836615)
Amen to that!

And, seriously, with all the scripting problems, director walkout, cast shuffling, etc, who can honestly say they DIDN'T see this coming?

(Reply to this)

Senh Duong writes:
on May 25 2006 04:25 PM

It's tough doing a follow-up to a film that that has an 87% on the Tomatometer.

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retroxxx3 writes:
on May 25 2006 04:31 PM

In reply to this comment (#836617)
[b]True that..[/b]
If the film at least had a running time of two hours more of the new characters could of been more properly developed instead of written off quickly, especially Angel.

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Tim Ryan writes:
on May 25 2006 04:38 PM

As someone who hadn't seen the first two, I really dug this when I saw it at Cannes. But what do I know?

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Proudfoot writes:
on May 25 2006 05:04 PM

[b]Trilogy[/b]
-- As someone who hadn't seen the first two, I really dug this when I saw it at Cannes. But what do I know? --

There really isn't much credit in saying that. I doubt many would of liked Return of the Jedi if they had never seen the previous. Without the first two flicks (in either trilogy for this example) you just don't know the 'big picture'.

Sadly, it seems that b/c this third flick doesn't measure up to X2, reviewers are being overharsh. I think the movie will be a good finale to the series. (Wolverine spin-off excluded).

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LilAl writes:
on May 25 2006 05:25 PM

[b]Critics can kiss my @ss[/b]
All I have to say is, who the hell cares what critics think? Actually that's a little harsh, what I mean to say is, critics have their opinions, and you have yours. Honestly people, I don't know what these critics are expecting from this movie, but from what I've seen it looks like it promises to be everything I expected when I first heard about the premise (It's going to be a BIG summer movie, with lots of mutants and lots of action...I hope I didn't ruin it for everyone!) I'm still going to watch this movie, and I GUARANTEE I will like it (and I'm a huge X-Men fan, which is prolly more than I can say about half these critics!) so in conclusion, what i'm really getting at is, go into this movie with whatever expectations you might have about it and ultimately, be your own judge of the movie.

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dalonoman writes:
on May 25 2006 05:30 PM

In reply to this comment (#836621)
[b]not necessarily[/b]
Actually I watched Return of the Jedi before seeing the first two and I loved it. But regarding X3, I think the movie is probably fine it just won't have the flavor (cus of the director change) of the first 2 and won't have the impact of them either. Sounds like it gunna be an action effects fest... which is not necessarily bad- its just not critics frriendly.

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cgcbooks writes:
on May 25 2006 05:47 PM

It will take over first place this weekend. Nuff said!

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Tim Ryan writes:
on May 25 2006 05:53 PM

In reply to this comment (#836621)
Uh, I was saying that I liked it. A lot.

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tommyl120882 writes:
on May 25 2006 06:16 PM

[b]overrated[/b]
It's about time the critics caught up on the X-Men series. A pair of **1/2 star movies and I'm sure this one is ** at best. Who had creative control over these projects? Where's Gambit? He was one of, if not the best characters in the X-Men comics and they drop him from the films. Spider-Man is shaping up to be a far superior comic-movie franchise.

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El Capitan writes:
on May 25 2006 06:33 PM

[b]Well, Well, Well[/b]
On the Tomatometer Guesses, I had predicted this decrease in the reviews, but I also feel that many fans could be split on X3 as well. This could be the deciding factor on if Last Stand takes a huge garning as Da Vinci Code last weekend.

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CrazyGhost78 writes:
on May 25 2006 06:41 PM

I stand by my opinion from the second I heard Ratner was directing; they should have waited for Bryan Singer to come back.

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South_park300 writes:
on May 25 2006 06:49 PM

Ratner is NOT a bad director. People need to stop whining, it's a freaking movie, not life or death. i feel many critics are like these whining fanboys, they hated the movie before seeing it, so of course it wouldn't get a good review.

to the average movie goer, they will love this movie, as with the other 2

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Decade_e_a writes:
on May 25 2006 07:58 PM

In reply to this comment (#836622)
if it sucks, I want you to write an apology board.

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tommyl120882 writes:
on May 25 2006 08:06 PM

"i feel many critics are like these whining fanboys, they hated the movie before seeing it ... to the average movie goer, they will love this movie."

You can't have it both ways. You attack the people who anticipate it won't be good, but those who think it will be good can have a positive predisposition to the film. That's a touch inconsistant. You are correct on the other points, it's not life or death and Ratner isn't awful, he's average.

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MR_MAJESTIK writes:
on May 25 2006 08:21 PM

HAVING SEEN THE MOVIE I HAVE TO SAY THAT I REALLY ENJOYED IT.NOT BETTER THAN X2 BUT DEFINATELY BETTER THAN X1! AND PEOPLE TRY TO ENJOY IT FOR WAT IT IS (A COMIC BOOK MOVIE) NOT ANOTHER CITIZEN KANE.

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South_park300 writes:
on May 25 2006 09:11 PM

well, just judging from Harry at aintitcoolnews.com, he has been on the hating X3 bandwagon for over a year, and has been trying to get others in his state of mind. im not blaming Harry for all the bad press for this movie, but there are tons LIKE him.
my point in my other post was, all the haters of this movie BEFORE it came out had bullshit fanboy reasons. Mainly just about Ratner, which isnt a good enough reason. heck, i remember the same thing happening before the first X-Men movie about Singer.

eh, I don't know. I'm seeing the movie along with LOTS of others. I'm not expecting it to be the best movie ever, but I think it will be an entertaining addition and finale to the trilogy

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