X-Men: The Last Stand
| X-Men: The Last Stand | |
|---|---|
| File:X3 poster version3.jpg | |
| Directed by | Brett Ratner |
| Written by | Simon Kinberg Zak Penn |
| Produced by | Lauren Schuler-Donner Ralph Winter |
| Starring | Hugh Jackman Patrick Stewart Halle Berry Ian McKellen Famke Janssen Anna Paquin Kelsey Grammer James Marsden Rebecca Romijn Shawn Ashmore Aaron Stanford Vinnie Jones |
| Cinematography | Dante Spinotti |
| Edited by | Mark Helfrich Mark Goldblatt Julia Wong |
| Music by | John Powell |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release dates | May 26, 2006 |
Running time | 104 min |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $210 Million |
X-Men: The Last Stand is the third film adaptation of Marvel Comics' X-Men superhero comic books. It was directed by Brett Ratner, with a script by the team of Simon Kinberg & Zak Penn. The previous two movies were X-Men (2000) and X2 (2003). The film was released on May 26, 2006 in the United States and Canada, and one or two days earlier in approximately 22 other countries.
The movie revolves around a "mutant cure" that causes serious repercussions among mutants and humans, and on the mysterious resurrection of Dr. Jean Grey, who appeared to have died in X2. The film is loosely based on three X-Men comic book story arcs, the "Dark Phoenix Saga" in The Uncanny X-Men; writer Joss Whedon's six-issue "Gifted" arc in Astonishing X-Men (2004); and X-Men: Phoenix — Endsong five-issue miniseries (2005).
Plot summary
A pharmaceutical company announces that it has developed an inoculation to suppress the X-gene that gives mutants their powers and makes them different from humans, offering the cure to any mutant who wants it. While some mutants are interested in the cure, including the X-Men's Rogue, many others are horrified by the announcement. In response to the news, the X-Men's adversary Magneto raises an army, warning his followers that the cure will be used to eradicate all mutant powers.
Cyclops, haunted by the memory of his dead girlfriend Jean Grey, returns to the place where Jean had sacrificed herself to save the X-Men. Jean appears to Cyclops, and as the two kiss, Jean changes and appears to kill Cyclops. Sensing trouble, Professor Charles Xavier sends Wolverine and Storm to investigate. When they arrive, the two X-Men encounter telekinetically floating rocks, Cyclops' glasses, and an unconscious Jean.
Xavier explains that when Jean sacrificed herself, she unleashed the powerful alternate personality she calls "Phoenix". Wolverine is disgusted to learn that Xavier has kept Jean in check telepathically, but when Jean awakens, he realizes she is not the Jean Grey he knew. Jean pleads with Wolverine to kill her, but when he refuses, the Phoenix surfaces and telekinetically slams Wolverine into a wall. She then destroys a thick vault door and escapes to her childhood home.
Magneto, also aware that Jean is now a powerful mutant, meets Xavier at Jean's house. The two men vie for Jean's loyalty until the Phoenix resurfaces, unleashing her power. She destroys her family's house, torns Xavier to pieces, and leaves with Magneto.
Following the loss of Xavier, the X-Men regroup and confront Magneto's army, which is attacking the pharmaceutical company. During the fight, Beast injects Magneto with the cure, nullifying his mutant powers. After the battle, the Phoenix emerges and begins to send everything and everyone around her into nothingness. Momentarily gaining control, Jean begs Wolverine to save her; Wolverine, telling Jean he loves her, reluctantly stabs her with his claws, ending her life.
Despite the X-Men's losses, life goes on. Magneto, now an ordinary man, sits at a chessboard and reaches out toward a metal chess piece that trembles slightly. Following the end credits, Dr. Moira MacTaggert checks on a comatose patient who awakens and calls out to her with Xavier's voice. Startled, she replies, "Charles?" Template:Endspoilers
Project background
Bryan Singer, the director of the first two movies, left the project during preproduction in order to helm the film Superman Returns. Matthew Vaughn was hired to direct the third X-Men movie; he cast Kelsey Grammer as the Beast and Vinnie Jones as the Juggernaut, but family issues reportedly led him to withdraw from directing before shooting began. Vaughn was replaced by Singer's friend Brett Ratner [1], who was among those originally considered to direct the first film — and coincidentally was considered by Warner Brothers to direct the 2006 Superman project before it evolved into Superman Returns.
Production history
X-Men: The Last Stand began shooting in August 2005 and ended in December 2005. On June 13, 2005, a review of an incomplete early draft [2] of the screenplay posted by Drew McWeeny from Ain't It Cool News sparked controversy from fans, due to certain main characters' storylines; however, that draft was the very first of over two-dozen drafts the film went through and has had numerous changes happen to the storylines.
Patrick Stewart sparked fan speculation when he spoke publicly about the project saying, "It's very intense, it's very emotional, it's very personal about the individuals that we've already got to know in the first two movies. It has some astonishing set-piece sequences. It has a number of quite significant deaths. From what I've seen so far, I think, it's likely to be extraordinary." [3]
Fox Films Entertainment Chairman Tom Rothman said The Last Stand is the end of a trilogy, but not necessarily the end of the X-Men film series: "These three movies work as a trilogy. These characters in this relationship, it's the culmination of that saga. It's the culmination and the resolution of those relationships laid out in the first two movies." In a recent interview, Brett Ratner echoed Rothman's comments: "We wanted to make sure the audiences knew that this was a trilogy. Even though they weren't made together like Lord of the Rings, this is really closure for the X-Men series. ... This is the last stand for sure." [4]
Trailers
The official announcement teaser for the film was released in December 2005. A theatrical trailer was broadcast on Fox Broadcasting on March 6th, 2006. A seven-minute preview of the film [1] aired on Fox May 11, 2006, from 8:30-8:37pm ET.
Cast notes
Nearly every actor from the previous two movies returned, the major exceptions being Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) and Kelly Hu (Lady Deathstrike) from X2, and Ray Park (Toad) and Tyler Mane (Sabretooth) from the first film. It is interesting to note that all four actors have two-film contracts, despite Hu's character being killed in her film. James Marsden (Cyclops) appears, despite reported scheduling conflicts with the June 2006 movie, Superman Returns.
Alan Cumming was reportedly uncomfortable with the long hours he had to take with the Nightcrawler makeup, but still planned to return for X-Men: The Last Stand. However, the part for Nightcrawler was so minimal, he felt it was not worth it to go through the long and costly make up process when he was barely in the film, and the character was cut.[citation needed] However, he did agree to do voice work for the character for the video game based on the film.
Halle Berry stated during interviews for X2 that she would not return as Storm in the third film unless the character had a significant presence comparable to the comic-book version. Brett Ratner also felt Storm required a larger role, and increased it.
Additions to the cast include veteran TV actor Kelsey Grammer as Beast, former British footballer Vinnie Jones as the Juggernaut, actor-director Bill Duke as Trask, Ben Foster as the Angel, and Ellen Page as Kitty Pryde. New members of the Brotherhood of Mutants include Eric Dane as Multiple Man (whose name appears in Stryker's files in X2), Dania Ramirez as Callisto, Ken Leung as Kid Omega, Mei Melançon as Psylocke, and Omahyra Mota, credited as simply Omahyra, as Arclight. While the Juggernaut is referred to in the official press notes as Professor Xavier's stepbrother, this is not mentioned within the film. The character Dr. Moira MacTaggert, who appears in the film, is not listed in the official press notes' cast list and goes uncredited in the finished film. She is played by actress Olivia Williams.
Reception
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
The critical reception of X3 was highly mixed as evidenced with the film aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes giving the film 54%. [2] Many film critics enjoyed the movie's thrilling action sequences, special effects, and its presentation of political issues. [5] [6] However, many other film critics considered the third film to be of lesser quality than the previous two and stated there was a lack of emotional weight and creative direction. [7] [8]
Possible sequel(s)/Spin-offs
Tom Rothman, head of 20th Century Fox, has made comments to that fact that there will most likely be a fourth X-Men movie[9].
Patrick Stewart and Halle Berry said that if the movie fares well, the franchise will continue. [10] The final scenes leave that possibility open. Vinnie Jones said that when contracting for his role as the Juggernaut, he signed for three movies, although this is standard procedure on planned franchise projects.
A Wolverine spin-off [11] and a Magneto spin-off [12] have been announced and are in the scripting stages. Another possible movie based on the character of Emma Frost, a mutant telepath who can transform her skin into an organic diamond substance and X-Men comics regular, is also being developed as a result of the success of the first three X-Men films. Three Kings director David O. Russell was contacted about creating a story for the character. A possible film based on the students at the school has also been mentioned. [13]
Avi Arad, executive producer, stated in an interview that Marvel would take its time to decide what to do with future X-Men films, but is focusing on the spin-offs. [14]
Main cast
Novelization
The novelization of the film, written by comic book writer Chris Claremont, was released on Tuesday, May 16, 2006.
Template:Spoiler The novel version of the story has some significant differences from the movie. The novel starts off with Jean Grey discovering her powers brought on by the accident that took her childhood best friend's life. Also, Angel offically joins the X-Men and travels with them to Alcatraz Island instead of going on his own. Rogue decides to keep her powers in the end, and Beast stays at the school as a teacher. Moira MacTaggert comes to Magneto in the park, presumably offering an antidote to the cure, and he refuses her help because as the book says: "He couldn't go back. That path had brought nothing but grief, to those he cared for, those who trusted him, to himself. This was better." This suggests that Magneto has turned over a new leaf before discovering a slight return of his powers. There is no scene with Xavier's ressurection.
Boxoffice
X-Men: The Last Stand grossed $45.5 million domestically [15] for the second-highest opening day after Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ($50 million). It is ranked fourth among film debuts having generated an estimated $122.9 million domestically during its four-day Memorial Day opening weekend. The website The Numbers notes that the film's weekend gross "equals the record for the fewest number of days taken to earn $100 million, joining four other movies that achieved the feat in three days." [16]
In the Netherlands, the film debuted at #2 in its first week, grossing a total of € 793.167.[17]
Trivia
- Familiar details from the X-Men mythos seen in the film include the Danger Room and (as a hologram shown within) a giant, mutant-hunting Sentinel robot. One of the president's advisors is also called Trask, alluding to Bolivar Trask, creator of the Sentinels.
- The movie features the "fastball special", Colossus and Wolverine's famous tag-team move, in which the super-strong Colossus throws Wolverine at their opponent — in this case, a Sentinel, and, later, Magneto.[18]
- Many of the minor mutants are substantially altered from their comic book counterpart:
- In the original comics, Spike, Psylocke and Multiple Man are not Brotherhood villains; however, in the alternative Ultimate Marvel universe, Multiple Man is a villain.
- Kid Omega is portrayed as a mutant with spiky quills as opposed to his comic counterpart whose power is superhuman intellect.
- Psylocke is shown with a red dagger tattoo over her left eye, and is able to cloak herself in shadows, making her appear invisible. This refers to Psylocke "under Crimson Dawn", where she has this power and mark rather than her usual power of telepathy/telekinesis that manifests as a pink katana.
- In the film, Callisto is depicted as having super-speed (new power) and a variation of her super-acute senses: sensing the power levels of mutants. In some comics, the character Caliban has the ability to sense mutants and their power levels.
- Angel's wings were initially too heavy for Ben Foster, and were remade from foam.
- Storm & Callisto engage in two battles during the film. In the comics, Storm defeats Callisto to become leader of the Morlocks.
- A 2,500-foot replica of the Golden Gate Bridge was built for one sequence.
- This is the first film that features the original five X-Men: Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, and Jean Grey; however, all five are never together onscreen.
- X-Men co-creator Stan Lee and writer Chris Claremont have cameos in the film's opening scene as neighbors in Jean Grey's old neighborhood. Respectively, they are credited as "Waterhose man" and "Lawnmower man".
- Ellen Page is the third Canadian actress to play Kitty Pryde in the X-Men movies. The others are Sumela Kay (X-Men) and Katie Stuart (X2).
- Just before the Brotherhood attacks Alcatraz Island, the military forces are seen preparing for the assault by removing all metal items in favor of plastic weapons and armor. The officer directing the preparations is played by Gunnery Sergeant R. Lee Ermey, who rose to fame as the sadistic Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in the film Full Metal Jacket and is now the host of the History Channel's "Mail Call". He is credited as "Sergeant."
- Filmmakers have considered using the Beast character since the first X-Men movie, but budget constraints ruled him out; however, Steve Bacic is identified as Hank McCoy when he appears on a television screen in a cameo role in X2.
- The whirlwind wire-stunt Halle Berry performed in a fight scene caused her to vomit because of her motion sickness.
- The final battle between the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants was originally scripted to take place in Washington, D.C., but Ratner opted to change the location.
- All the actors (excluding Kelsey Grammer) performed some of their own stunts.
- The Juggernaut's line to Kitty Pryde — "Don't you know who I am? I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!" — alludes to a popular video parody (The Juggernaut Bitch) based on Juggernaut's character from an episode of X-Men: The Animated Series. [3] [4]
- In the opening, Professor Xavier tells Magneto that misusing power is not right, a central theme of the book The Once and Future King by T. H. White. In the beginning of X2, Magneto reads an old copy of the book in his prison cell, and Professor X uses it as a teaching tool in the end of that movie.
- Leech can be seen playing Kameo: Elements of Power on an X-Box 360 console in his room in Worthington Labs.
- Beast's line "Oh my stars and garters" is the character's trademark catchphrase in the comics.
Video game
Games publisher Activision released X-Men: The Official Game, the official video game tie-in to the film across all major videogame platforms on May 16th, 2006. The various editions of the game bridge the events of the films X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand and feature many of both films' prominent characters. Most notably, it provides an explanation to Nightcrawler's absence. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Alan Cumming, Eric Dane, Shawn Ashmore and Tyler Mane (Sabretooth in the first film) reprise their film roles in this game. On April 4th, 2006, Activision confirmed that Sentinels, Lady Deathstrike, Pyro, and Sabretooth would appear in the game. Silver Samurai, Multiple Man and Magneto are also in the game.
Footnotes
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-05-24-xmen-ratner_x.htm
- ^ http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=20443
- ^ http://scifipulse.net/Trek_ArchiveII/December2005/PatrickStewart_Dec05.html
- ^ http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1524305/02142006/story.jhtml?rsspartner=rssYahooNewscrawler
- ^ http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060525/REVIEWS/60509005/1023
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2006-05-24-x-men_x.htm
- ^ http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117930584?categoryId=31&cs=1
- ^ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002539746
- ^ http://www.themovieblog.com/archives/2006/01/fox_confirms_xmen_4.html
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4995028.stm
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458525/
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0499519/
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/life/2006-06-01-coming-attractions_x.htm It was also stated that a film base on Emma Frost is in the works possibly with Three Kings director David O. Russell
- ^ http://ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=3021
- ^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=open&p=.htm
- ^ http://www.the-numbers.com/index.php
- ^ Boxoffice NL
- ^ http://www.thexverse.com/assets/gallery/xtls/trailers/trailer/cap146.jpg
References
- X-Men: The Last Stand official site
- Template:Ymovies title
- X-Men: The Last Stand at The-Numbers
- X-Men: The Last Stand at Moviefone.com
External links
- X-Men: The Last Stand at IMDb
- X-Men 3: The Last Stand review at Gamer Mania 2
- Template:Shh
- TheXverse.com
- XMenfilms.net
- X-Men: The Last Stand at Moviefone.com
