The explosive X-Men motion picture trilogy officially draws to a close with this release that finds Rush Hour director Brett Ratner stepping in for Bryan Singer to tell the tale of a newly discovered mutant "cure," and the polarizing effect it has on mutant/man relations. With the pressure on mutants to give up their powers and pledge alliance with the human race reaching a critical turning point, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) urges tolerance and understanding as his nemesis Magneto (Ian McKellen) gathers a powerful resistance in preparation for the ultimate war against humankind. Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, and James Marsden return to reprise the roles they played in the previous two X-Men films, with Kelsey Grammer and Vinnie Jones joining the cast as Beast and Juggernaut respectively.

AMG Review: As a conclusion to the arcs of the first two films, X-Men: The Last Stand is a serviceable entry that is breezy fun, yet without the depth that has come to be expected from the series. It's actually amazing that the film is as good as it is -- director Brett Ratner might have had some tremendous box office weight under his belt, but most of that was due to his stars rather than his proficiency. That said, he managed to do an admirable job of mimicking previous helmer Bryan Singer's style and feel, which set the franchise apart from its big screen comic contemporaries. The movie's main problems stem from its unfocused script -- a mish-mash of comic mythology that tries to tackle too much in one film, never mind do it in 100 minutes. While some characters are handed a few juicy moments to relish in throughout the picture, there are loads of others that consistently get short-changed, most of whom are new to the franchise. And for such a short film, they sure do tackle a heap of main-character deaths throughout the picture, never mind that Wolverine (once again played to perfection by Hugh Jackman) has practically been defanged as a family-friendly feral hero with a heart of gold. All of this is blanketed under a limited budget and hastened schedule that's terribly apparent in the big final showdown at Alcatraz. So why is the film still worth half a hoot? Part of it has to do with the cast and their continuing fine work, though there is something to be said about the flick's blend of humor and action that will keep it palatable to most audiences. While there might not be too many "wow" moments, the third film is okay enough for summer movie escapism, though nowhere near the bar set by Singer in the installments leading up to this.