History YMMV / XMenTheLastStand

** Storm, the woman who led the X-Men for years in the comics, and, with Cyclops and Professor X dead would be the most logical choice to take over. She kind of does, but her only show of leadership is assuring Angel the Xaver School is a safe place for mutants. Otherwise she largely just stands around with a blank expression.

** Iceman (finally) came out as gay in the comics. Makes his semi-love triangle in the movie with two girls quite a bit funnier, especially when you consider (as stated above) that both his love interests are played by actresses who are into girls in real life.
** The Phoenix had meant to insult Wolverine when she tells him "What, you think [the Professor's] not in your head, too? Look at you, Logan. He's ''tamed'' you." [[spoiler:In ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', Jean successfully "tames" the Phoenix with Xavier's help.]]
* IdiotPlot: Oh boy, where to begin.

** The heroes need to stop Phoenix, so Wolverine is sent in to stab her with his claws. If he's in a position to get close enough to do that and you aren't going to [[MagicPants make her vaporize his pants]], then he should have grabbed some cure darts (which are literally ''everywhere'') and cured her instead of killing her. Still psycho or not, she wouldn't be a threat. Of course, it's needed to ponder if something like the Phoenix Force could be "cured" that way, but it was worth a try before killing her.

** ''X2'' ends with Professor Xavier suddenly getting distracted during a class and staring into the distance, after which he smiles and says "everything will be alright". The implication is that he felt the Phoenix force as it appeared in Alkali Lake, therefore realizing Jean had survived. So of course the third movie chooses to completely forget about this scene and have him act as surprised as everyone else when Jean is found. This in turn means Cyclops is the one who unleashes the Phoenix and [[spoiler: gets killed for it.]]
* TookTheBadFilmSeriously: More like bad subplot, but despite the film's poor handling of the Phoenix storyline, Famke Janssen really tries her hardest to commit to it. She plays both the vengeful Phoenix force and the sympathetic Jean Grey so well that it's an even bigger shame not more was done with her.

** Kitty's and Bobby's relationship being a NotWhatItLooksLike situation for him and Rogue. Takes on a slightly new light now that Creator/EllenPage is open about being a lesbian. Rogue really did have nothing to worry about. Bonus point for Creator/AnnaPaquin admitting that she's bisexual, so is Rogue jealous on Bobby or on Kitty? (Additionally in ''ComicBook/NewMutants Vol.2'', a lesbian member, Xi'an Coy Manh a.k.a. Karma, confessed her feelings to Kitty, who rejected the advance.)

* CantUnhearIt: Creator/KelseyGrammer as Beast.

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Beast, as played by Creator/KelseyGrammer, was almost guaranteed to be this. His character managed to be a fan favourite despite the contested nature of the movie.
** Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat too, due to getting an expanded role in this film. She had just achieved more mainstream popularity due to being featured in ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution''. Also it helps that her actress Ellen Page went onto become a star.
** Ben Foster's heartfelt performance as Angel almost makes you forget his screen time is so small. Doubly impressive, considering the role was [[PlayingAgainstType massively against type]] for him at the time (he was best known for psychopath roles, such as ''{{Film/Hostage}}'').

* FridgeHorror:
** On the subject of the cure, it is very likely people will still be ostracized because they were mutants at some point. Imagine someone being seen to get it and get attacked later, now without having their powers to protect themselves.
** The cure as a whole becomes horrifying when you consider the whole "mutants as metaphor" aspect of the films and comics--it can be compared to the concept of "curing" different minority groups, most obviously [[CureYourGays LGBT]] and [[ThrowingOffTheDisability disabled people]]. This can make it really horrifying for people in those groups when the cure is actively forced on some, and many others are pressured into taking it when they don't want to...

* UnfortunateImplications: Creator/LindsayEllis [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGr0NRx3TKU took the time]] to illustrate the scene where [[spoiler: Logan is forced to kill the Phoenix because she's too powerful]] as uncomfortably similar to real-life abusers justifying why they hurt their victims.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: See [[AwesomeMusic/XMen this page]].

* VindicatedByHistory: For a long while, it was considered the lowest rung in the X-Men movie franchise by a lot of fans for one reason or another (Change in directors, wonky writing, Cyclops getting shafted ''again'' and killed off, the Phoenix being Jean's SplitPersonality instead of an initially good cosmic being that was just corrupted by evil forces, clashing the storyline with one about a mutant cure). But over the years, fans eased up on the movie and admit it's not as bad as initially viewed or word of mouth would suggest. Especially true after the mess that was ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' and, years later down the line, the second attempt at the Phoenix Saga, ''Film/DarkPhoenix''. The latter film, while trying to be more accurate to the comics, didn't do the story any better and is actually compared unfavourably to ''The Last Stand'' by both fans and professional critics, who cite that its middling tone fails to match the fun and energy of its predecessor.

* SoOkayItsAverage: A opinion of some. While not as good as the first film and especially ''[=X2=]'', many cite it's not really all that bad either, the actions scenes are still great and well directed. The characters are still well acted and its still pretty fun viewing. And the storylines, while clashing very heavily against each other (most criticism cites the "cure" storyline should've just been the main focus entirely while the Phoenix one felt like it was clumsily shoehorned in and ''really'' should've been it's own movie before the reboot) is still easy enough to follow along with and understand.

* VindicatedByHistory: For a long while, it was considered the lowest rung in the X-Men movie franchise by a lot of fans for one reason or another (Change in directors, wonky writing, Cyclops getting shafted ''again'' and killed off, the Phoenix being a separate identity of Jean's then a initially good cosmic being that was just corrupted by evil forces, clashing the storyline with one about a mutant cure, etc). But over the years, fans eased up on the movie and admit it's not as bad as initially viewed or were told about for newcomers. Especially true after the mess that was ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' and, years later down the line, the the second attempt at the Phoenix Saga, ''Film/DarkPhoenix''. Which, while trying to go for more comic accuracy, didn't do the story any better and actually have fans comparing ''The Last Stand'' more favorably to that film. Citing while it's not perfect, at least felt more fun and energetic then ''Dark Phoenix'' more middling tone.

* VindicatedByHistory: For a long while, it was considered the lowest rung in the X-Men movie franchise by a lot of fans for one reason or another (Change in directors, wonky writing, Cyclops getting shafted ''again'' and killed off, the Phoenix being a separate identity of Jean's then a initially good cosmic being that was just corrupted by evil forces, etc). But over the years, fans eased up on the movie and admit it's not as bad as initially view or were told about for newcomers. Especially true after the mess that was ''Film/WolverineOrigins'' and, year later down the line, the, the second attempt the Phoenix Saga, ''Film/TheDarkPhoenix'', which, while trying to go for more comic accuracy, didn't do the story and better and actually have fans comparing ''The Last Stand'' more favorably to that film.

* SignatureScene: Wolverine killing Phoenix, Professor X's apparent death and the Juggernaut's "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!" remark to Kitty Pride.

** The Rogue-Kitty-Iceman romance subplot seems far less cute in light of Ellen Page and Anna Paquin's testimonials about Brett Ratner's sexual harassment towards them.

** A lot of ''Comicbook/XMen'' fans blame Brett Ratner for every single problem with the film. Others blame the film's original director, Matthew Vaughn, for screwing the film over by quitting right before the start of filming, and still others hold both men equally to blame. In actual fact, while you could make legitimate criticisms about both Ratner's direction and Vaughn's decision to quit, neither of them were responsible for the storyline. That was about 90% the same as the final film well before Vaughn had signed up, and neither director was permitted to make any serious changes to the screenplay (which, despite him giving "family reasons" for his decision to quit, was apparently a major factor in Vaughn leaving the film).

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: The first two ''X-Men'' films were directed by Creator/BryanSinger. This one, directed by Brett Ratner, is considered by many fans to be a step down in quality.
* OvershadowedByControversy: In November 2017, Ellen Page accused Brett Ratner of homophobic abuse during the production of this film, with Anna Paquin corroborating her account of the incident. In the space of a day this film went from being at the back of most people's minds to being negatively referred to on every news broadcast and website in the world. At time of writing, Brett Ratner has denied her claims.

* ScapegoatCreator: Brett Ratner picks up a ''lot'' of hate from fans of the ''X-Men'' for his role in directing this movie. Said fans tend to ignore the fact that Ratner joined the film's production at a relatively late stage (replacing Matthew Vaughn, who had been attached to direct for most of the film's development phase), thus minimizing the amount of creative input he could have possibly had to the movie.

* AwesomeMusic: See [[AwesomeMusic/XMen this page]].

* FridgeHorror: On the subject of the cure, it is very likely people will still be ostracized because they were mutants at some point. Imagine someone being seen to get it and get attacked later without being able to protect themselves.

** Magneto is surprised that the humans are using plastic guns. This from a guy who's not only been held in a plastic prison for quite some time, but has shown the ability to detect metallic signatures from far greater distances and act on them accordingly. He does so in this very film, in fact.

** The heroes need to stop Phoenix, so Wolverine is sent in to stab her with his claws. If he's in a position to get close enough to do that and you aren't going to [[MagicPants make her vaporize his pants]], then he should have grabbed some cure darts (which are literally ''everywhere'') and cured her instead of killing her. Still psycho or not, she wouldn't be a threat. (Of course, you have to ponder if something like the Phoenix Force could be "cured" that way, but it was worth a try.)

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: On the one hand, you have a member of the cast who turns evil, gains a huge boost to her superpowers, and threatens to kill lots of people if she's not stopped. On the other hand, you have a "cure" for mutations, with some mutants wanting the cure while others are afraid that it will be forced on them. Of course, since they are both in the same film, there is no time to explore either of them to their full potential. Not only that, the obvious justification for doing both in the same film, that the "cure" just so happens to be a solution to that whole Phoenix problem? It's never even considered.
** X2 ends with Professor Xavier suddenly getting distracted during a class and staring into the distance, after which he smiles and says "everything will be alright". The implication is that he felt the Phoenix force as it appeared in Alkali Lake, therefore realizing Jean had survived. So of course the third movie chooses to completely forget about this scene and have him act as surprised as everyone else when Jean is found. This in turn means Cyclops is the one who unleashes the Phoenix and [[spoiler: gets killed for it.]]

** At one point, Magneto uses his powers to blast away Logan into a tree, and Logan survives the fall downwards due to his healing factor. Then ''Film/{{Logan}}'' happens, and we see [[spoiler:X-23, a full clone of Logan, shove the latter into a jutted tree branch. As Logan was severely weakened due to his age and adamantium skeleton poisoning him, there is a lot of blood, and he dies]].

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: On the one hand, you have a member of the cast who turns evil, gains superpowers, and threatens to kill lots of people if she's not stopped. On the other hand, you have a "cure" for mutations, with some mutants wanting the cure while others afraid that it will be forced on them. Of course, since they are both in the same film, there is no time to explore either of them to their full potential. Not only that, the obvious justification for doing both in the same film, that the "cure" just so happens to be a solution to that whole Phoenix problem? It's never even considered.

* RuleOfSeanConnery: '''Creator/EllenPage'''. Even a lot of the film's detractors enjoyed Kitty Pryde taking down the Juggernaut. These included Bryan Singer, who went on to bring Page back for ''Days of Future Past''.

** Iceman (finally) came out as gay in the comics. Makes his semi-love triangle in the movie with two girls quite a bit funnier.

** At one point, Magneto uses his powers to blast away Logan into a tree, and Logan survives the fall downwards due to his healing factor. Then ''Film/{{Logan}}'' happens, and we see [[spoiler:X-24, a full clone of Logan, shove the latter into a jutted tree branch. As Logan was severely weakened due to his age and adamantium skeleton poisoning him, there is a lot of blood, and he dies]].

** A lot of ''Comicbook/{{X-Men}}'' fans blame Brett Ratner for every single problem with the film. Others blame the film's original director, Matthew Vaughn, for screwing the film over by quitting right before the start of filming, and still others hold both men equally to blame. In actual fact, while you could make legitimate criticisms about both Ratner's direction and Vaughn's decision to quit, neither of them were responsible for the storyline. That was about 90% the same as the final film well before Vaughn had signed up, and neither director was permitted to make any serious changes to the screenplay (which, despite him giving "family reasons" for his decision to quit, was apparently a major factor in Vaughn leaving the film).

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: This was the first film that had the original X-Men team (Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Beast and Angel) all play a part... but they never share a scene as a unit, let alone work together like fans would have loved to see. [[spoiler: Jean spends the majority of the film in the villainous Phoenix persona, Charles and Scott both die at her hands, and Angel never even joins the team.]] The only ones seen to work together are Beast and Iceman in Act 3. Considering the next team film was First Class (which managed to feature ''none'' of these characters besides Charles and Hank,) this stings all the more.