Line #26 YMMV/XMenTheLastStand


1	* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation:
2	** Bobby's little moment with Kitty--are his hormones craving physical intimacy that he's not able to have with his girlfriend? Or is he just doing something nice for a friend with no bad intentions or ulterior motives? It's worth noting that the kiss that was filmed but cut[[note]]Filmmakers felt uncomfortable due to Bobby appearing much older than Kitty[[/note]] had ''Kitty'' as the one who initiated the kiss. So that puts her into interpretation - is she misreading Bobby's intentions (and she knows he has a girlfriend) or is she just caught up in the heat of the moment?
3	** Rogue's attitude --does she have a legit reason to be suspicious? Or is she just paranoid and possessive?
4	* AngstWhatAngst: Odd how not too many people are especially horrified and saddened over Scott's death, not even [[ParentalSubstitute Professor Xavier]]. Logan appears to be the only one who cares enough to ask Jean about what happened.
5	* BrokenBase: Rogue choosing to take the cure has divided fans. Some think it goes against the film's message, but others support the decision, given Rogue's powers are pretty much a curse, [[AdaptationalWimp and she doesn't have the comic version's stronger aspects]] to justify wanting to keep them. And it really doesn’t help that they made an alternate ending where she doesn’t take the cure, standing as proof that there was no real thematic point being made and they basically just flipped a coin to figure out which to put in the movie.
6	* CantUnHearIt: Creator/KelseyGrammer as Beast. His character managed to be a fan favourite despite the contested nature of the movie.
7	* ContestedSequel: The film is either a bad representation of the [[ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga Phoenix Saga]] and a total [[DroppedABridgeOnHim cop-out as far as the role of Cyclops goes]], and being [[SpotlightStealingSquad "The Wolverine and Jean Show"]] and devoid of all other character development... or it is an adequate adaptation of the Phoenix Saga that does away with plot elements that would have been out of place in the established movie canon, and a ''sweet'' action movie in which all hell breaks loose and Wolverine owns the show. A third camp feels that it's not as solid as the first two, but still nowhere near as bad as a lot of people say. Take your pick.
8	* CriticalBacklash: While most fans will agree it's weaker than the prior films, there's several viewers who think that it's not nearly as bad as it's made out to be, having several legitimately good new characters, performances, and ideas, even if some of them aren't executed that well. The fact that the other movie in this trilogy have undergone some HypeBacklash has also helped this line of thinking, since some point to it not being as big of a drop in quality as it's commonly thought to be.
9	* CriticalDissonance: The film had the worst reviews, but the best box office results out of the original ''X-Men'' trilogy, although a lot of that was banked on the goodwill from the first films, which were parlayed into a HUGE opening weekend for the third.
10	* EnsembleDarkhorse:
11	** Creator/KelseyGrammer's take on Beast is considered one of the highlights of the film, being one of the most faithful translations of an ''X-Men'' character from the comics to Fox's film continuity and receiving a charismatic performance befitting of the character. His take was so popular that it was widely thought that Creator/NicholasHoult, who is well-regarded as an actor, had a ToughActToFollow in the prequel series. Grammer's performance as Beast wound up being so popular that [[spoiler:Creator/MarvelStudios brought him back a full 17 years later to reprise his role in ''Film/TheMarvels2023'']].
12	** 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}}'').
13	* {{Fanon}}: A common theory regarding the ContinuitySnarl between ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' and this movie is that the Xavier who visited Jean Grey was, in fact, a psychic projection. ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' would later offer an alternate to this theory, with the presence of a serum that allows Xavier to walk, but takes away his powers if too much is used.
14	* FanPreferredCutContent: The original script that Creator/BryanSinger was going to direct would have been a more faithful adaptation of ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga focusing on Cyclops and Jean, with a three-way struggle between the X-Men, the Brotherhood of Mutants and the Hellfire Club over Jean's Phoenix powers. It would have even kept the original story's ending where Cyclops is forced to kill Jean. It also would have introduced ComicBook/{{Gambit}}, ComicBook/EmmaFrost and ComicBook/{{Dazzler}}.
15	* HarsherInHindsight:
16	** After watching ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' (which revealed that the young Xavier taught Lehnsherr how to achieve greater control over his power by finding the point between rage and serenity--the latter requires a happy memory), Magneto's line of "Charles always wanted to build bridges" as he's moving a large section of the Golden Gate Bridge seems to indicate that he's thinking about his old friend instead of his mother in order to attain serenity. And like his mother, [[spoiler:Xavier--whom he loved as a brother--is now dead, so happy memories from their brief friendship in 1962 is all Magneto has left of him.]]
17	** Erik truly seemed to grow fond of Raven in ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' and spent decades with her at his side, then casually kicked her to the curb in this movie after she was hit with the mutant cure. The disheartened look in his eyes for being forced to do so, however, cannot be ignored either.
18	** The infamous scene of Jean killing Cyclops and Professor X under the Phoenix's influence, only now that a [[ComicBook/AvengersVsXMen Phoenix-possessed Cyclops kills Xavier in a very similar scene]]. The blame put on Cyclops is even déjà-vu to [[ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga Phoenix!Jean's controversial genocide]].
19	** In this film, Charles Xavier is brutally killed at the hands of a red-headed woman who has been corrupted by the power she holds while trying to help them. [[spoiler:Fast-forward to ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'', and a variant of Charles (played by the same actor no less) suffers a similar fate, except at the hands of the Scarlet Witch rather than Jean Grey.]]
20	* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Professor X reassuring Beast that "You are always welcome here. You are a part of this place" becomes that much sweeter when you take into account their close relationship in ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast''. In between 1963 and 1973, Charles and Hank were each other's OnlyFriend after the former was forced to close his newly budding school due to the UsefulNotes/VietnamWar draft. Xavier then fell into a deep depression that was further worsened by his alcoholism, and [=McCoy=] did his best to try to take care of his former mentor. They eventually became HeterosexualLifePartners, so Beast isn't just a good friend to the Professor; he's ''family''. Hank also mentions to Logan that both he and Charles had built the school and the labs, so [=McCoy=] is just as essential as Xavier in the formation of the X-Men.
21	* HilariousInHindsight:
22	** Beast throwing down the mutant cure in disgust is slightly amusing when you take into account his experience with another serum in ''First Class''.
23	** Iceman 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 that both his love interests are played by actors who are into girls in real life (Elliot Page is a straight trans man[[note]]Though it would be a decade and a half before he came out as trans, he was identifying as a lesbian at the time[[/note]], and Anna Paquin is bisexual).
24	** 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." In ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', [[spoiler:Jean successfully "tames" the Phoenix with Xavier's help.]]
25	* HoYay: [[Film/XMen1 Once again]], Scott and Logan have this. In the one scene they share, Logan acts significantly more gentle with Scott, and says "''we'' should move on," from Jean's death. When Logan and Storm investigate Alkali Lake, Logan finds Scott glasses and holds onto them. Logan asks the newly-ressurected Jean what happened to Scott and, when he puts the pieces together, Logan appears horrified.
26	* LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt: Magneto is [[spoiler:stabbed with the cure.]] The movie's final scene shows Erik in a park, and [[spoiler:a chess piece moves ever so slightly, implying the cure wasn't permanent. The events of ''The Last Stand'' seem to be RetGone courtesy of ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', though. Also, in that film, Future Magneto is definitely shown to have gained his powers back.]]
27	* MemeticLoser: Quill/Kid Omega. He's a member of the Ultimates and the movie treats him with the gravitas that would entail but... he's a guy whose ability is to extend some spikes from his skin and he genuinely thinks that's threatening to Magneto. This has earned him a fair amount of mockery in fan circles even if strictly speaking he's shown to be as effective as any other of Magneto's team.
28	* MisBlamed:
29	** A lot of ''Comicbook/XMen'' fans blame Creator/BrettRatner for every single problem with the film. Others blame the film's original director, Creator/MatthewVaughn, 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).
30	** Ironically, many fans actually blame ''Creator/BryanSinger'' for everything wrong with the film. Despite (or perhaps even ''because of'') Singer departing the franchise to direct the similarly failed ''Film/SupermanReturns'', and having nothing to do with the film at all!
31	* {{Narm}}:
32	** The whole exchange between Mystique and the guard in the prison truck.
33	--->'''Mystique:''' ''(posing as the President)'' Let me out of here! I demand that you release me! Do you know who I am? I am the President of the United States!\
34	'''Guard:''' [[DullSurprise Oh, Mr. President...]] Shut up!\
35	'''Mystique:''' ''(posing as [[CreepyChild a little girl]])'' Why are you doing this? Let me out! I'll be a good girl! Please!\
36	'''Guard:''' ''(pulls out a can of mace)'' Keep it up...and I'll spray you in the face, [[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch]].
37	** [[SmallNameBigEgo Quill/Kid Omega]] showing his spines to try to menace [[PlayingWithFire Pyro]], as though a human porcupine holds a candle to a human ''flamethrower''.
38	** Magneto's line, "Charles always wanted to [[VisualPun build bridges]]!"
39	* NeverLiveItDown: Storm is frequently attacked for her "there's ''nothing'' to cure" speech, even though literally after she's finished speaking, Beast calls her out on the fact that other mutations have worse effects than hers.
40	* OneSceneWonder: Cyclops is little more than a cameo here, but Creator/JamesMarsden still does what he can do with what he's been given and delivers a strong performance that [[TheWoobie makes the audience feel for him]] before [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter his character winds up being completely wasted]].
41	%%** The movie is full of them -- Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut, Creator/EricDane as Multiple Man, Ben Foster as Angel.
42	* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: The first two ''X-Men'' films were directed by Creator/BryanSinger. This one, directed by Creator/BrettRatner, is considered by many fans to be a step down in quality.
43	* OvershadowedByControversy: In November 2017, Elliot Page accused Creator/BrettRatner of homophobic abuse during the production of this film, with Anna Paquin corroborating Elliot's 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 the claims.
44	* RainbowLens: The film begins with Angel's anti-mutant father walking in on him trying to cut off his wings as a child to hide his mutation. His father throws himself into developing a "cure," which his son is supposed to be the first to test. At the last minute, he decides he doesn't want to be cured and flees, seeking refuge at Xavier's school, where he is surrounded by other mutants for the first time and learns to be proud of his status as a mutant.
45	* RetroactiveRecognition:
46	** Elliot Page as Kitty Pryde. He had only just finished ''Film/HardCandy'' at this point and it would be a couple of years before his Oscar-nominated role in ''{{Film/Juno}}''.
47	** [[Series/{{Lost}} Miles Straum]] as a [[http://i.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/photoshop/5/3/8/1538_slide.jpg?v=2 mutant.]]
48	* SugarWiki/RuleOfSeanConnery:
49	** '''Creator/ElliotPage'''. 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''.
50	** There's also Creator/KelseyGrammer. If you ask anyone whose seen this contentious film, fan or critic, what was something good in it, you're very likely to hear his performance being brought up as some of the most perfect comic book casting ever.
51	* SugarWiki/SheReallyCanAct: After receiving mixed notices for her work in the prior films, some believe that Creator/HalleBerry redeemed herself as Storm here, delivering her strongest work in the franchise, even though it's the worst received film in the series she's been in.
52	* SignatureScene: The Juggernaut's "I'm the Juggernaut, bitch!" remark to Kitty Pride, thanks mostly to MemeticMutation.
53	* SoOkayItsAverage: While ''The Last Stand'' is not considered to have lived up to the standards set by the first film and especially ''[=X2=]'', many claim it has just enough redeeming qualities to be decently enjoyable, with the well directed actions scenes and the superb acting being highlights. The criticism that the storylines clash very heavily against each other still stands, with many citing that the "cure" storyline should've just been the main focus entirely and that the Phoenix one felt like it was clumsily shoehorned in, but both plots are easy enough to follow along with and understand.
54	* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: This film evoked this response more than the other films. Particularly killing off [[spoiler:Cyclops anticlimactically]] and [[spoiler:depowering Mystique]]--although this was partly a case of RealLifeWritesThePlot, as the actors were unavailable for most of production.
55	* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter:
56	** Callisto, leader of the Morlocks, has no characterization other than simply being another of ComicBook/{{Magneto}}'s lackeys.
57	** Cyclops, leader of the X-Men and arguably the '''REAL''' main character of the comics, is little more than a cameo in the movie. This despite the fact he had to deal with the ''death of his lover'', and Xavier's death is the perfect scenario for him to assume leadership of the heroes.
58	** 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.
59	** The opening of the film looks like it’s setting Angel up as a major player, but then he largely takes a backseat for most of the film, outside of one big scene (that several detractors have admitted to liking), and participating in the final fight. It's certainly not unheard of to question why they would start the movie with a character whose role is so minor.
60	** Psylocke is present in this film, but unfortunately it's an InNameOnly version who doesn't get to show off her powers, has undergone AdaptationalVillainy, and contributes nothing to the film. You have to wonder why they would ever bother including such a popular character if they were just going to relegate her to the background while getting pretty much everything about her wrong.
61	** Major fan favorite Colossus appears, but he's given little characterization or presence throughout.
62	** Mystique's role is much smaller than last time, with her getting taken out of commission and abandoned by Erik quite early into the film.
63	* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot:
64	** The film wastes both ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga and the [[ComicBook/AstonishingXMen Gifted]] storyline, two highly regarded arcs from the comics, by shoving them together, ensuring neither individual plot has room enough to breathe or make the impact that it should. Not only that, the obvious justification for doing both in the same film, that the "cure" just so happens to be a solution to the whole Phoenix problem, is never even considered.
65	** ''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 as she appeared in Alkali Lake, therefore realizing Jean had survived. But the third movie ignores this scene and has 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]].
66	* TookTheBadFilmSeriously:
67	** 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 and the sympathetic Jean Grey so well that it's an even bigger shame not more was done with her.
68	** Though there are plenty of issues this film has, almost everyone agrees that some of its best moments are when Kelsey Grammer's Beast appears onscreen. Whether he be discussing the politics between mutants and humanity or savagely beating down members of Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants, Grammer really perfectly encapsulates the character and his mannerisms.
69	* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic:
70	** In the beginning of the film, Logan tells Scott that he knows how the latter feels, which is in general a terrible thing to say to someone that's grieving, and in the specific case, makes Logan seem incredibly self involved. He's essentially equating his grief over a woman he knew for about a week to Scott's over his fiancee that he'd known for at least a decade.
71	** Storm, thanks to her "there's ''nothing'' to cure" speech. She has the power and beauty of a goddess, but she's telling that speech to a mutant (Rogue), whose power makes her kill everyone she touches, barring her from having any physical relationship, in front of a mutant (Beast) whose mutation makes him look like a blue-haired humanoid monkey. Beast does call her out for that, lampshading that [[BlessedWithSuck there're mutants with shitty powers]].[[note]]Like the mentioned Rogue or Barnell "Beak" Bohusk from the comics, who's power is just being a deformed humanoid chicken.[[/note]]
72	* 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. Some critics even felt that ''Dark Phoenix'' unwittingly proved that the Phoenix Saga simply wasn't possible to directly adapt to a single movie, and that ''The Last Stand'' had the right idea all along in taking inspiration from a comic storyline but mostly doing its own thing (an approach that the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse would later adopt), even if the execution could have been better.
73	* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome:
74	** The special effects create action scenes straight out of a comic, such as the Golden Gate being flown by Magneto's powers and the Dark Phoenix disintegrating stuff.
75	** There's also Angel's wings and Quill's spikes.
76	** One moment that is slight more subtle is the "digital skin grafting" that made Patrick Stewart and Ian [=McKellen=] look two decades younger. While it borders on UnintentionalUncannyValley, it's still convincing.
77	** Not forgetting the practical makeup effects, such as the muscle suit Vinnie Jones wore as the Juggernaut, Angel's wings in their folded position and of course the full-body makeup applied to Beast.
78	* WatchItForTheMeme: "[[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch I'm the Juggernaut]], ''[[ThisIsForEmphasisBitch bitch]]!''", which [[AscendedMeme was added to the script]] after it became a [=YouTube=] meme.
79	* TheWoobie: Cyclops. Plenty wanted to give him a hug during the film. [[spoiler:And then Jean killed him.]]

Context YMMV / XMenTheLastStand