X-Men: The Last Stand (12A)

May 26 2006 By Graham Young, Birmingham Mail

LET'S hope this is one film that lives up to its title.

After two instalments directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects), Rush Hour's Brett Ratner takes over to deliver a blockbuster which takes the Marvel out of marvellous.

Running to just 104 minutes, the film can hardly be accused of over-staying its welcome. But it feels incoherent and laboured throughout as well as lacking in identity, direction and humour.

Comic book fans will feel short-changed while X-Men virgins will simply be scratching their heads.

And that's despite the return of stellar talents such as Patrick Stewart and the splendid Ian McKellen, as well as Hugh Jackson and even Oscar-winning Halle Berry.

Mutants can now become human but while Xavier (Stewart) preaches tolerance, Magneto (McKellan) believes in the survival of the fittest.

Forget the increasingly disjointed plot, the effects are king here, paying particular homage both to the first two Terminator movies and featuring a good Golden Gate Bridge sequence.

Newcomer Vinnie Jones has a fun cameo as the seemingly unstoppable Juggernaut while Kelsey Grammar is Beast. But the violence is very excessive for a 12A.