*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
The Last Stand is worth watching for its climatic battle sequence. Most action films lack tension because they're not exciting. Fortunately, the same can't be said for The Last Stand. I think this is one of the best fighting sequences in the X-Men series as it focuses on the mutants fighting against each other by using their unique abilities.
When a cure is created, which apparently can turn any mutant into a normal human being, there is outrage amongst the mutant community. Whilst some mutants do like the idea of a cure, including Rogue (Anna Paquin), many mutants find that there shouldn't be a cure. Magneto (Ian McKellan), who still believes a war is coming, recruits a large team of mutants to take down Warren Worthington II (Michael Murphy) and his cure. Might seem easy for the X-Men to stop, but Magneto has a big advantage, which Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) doesn't have. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) has returned, and joined with Magneto. The Phoenix has woken within her, which has the ability to destroy anything in her way, even if that 'anything' is a X-Men.
In The Last Stand, we are introduced to several new mutants including: Angel (Ben Foster); Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page); Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and the Phoenix. The film doesn't spend long introducing us to these characters as the majority of the audience will recognise them from the comic book series it is based on.
Apart from Days Of Future Past, this is probably one of the most tense X-Men films. This is due to Magneto having a large army consisting of vengeful mutants and the X-Men having a small team that consists of the aforementioned mutants, Wolverine, Storm (Halle Berry) and Iceman (Shawn Ashmore). This is probably their most difficult battle yet due to Wolverine's feelings for Jean Grey, who has now become the Phoenix, a ruthless mutant that sides with Magneto. It's because of this climatic battle that we feel sympathy for Wolverine as he has lost the only woman he has truly loved.
Absent from the battle is Rogue, who leaves the school after seeing her boyfriend, Iceman, spending a lot of time with Kitty. In my opinion, I think she could have been used in the final battle sequence as she is likable character and does have the potential to be something more.
Stand out performances include Jackman's Wolverine and McKellan's Magneto, who makes for a brilliant antagonist as he won't let anything get in the way of his violent plans, not even his 'old friend', Charles, who, in a memorable scene, tries to reason with the Phoenix by saying that he can help her whilst Magneto convinces her that he wants her to be rid of her powers. This leads to an devastating tragedy and the hate for Magneto increases.
The reason why the X-Men films are so popular is that they're unlike any other superhero series, like Fantastic Four and The Avengers. Every character has their own personal struggles and weaknesses but they don't let that stop them.
In my opinion, because of the final battle sequence, this is one of the best films in the X-Men series.
7/10
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