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Storm (Halle Berry) ain't on The Weather Channel, but she can channel weather

Still, in terms of moviemaking and scripting, someone naturally becomes the focal point of the story, and in this case, that someone is Wolverine. Though he is unquestionably the most beloved of the X-Men characters, his importance is simply overstated in this film. The guy's fairly established as a gruff rebel and a bit of a loner, so he's not the one you would think of to rally the team with a "win one for the Gipper" pep talk.

That responsibility should technically fall to Storm, who has led the team in traditional X-Men mythology and seems to receive the torch from Professor Xavier early in this film. But ultimately, she's more like Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series—a headmistress at the school whose authority only seems to go so far. At least Halle Berry's role has been expanded somewhat to give her more to do in terms of drama and action.

In short, the third X-Men movie promises much but falls short in delivery, and that includes its overarching theme. It raises issues without truly taking a stand, ironically. Whether the cure is beneficial or harmful depends on which mutant you talk to. Christian audiences are left with a similarly ambiguous life application. On the one hand, the film is a poignant reminder that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" by our Creator (Psalm 139: 13-15). However, it can also be viewed as a metaphor for hot topics like stem cell research and gay rights. It might even be seen as a movie about the right to choose, which can lead to ethical discussions both constructive and sticky—again, depending on whom you talk to. Perhaps the ultimate message is how differing perspectives need to learn how to coexist in tolerance rather than battling for superiority.

Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) radiates intense cold to ward off Pyro's (Aaron Stanford) fiery attack

The movie generates discussion with a lot of grey answers, but that's surely part of the reason for the series' enduring popularity. Anyone who's ever felt persecuted or oppressed for anything can relate to the mutants of the story. Much like Star Trek, it means all things to all people, and you can take from it what you want to.

Most are primarily concerned with whether or not this third chapter is fun, and thankfully it's more or less in step with its predecessors. There's more depth and weight than the first, though it probably lacks the development of the second, running a relatively short 104 minutes. The Last Stand is also a little light on action, saving most of it for a whopper of a finale, but that's the same pace of the other films.

Likewise, the special effects are generally impressive. Some of Magneto's magnetic manipulation looks a bit fake, and his much hyped raising of the Golden Gate Bridge seems like a deceptively routine CGI effect. Far better is the final battle scene, where he catapults flaming cars at his opponents, and the way that Kitty Pryde is able to phase through solid objects with clever results.

Taking the reins from Bryan Singer, director Brett Ratner has met with much skepticism from fans afraid that he would botch the franchise. He actually handles the action well and stays true to the feel of the series, helping make this an enjoyable summer blockbuster that generally lives up to the predecessors. Instead, fans might want to question the gatekeepers (the producers and screenwriters) for tampering with the characters while delivering a story that only lives up to part of its potential. But then again, maybe they're saving it for the inevitable X-Men 4ever.

1. If you could change one quality about yourself, what would it be? If there were some cure available to change that, would you take it? Or would you fear that such a change would change who you are as a person?
   
   

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