Blake Schwendiman's Blog and Blook

Anyone who has read my blog for more than about a week should instantly know which movie I went to see this past weekend. In fact, based on the numbers, you probably already saw it too.

X-Men: The Last Stand broke the Memorial Day weekend box office record earning more than $120 million. How about that? If I had a nickel for every nickel they earned...

I've read and listened to several reviews of this movie and they all crack me up in one way or another. This morning I read a review that described the movie as "overcooked." I have no idea what that means. Most critics I've heard feel that this movie is eye candy lacking substantive plot and meaningful character development/interaction.

Duh. It's X-Men. This is the third in a series of movies inspired by a comic book. The previous two movies are action-packed fun-filled fantasy movies with a cadre of characters ranging from a man in a wheelchair who can essentially stop time and control minds and an edgy cigar-smoking character with a skeleton of adamantium to a WWII concentration camp survivor who can manipulate all metals without touching them and a blue-skinned, yellow-eyed shape shifting woman. This is what X-Men is all about.

You see X-Men because it's fun. That's all. And this installment was fun. I have to say that it was sad. Not in an "Old Yeller" way, but in a this-is-the-end-of-the-series way. I loved the movie. I still think X-Men United was the best, but I loved this one and I'm sad that there aren't any more planned. The plot of the movie was also sadder. It felt like the end of something. But, as in all good series, there were a lot of things left open.

I recommend seeing it. I'm going to see it again in the theaters. And I'll buy it on DVD. 2π.