‘X-MEN 3’
And it all seems headed that way.
I mean, that last battle - on Alcatraz, now respun as a clinic for the "curing" of mutants - is a whopper. Two armies of mutants, packing all sorts of fabulous powers, arrayed against each other in a knock-down battle.
Magneto's ace this time is a resurrected Jean Grey/Phoenix (Famke Janssen) whose terrifying kinetic powers more than redouble and have taken control of her being. She's vaporizing everything in her path.
Working against Magneto's army is the "cure," a serum extracted from a young, bald-headed mutant lad. A poke of the needle and mutant abilities disappear, leaving behind (presumably) future car salesmen with mortgages and slight drinking problems.
The moral debate that surrounds the use of the serum is nearly as interesting as the confrontation between good and evil. Should all mutants be "cured," even if they don't want to be? Can a government make a "cure" mandatory without trampling on the rights of its citizens? What is "normal" anyway? Should mutants slink off and form a separate but equal society? Should they just wipe out the lesser-endowed normals? Should mutants be punished for being different from "normal" humans? Should dumb blond TV weather girls next be targeted for normalization?
The issue is documented in two characters: Angel (Ben Foster), a tormented young man with white-feathered wings who has been told he's a freak from birth by his father and Rogue (Anna Paquin), the high-voltage teen who longs for human touch and intimacy. In the end, the two choose radically different solutions to their condition.
There are those like Hank McCoy/The Beast (Kelsey Grammer), the blue-skinned pin-striped diplomat who struggles for acceptance and integration into wider society. Magneto's people would rather become the wider society by eliminating the humans. In another corner, you have the humans who would rather eliminate all mutants - by whatever means necessary.
There you go. Straight out of Baghdad. Without the burqas.
The first thing Magneto's mutants need to do, though, is kill the serum kid and wipe out the lab - to end the debate over the cure. The X-Men and their army stands between them and their objective.
Which brings us to the ending. Or should I say, the beginning of the next sequel.
If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. The chess figures on a board, the old man seated before it, hands in his lap, staring intently at the pieces. You know what he's trying to do. Admit it. Yes, the door is open just enough for us to peek into the prospects for "X-Men 4: The Final Last Battle to the Very End."
If the ending of "X-Men: The Last Stand" left you wondering if you should hold off on buying the trilogy box set, you can take some comfort in knowing that the movie's ending is truly the best of the four offered on the DVD.
The three rejects shake out like this:
1. The new school year begins at Xavier's school for young mutants, where Storm (Halle Berry) is the new headmistress and The Beast has abandoned the diplomatic world for a teaching post.
2. Rogue returns to the school - as Rogue. Unchanged and perhaps a little more comfortable with who she is.
3. The socially impaired Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) returns to the remote regions of Alberta, Canada, stopping en route at a saloon that he first stopped at in the original "X-Men" movie - encountering the same shotgun toting bartender, too.
Right. Snoozers all.
And finally, one good thing about buying the "X-Men" trilogy pack - oh, yes, there is such a thing - is the booklet featuring the three favorite X-Men comic books of their creator, the amazing Stan Lee. They are the original No. 1, which introduces the X-Men and Magneto; No. 4, in which Magneto returns for another showdown; and No. 9, in which the X-Men battle the Avengers while Xavier battles the evil Lucifer.
There's a fourth comic, recently created by Lee, in which Magneto and Xavier confront Lee himself at poolside and lobby for some time off, pleading exhaustion. Funny stuff.
ALSO THIS WEEK
"Thank You For Smoking" (Fox, 4 stars) What is the saying? When a man approaches you, professing to have your best interests at heart - run the other way. This hilarious satire is full of people who claim to know what's best for you. They are called lobbyists and politicians and expert witnesses. Based on Christopher Buckley's darker and even more cynical book by the same name, "Thank You For Smoking" leaves no sacred cow unbutchered.
The "hero," as such, is Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart), wonderboy lobbyist for Big Tobacco. He's pitted against the opportunistic Sen. Ortolan Finistirre (William H. Macy) and his slimy dweeb-minion Ron Goode (Todd Louiso).
Watching Nick's back are his lunch partners, aka the MOD (Merchants of Death) Squad, alcohol lobbyist Polly Bailey (Maria Bello) and gun lobbyist Bobby Jay Bliss (David Koechner). Stabbing him in the back are his boss, Budd Rohrabacher (J.K. Simmons) and greasy-haired journalist Heather Holloway (Katie Holmes).
The parade of characters is endlessly entertaining. Robert Duvall is The Captain, a crusty giant of Old Tobacco; Sam Elliott is Lorne Lutch, a cowboy spokesman for cigarettes now dying of lung cancer; Rob Lowe is a surreal and serene Hollywood agent; Adam Brody is his fawning assistant. Making cameos are Dennis Miller, Joan Lunden and Nancy O'Dell (of "Access Hollywood").
The movie doesn't really take sides on smoking or guns or alcohol - the real issue is how information is "spun" by virtually everyone in all facets of our lives, but especially in Washington, D.C. And Nick Naylor is unapologetically the very best at spinning.
There's a second storyline - one barely touched on in the book - and that's the relationship between Nick and his son Joey (Cameron Bright) who is beginning to absorb some of Nick's style and also questioning his ethics - much to Nick's horror/admiration.
The move is jammed with cringe-inducing lines and scenes - designed to ruffle politically correct plumage wherever it might be righteously preening. One of the funniest and most thoughtful movies of the year.
Quick notes: director Jason Reitman is the son of director Ivan Reitman ("Stripes," "Animal House," "Ghost Busters"). Like father, like son. One of the producers is David O. Sacks, who sold a company called Paypal and decided to invest his billions into movies. Sacks has a cameo, as does author Buckley.
Also hitting the DVD shelves this week: David Mamet's "Edmund," a portrait of the angry urban white male (William H. Macy); the romantic French film "Changing Times" with Gerard Depardieu and Catherine Deneuve as first loves who remeet late in life.
FROM THE VAULTS
"The Little Mermaid" (Disney) A two-disc set for the animated feature, available for the first time in seven years, in a digitally restored presentation. Among the tons of extras is a virtual ride on a "Little Mermaid" theme ride that was never built in a Disney park.
"Monty Python and the Holy Grail: The Extraordinarily Deluxe Edition" (Sony) Digitally remastered, three discs of Pythonian madness, including a "Spamalot Medley," a Holy Grail challenge quiz, the complete movie soundtrack, and more.
"Scarface: Platinum Edition" (Universal) Tony Montana (Al Pacino) blasts his way to the top of the Miami drug trade with a new audio mix (bigger, louder gunfire!). With the "Scarface Scorecard" you can keep track of the number of bullets shot or the number of F-bombs dropped. There are 20 minutes of deleted scenes and more. Also from director Brian De Palma this week, "Body Double: Special Edition" (Sony) in which voyeurism may lead to witnessing a murder.
"The Stuart Little Movie Collection" (Sony) A box set for the kids, featuring everyone's favorite little mouse in three films.
"Point Break: Pure Adrenaline Edition" (Fox) Patrick Swayze is a charismatic surfer/bank robber and Keanu Reeves is the FBI agent tasked with bringing him down. Eight deleted scenes are available and four featurettes on the movie.
IT CAME FROM TV
"Stargate SG 1" (MGM, season 9, 5 discs) and "Forever Knight The Trilogy: Part Three" (Sony, 5 discs, last 22 episodes).
DVD RATINGS
4 stars: Don't miss: rent it/buy it
3 stars: Worth the risk: rent it
2 stars: On the tipping point: if nothing else is available
1 star: Don't bother: wait until it's in the $1 bin
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