X-Men

Their Last Stand

It seems to be a foggy spring morning, as two strong willed men walk through the white picket fence door to have their first encounter with a class five discovery, re-starting a never ending battle for acceptance. After all, isn't that what the X-men have always been about, finding true acceptance or at least peace with what you are? Acceptance now is becoming simplistic with the creation of a "cure" for mutants to become human, but mutants seem to think that there is nothing wrong with them. An enraged Magneto emerges as a result of the proposed threat of this so called "cure", leading him to form a brotherhood with new allies and an army of mutants, to try to eradicate the "cure". Forcing the X-men to make a choice weather to fight against the brotherhood to protect everyone they can, even those who discriminate against them, or to sit aside, just watching as the brotherhood bestows a new order. The director, Brett Ratner, seems to push forward the idea of acceptance being difficult to acquire, such that we feel as outcasts ourselves, and fall into the role of one of the characters.

The director uses many elements, we see examples through the brutal rapid-fire fighting scenes, and by setting it in a large arena-like ambient, which adds to the intensity, he commences to explore the affect the scene has on us, caused by an unknown world of gimmicks and special effects like, in a contained explosive fire or a birds-eye view to a brutal matched fight, with this we can fully experience the film. It causes us to sense spectacular clashes will occur and create havoc to its surroundings. In fighting scenes the director not only adds visual effect but he incorporates soft melodies to the background as to build suspense, the music slowly crescendos

adding a greater effect to the moment where all the action and sound, come and peak at the climax together. This is a very dynamic way to attract us, as the audience, into being captivated by the flow of the story. Lighting in different shades brighten up what is of more importance to the scene, but it might also set the mood like something bright being warm and comforting or something dark showing sadness or despair.

Brett Ratner, the director of this movie, has incorporated many schemes to draw attention to what otherwise might have been overlooked. In X-Men 3: The Last Stand the director's most active display of involving many different schemes is in the actual last stand on Alcatraz Island, where Magneto's brotherhood savagely face off with the determined unyielding X-men. Here the music seems to take a different tone, to say, here we are and we are not backing off. The fighting begins and as more mutants come forward to attack, the faster and stronger the ambience music becomes. Creating a stimulant, along side with the visual panic seen when the mutants start barbarically attacking with all sorts of power against normal humans soldiers.

This is were the X-men appear almost out of the no where, in a frenzied state ready to defend what they believe in, Storm flying down casting strong strikes of brilliantly illuminated lightning to clear way for their unveiling. The director gives each character a moment of glory to exhibit their powers, showing their determination, all of them come to the front line to fight, a bit shaken but standing tall and firm. As Wolverine uncertainly comes running to the center of the front line telling them all with great fortitude and determination to hold the line. All of the X-men are there standing courageously, with light illuminating them from behind, being presented as the only hope in all the darkness that surrounds them. Magneto although still just standing there, is enraged by the sight of the X-men, as mutants, are still protecting the "cure". Magneto standing rigidly sends the army of mutants to destroy anything in their way, this causes an enormous battle scene where bodies start flying in different directions, and powers of each side

are energetically brought up and exercised. Many things happen during this intense battle, there are many examples of how facial expressions can show the feelings or intentions of a certain character. There are times when the director incorporates tactics together to demonstrate a point like when Storm is fighting a long seemingly endless battle against Callisto, and finally slings her into a chain-linked fence, electrocuting her with lightning and disabling her. Although already down, the director make sure that it is know that she is out, by Callisto's sigh of a release of tension, then showing her lip piercing which is a bright red to emphasize the magnitude of the electrocution, as a light dims over her showing that its over for her.

The best example of how all elements affect how us, the viewers, see certain things is when Jean and wolverine are talking and it seems to be only them, the camera focusing more and more on each of their lines. Anguish being the only condition casting in wolverines rugged face, when he tells her it's over; there is no reason to keep fighting. Instantly everything changes and the moment is shattered by the arrival of what seems to be an expansive amount of reinforcements, they all fixate their fingers on their obsolete firearm and without analyzing the situation, they squeeze the trigger unleashing a fury of ammunition, only countered by fury of the Phoenix. She destroys the ammunition before it even reaches her as if they were dirt clogs being flung into a wall; there is a light that highlights her face as it transforms from Jean Gray's blue eyed rosy gentle face to the malicious dark Phoenix. The director makes sure to place focus on her face to demonstrate the transition; a great amount of special effect is added to show the Phoenix slowly turning to face the bewildered soldiers positioned like toys, and without warning proceeds to obliterate toy soldiers telepathically. The Phoenix not feeling satisfied wont only stop there, she continues her destructive fury, destroying everyone and everything that she sees, her anger is portrayed when she is atop a mound with fire rising behind her, the water surrounding the island ascending to show the limitless versatility of her power; while debris

levitates around her in a circular motion creating an aura, pushing out-ward destroying everything in its way. The only one entity that can save those left behind by the mercy of luck; is the sole individual that truly loves her, Wolverine. Wolverine tragically left with the burden of destroying the ostentatious Phoenix, since