Three stars (out of four)

Great balls of fire!

I thought one and two were good but not like this.

"X Men III" starts with Magneto and Professor Xavier as friends going to Jean Grey's house to talk to her and her parents -- who seem to think that their daughter has an illness instead of a powerful gift.

In this action packed movie we are shown how two sides both want the same thing -- to be able to be themselves with their gifts instead of being labeled as a mutant. When the world comes up with a cure for them to be normal, all you-know-what breaks loose.

The return of Jean Grey will have your heart in turmoil as she faces the demons within her.

Wolverine (my favorite), and Storm are faced with their equals and better. With the loss of a few old characters, and the addition of a few new ones they ... well you will just have to go and see the movie. You won't be disappointed.

P.S. Don't leave right after the movie ends, there is a 30 second clip that you have to see.

-- Verbal Walter

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Three stars (out of four)

How much mutation is too much mutation? That's the question I pondered as I watched "X-Men: The Last Stand."

Do we embrace our dark mutated side and use it for good or do we fear it and ask to die when it becomes too strong for us to control?

Jean, the most powerful mutant of all, begs to die because she cannot control her power. The mutation has taken over her sense of good and evil, her very conscience. The mutation, a separate entity from the actual person, gives Jean the chance to say "The mutation made me do it."

OK, OK, it is only a comic book movie. But the dull cinematography of "X-Men" seems more real-life than other comic book movies, which are surreally stylized with a crisp camera focus. "X-Men" movies, in standard movie focus, make the story more realistic, the violence more senseless, and me more philosophical.

-- Reno Anderson

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Four stars (out of four)

Caution: Anyone planning to watch this movie, do not go for the sole purpose of comparing it to the first two. You will probably still enjoy the film if you make that mistake, but not to the fullest extent possible.

You may notice that the humor is not as spunky because the drama has intensified tenfold. This movie is unquestionably darker than the first two, and yes, some formerly central characters are reduced to minor roles.

Still, the plot is completely conceivable, and there are several unique visual effects which are very interesting. Furthermore, the evolution of each character was expertly portrayed; my favorite being Magneto's transformation into a Hitler type role. If you choose to view this movie with an open mind, it can make you laugh, cry, cring, and feel proud of all your heroes.

-- Nicole Peats