We've only got one wide release this week, but it's a biggie: "X-Men: The Last Stand." Brett Ratner is at the helm, virtually all the principle characters are back, and some major plot developments are in store for X-fans. Do the critics say "X" marks the spot, or do they feel this one wasn't built to "Last?"




Within the superhero genre, the "X-Men" series has been something of a creative and commercial high-water mark, as well as a not-all-that-thinly-veiled commentary on the experiences of minorities and outsiders. So it may be something of a disappointment for fans of the series (and they are legion) to report that critics are pretty split on the third, and perhaps final, installment, "X-Men: The Last Stand." The plot involves the creation of a cure for mutantcy, and the divisions that it creates within the mutant community. Oh, and Jean Grey is back, and her return is, shall we say, fraught with complications. Some say the film continues the mix of drama and action, while others say it flirts with the strengths of the earlier films without matching them. At 52 percent on the Tomatometer, this is the worst-reviewed "X-Men" flick to date.



X-Men Movies:
------------------
80% -- X-Men (2000)
87% -- X2: X-Men United (2003)

Recent Brett Ratner Movies:
------------------------------------
17% -- After the Sunset (2004)
70% -- Red Dragon (2002)
50% -- Rush Hour 2 (2001)
52% -- The Family Man (2000)
56% -- Rush Hour (1998)