It serves as a satisfactory conclusion to the initial trilogy. I believe the X-Men movies have resonated with audiences because they aren't afraid to be different. The core idea behind the X-Men moves away from typical superhero stories. If you go into these films expecting something like Superman, Spider-Man or Batman, you’ll be disappointed. The distinctive element of the X-Men is that humanity is beginning a new stage of evolution and people across the world are developing superhuman abilities due to the mutant "X" gene. Two leaders among mutants, who were once friends, adopt very different viewpoints. Charles Xavier establishes a school for young mutants in upstate New York; his outlook is optimistic and his intentions peaceful. Eric Lensherr, or Magneto, however, is frustrated by the fear of those without powers. He creates a "Brotherhood of Mutants" with a clear sense of superiority. And as they say, power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. You could draw a comparison between Xavier's approach and that of Martin Luther King Jr., while Magneto’s is similar to Malcolm X—an interesting parallel. While everyone has their favorites, I think the three films in the original series – "X-Men" (2000), "X2: X-Men United" (2003) and "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006) – are generally of a similar standard. “X-Men: The Last Stand” is usually considered decent, but there’s a vocal group of fans who really dislike it. This seems odd because, despite having a different director, the film maintains the same feel and features the core cast, bringing to an end the concepts introduced earlier. Beyond the final confrontation between Magneto's Brotherhood and Xavier's X-Men, we see Jean Grey’s return and her struggle with the darker aspects of her mind. Some people object to the deaths of two important characters, but how often do characters come back from the dead in comic books? Doesn't a major character get resurrected within this very film? Others complain about the supposedly short length and lack of substance, but "X3" runs for the same amount of time as the first movie (104 minutes), and there’s plenty to explore. Consider Rogue’s dilemma over accepting a cure so she can experience human connection, Phoenix's intense internal conflict representing the universal struggle between instinct and reason, Cyclops' grief and surprising discovery, Pyro's moral decline, Mystique's situation after being expelled from the Brotherhood, and Wolverine’s difficulty in doing what is right despite his deep affection—just six examples. On the negative side, the large battle on Alcatraz Island feels predictable and uninspired. They should have concentrated more on the Dark Phoenix storyline, but the producers probably worried that would overshadow other characters, plus they wanted a standard big action sequence. Nevertheless, there’s enough to appreciate in this film. GRADE: B+

Source on TMDB