Despite the fact that I saw X3 while on a date, I must say the movie didn't give me much of a rush. I failed to be wowed or really engaged by the story or the characters. I, like others, found the characterization annoyingly "off" but, more importantly, lacking in a poignancy or depth that was present in the first two, particularly in the second film. If that means X3 was more comic-bookish than the others, well ... I guess that means I really don't care for that style because it's less realistic to me.
More than anything, this movie felt like a spastic roll call or egotistic curtain call that enabled Ratner/Marvel to simply parade as many Mutants as possible on screen without delving into deep emotional issues or tightening up the plot. Really, I felt quite distanced from all the characters; it really disappointed me. When Xavier died, my overwhelming thought was, "Huh. Shoot!" Basically, though, I couldn't connect emotionally with the scene. The whole scene was flat somehow, and all I could muster was a vaguely upset reaction.
The first two movies were more pathos-rich by far. They drew me in and gripped me, like the moment when Wolverine thinks Rogue is dead or when Wolverine re-experiences his adamantium transformation or when both Scott and Wolverine mourn Jean as they hover above the rushing water. I could go on, but the point is that the third movie barely seemed to make an effort at emotional impact. It was all crash and blam and lookie-who's-on-screen-now! type of thing.
