X-Men 3: The Last Stand parents guide

X-Men 3: The Last Stand Parent Guide

Overall C+

The X-men aren't sure if they should hail or shun a miracle cure for all human genetic alterations. But the followers of their archenemy Magneto (Ian McKellen) feel no hesitation in branding the drug a diabolically evil --and they spend the duration of the movie going to battle against anyone, including the X-men, who try to stop them from wielding their mutation-derived super powers.

Release date May 25, 2006

Violence C-
Sexual Content C+
Profanity B-
Substance Use A-

Why is X-Men 3: The Last Stand rated PG-13? The MPAA rated X-Men 3: The Last Stand PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence, some sexual content and language.

Run Time: 104 minutes

Parent Movie Review

If someone could find a way to correct all human mutations, should we hail it as a breakthrough, or shun it as a threat to freedom, diversity, and tolerance? Such is the conundrum facing the society in X-Men: The Last Stand, where those with incredible powers caused by genetic alterations mix with the rest of the populace.

As in the proceeding two movies, the students at Professor Charles Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) School for Gifted Children walk the fine line between living as mutants and being sympathetic to the fears felt by people without the telepathic ability to throw cars. Yet the advent of this medical miracle is causing rifts even amongst the clique of X-Men—Xavier’s pet students and teachers possessed with highly developed and carefully trained special abilities.

Always ready with an opinion, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) doesn’t think for a moment that giving up his rapidly healing body and metal-bladed hands would make the world a better place. But Rogue (Anna Paquin), whose touch means instant death, sees the anti-mutant drug as a way to fulfill her longing to embrace and kiss another living being.

While Xavier’s students simmer on the possibilities, another assemblage of mutants have no hesitation in branding the new “cure” as diabolically evil. Led by the Professor’s arch nemesis Magneto (Ian McKellen), this band of oddities consist of some old and new comers, including Multiple Man (Eric Dane), a guy who can create copies of himself faster than Kinkos; Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), a big, unstoppable brute; Calisto (Dania Ramirez), an astonishingly fast-moving mutant-detecting GPS device, and of course the ever-popular Mystique (Rebecca Romijn), whose costume made entertainment headlines with her appearance in the initial “X” movie. Wearing only dark blue body paint, this shape-changing girl provides even more distractions in this third installment.

The battle between these opposing forces is inevitable, and the plot provides opportunities for all the other X-Men regulars to get in on the action, along with some extras, including the mutant moderate US President (Josef Sommer) who has put Dr. Hank “The Beast” McCoy (Kelsey Grammer) in place as his Secretary of Mutant Affairs.

Definitely violence will be a parent’s chief apprehension when considering this movie for their children. With such a huge arsenal of weapons available via the range of bizarre capabilities within this minority group, adversaries may be toasted, frozen, crushed, sliced, diced or simply tossed away. Although the script encompasses issues of love, life, and death, not much dialogue gets spent on the usual deep discussion associated with such topics. Instead, the film focuses on physical confrontations where people, cars, houses, and even the Golden Gate Bridge are thrown about like toys. No matter how you cut it (pun intended), this makes for a rather family-unfriendly cinematic experience.

Also of concern are a couple of moments of sexual content such as a woman who aggressively attempts to seduce a man (both are fully clothed) and a naked woman shown with carefully positioned arms and legs.

Possibly the most positive element of this story are the ethical questions it will invariably generate. Hardly subtle in its parallels to current issues, the movie expounds the challenges of waging a war against a foe that is difficult to define and learning to live with and trust those who are “different.”

Aside from these social issues and content concerns, X Men: The Last Stand does succeed at providing a thrilling ride, but likely will only be appropriate for your oldest teens. And if you think this third installment in the trilogy is the end of the X-Men, don’t leave until the credits are done. As long as the money rolls in from this movie, no drug can keep mutants from coming back to make more cash.

Running time: 104 minutes. Theatrical release May 25, 2006. Updated

X-Men 3: The Last Stand
Rating & Content Info

Why is X-Men 3: The Last Stand rated PG-13? X-Men 3: The Last Stand is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of action violence, some sexual content and language.

Punch, stab, slice, crush, throw, incinerate, freeze… you name the weapons, and someone will fall victim to it during this film. While never bloody or gory, expect to see copious amounts of confrontations involving a variety of mutant forces, along with a military armed with projectile syringes filled with anti-mutant drugs. Sexually, those familiar with previous X-Men movies will find Mystique returning in her body paint costume, a naked woman shown with arms and legs covering key body areas, and an aggressive woman seducing a man (who is happy to comply) while they are both fully clothed. Language is relatively tame, with the exception of one use of a rude term for male anatomy and a few minor profanities.

Page last updated

X-Men 3: The Last Stand Parents' Guide

What issues in our society are represented by the plight of the mutants in this movie? Is a “cure” always the best solution? What are the pros and cons of such a plan? What problems could arise when trying to decide who would be in charge of administering this medicine?

Who are “normal” people? Do they exist? What distinctive groups can you identify in our society? Is it possible not to belong to some type of distinctive segment of the population?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of X-Men 3: The Last Stand movie is October 3, 2006. Here are some details…

Mutating onto DVD, the third film in this sci-fi franchise is available in three different packages. If you choose X-men: The Last Stand (in either widescreen or full screen versions) you will also receive audio commentaries by director Brett Ratner and writers Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg, as well as by producers Lauren Shuler-Donner, Ralph Winter, Avi Arad, David Gorder, and writers Zak Penn and Simon Kinberg, three alternate endings (with optional commentary by Brett Ratner), ten deleted/extended scenes (with optional commentary by Brett Ratner), theartical trailers, a couple of Easter eggs and a sneak peek at A Night At The Museum.

The X-Men: The Last Stand DVD is presented in English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound) Spanish and French, with English subtitles. Should you opt for the X-Men: The Last Stand Collector’s Edition, you’ll get all of the above (the movie is presented in widescreen only) plus a exclusive, collectible book by X-Men creator Stan Lee—his first original Marvel comic in five years! Or go for the complete saga with the X-Men Trilogy Pack, which includes X-Men, X2: X-Men United and X-Men: The Last Stand in widescreen single-disc versions only.

Home Video Release: X-Men Trilogy: Blu-ray Collection

Home Video Notes: X-Men Trilogy

Release Date: 21 March 2009

Fans of the X-Men franchises can now enjoy X-Men, X2: X-Men United and X3: The Last Stand on Blu-ray Disc. The movies are presented in widescreen, with audio tracks in 5.1 DTS Master Audio. Subtitles are available in Spanish, French, Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin and Brazilian Portuguese. The set includes digital copies of each of the films plus extensive bonus materials. A complete list of these extras can be found on our page for the X-Men Trilogy.

Related home video titles:

This film is the third in this movie franchise, which includes The X-Men and X2: The X-Men United. Other films that feature exceptionally gifted people are Superman, Spider-Man, and the young children in Escape to Witch Mountain.

Related news about X-Men 3: The Last Stand

The 10 Top Grossing Movies of 2014

The 10 Top Grossing Movies of 2014

{parents:pull_quote}