I saw X-Men 3. I was excited. I was saddened. I was disappointed. I was enthralled. I was amused. I was entertained.

More mutants on screen. A true escalation of power play. Beast and Archangel onscreen.

Xavier died trying to reach out to Grey. Cyclops died for nothing. Grey died “for her sins”. Mystique became human. So did Magneto. So did Rogue.

Main characters died, and they expect us to believe there will be a forth. Humans portrayed as basically racists with half a brain. The movie tried to create ethical dilemmas where none exist. Previous X-Men movies did that so much better.

Magneto goes all out and truly proves what one can do with intelligence. His power is “simple” yet his intellect is such that makes him a demigod. The final battle is much larger and complex than before, better suited to an X-Men 10 if we follow linear escalation.

Simple things, like clever banter, intelligent use of powers and others, prove that to have comic relief in a movie you don’t need a Jar-Jar!

This movie was a tough balance between love and hate. You can hate the fact that three standard characters die (or you can see it as a feature that made the movie unique). You can hate that the stealth mode is invisibility mode (or you can laugh and attribute it to the X-Men mythos). You can hate the “humans” for their short-sightedness (or you can love them for their kindness). You can cheer for the X-Men (or hate them for changing their own ethical compass when it serves them). And you can love the tormented persona that is Gean Grey (or you can hate Phoenix for her ruthlessness).

This is not a typical comic book movie. This is not easily classified. But it will entertain, it will last, even if it is only because it is different.