X-MEN: THE LAST STAND
An entertaining superhero battle about controlling great power.
Should You Watch It?
X-MEN: THE LAST STAND is an entertaining, fun popcorn movie with a strong moral center. Its central idea is clear: great power must be controlled, and power should be used responsibly and wisely. The good-versus-evil story gives that theme plenty of superhero spectacle.
The movie does have weaknesses. Some dialogue is corny, the plot leaves a little to be desired, and a major problem at the end is not resolved happily or morally. It also contains strong action violence, nine obscenities, two light profanities, and an interrupted sex scene.
If you are choosing for teenagers or adults, this is a worthwhile trip for an exciting movie with positive moral ideas. For younger children, parents should weigh the content carefully. If your family can handle the PG-13 material, see it.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESA father develops a cure for the mutant gene, offering mutants the possibility of becoming ordinary human beings. The X-Men, led by Professor Xavier, must face Magneto, who is gathering an army to destroy the cure and take over the planet.
Meanwhile, the powerful mutant Jean Grey returns changed and unable to control the dark forces within her. As the conflict grows, the X-Men must confront both Magneto’s army and the limits of Jean’s power.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly entertaining superhero movie, even though it is not flawless. The action is energetic and the good-versus-evil conflict gives the film strong momentum. Its moral elements are also stronger than those of the second movie, with less emphasis on the evolutionary and occult implications of its superhero roots.
The dialogue is too corny in at least two scenes. The plot leaves a little to be desired, including a goofy explanation for Jean Grey’s survival and a hackneyed split-personality device. That device creates a major plot problem at the end that the filmmakers do not resolve happily or morally. Even so, the movie remains very entertaining.
The Worldview
The film strongly argues that power must be controlled and used responsibly. It rejects the idea that survival of the fittest is always right or that nature should be followed without question. Instead, it suggests that there is a higher law and that some things are more important than simply exercising one’s abilities.
The movie presents telepathy and moving objects with the mind, concepts usually associated with the occult, within a moral context. The mutants are superheroes who are repeatedly admonished to control their great power. The story also includes a strong pro-American nod toward the United States’ ability to reconcile conflicts between groups, along with some humanist, pro-evolution comments and possible politically correct implications concerning tolerance and other vague issues.
The film’s central longing is for power to serve what is good rather than rule without restraint. Scripture says, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required” (Luke 12:48).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral worldview with some redemptive qualities advocating that power should be used responsibly and controlled, and arguing that it's not always good to follow one's nature, but that there's a higher law, or there are things that are more important, a strong pro-American nod to the ability of the United States to reconcile conflicts between groups, and one or two humanist, pro-evolution comments, plus some references to mutants who can use telepathy and move objects with their mind, which is usually an occult concept, but the concept is put in a moral context where mutations produce superheroes who are admonished that great power must be controlled, and some possible politically correct implications concerning "tolerance" and other vague issues; nine obscenities and two light profanities; strong action violence with a little blood sometimes includes man pierced by corkscrew claws but he has superpowers that can heal him, man uses his steel claws to slash and kill villains, man slices off another man's arms but other man can immediately grow back new ones so there is no blood, woman whips up storms to fight villains, vehicles wrecked, innocent bystanders threatened, a couple people's necks are broken, some martial arts type fighting, property damaged, man bursts through many walls, and powerful mutant is able to explode people into dust and tries to strip flesh off one man who has powers to heal himself, plus boy tries to cut off his budding wings; one attempted fornication scene that is cut short when male mutant human realizes the woman is not herself and cannot control her super powers, and a couple other light sexual references; brief upper male nudity and blue mutant woman is nude but she has blue scales that cover up the inappropriate parts of her body; brief alcohol use; brief smoking of two or three cigars; and, a major plot problem at the end is not resolved happily or morally.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The film says that great power must be controlled. What responsibilities come with the abilities, authority, or influence God has given you?
Luke 12:48 · Philippians 2:3–4The story rejects the idea that following one’s nature is always right. How should we respond when our desires conflict with what is good?
Galatians 5:16–17 · 1 Corinthians 10:23–24The mutants are divided into opposing groups. What does it look like to pursue reconciliation instead of domination?
Matthew 5:9 · 2 Corinthians 5:18–20The film presents a battle between good and evil. How does Scripture describe the source of true strength in that battle?
Ephesians 6:10–12 · 2 Corinthians 10:3–5The Final Word
X-MEN: THE LAST STAND delivers exciting action and a clear call to use power wisely. Its violence, profanity, sexual content, and unresolved moral problem call for discernment, especially with younger viewers. For teenagers and adults who can handle the PG-13 material, WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.
