X-tra, X-tra! Get your X-Men! — only from the film, that is

What began as a cartoon strip by ­Stan Lee and Jack Kirby of Marvel Comics in 1963 has emerged as a fantastic cinematic series that, though very different from the cartoon, will no doubt have the third installment emerge as a lovable blockbuster. Action-packed and explosive, "The Last Stand" weaves intricate layers of surprise into its already star-studded plot. In addition to Halle Berry's fiercer hairstyle, pleasing new elements and characters are added to the story of the previous films. Coupled with Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Magneto (Sir Ian McKellen) and other mutants, are familiar faces from both the X-Men cartoon series, like Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), and Hollywood, like Kelsey Grammer, who plays the super-genius, super-blue and super-hairy, Beast.

In "The Last Stand," a pharmaceutical company has developed a cure for the "illness" that plagues mutants. The cure has the mutant world divided: some are offended by a cure for what is their very identity, and others are relieved to finally be able to enter the normalcy of human life. Because of the cure, Magneto, Professor Xavier's former ally, is outraged as usual, and thus, pledges war against all Homo sapiens to deliver "a fury that this world has never witnessed." After his first offensive move, he informs America of his plans, bin Laden-style. Meanwhile, the X-Men play their classic roles as heroes in an endeavor to stop Magneto from destroying the world.

Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), Professor Xavier's protégé who was swept away by cold Canadian waters at the end of second film, returns with a vengeance and fury that can only be the work of the Phoenix, her long suppressed alter ego. The sexy redhead literally takes on a darker shade as Phoenix, a mutant who belongs to the most powerful and dangerous class of mutants — "Class 5."

Not too long into the movie, fans of the cartoon series will notice many disappointing inconsistencies between the movie and the cartoon series. For one, the movie details the Phoenix as Jean's unchecked super-mutant persona struggling to surface, when in fact, in the cartoon series, the Phoenix is an alien life form that temporarily uses Jean's body as host for its machinations. Other inconsistencies long established in the first movie, like relationships between the characters, run on into this third film. In the cartoon series, Juggernaut is Professor Xavier's half-brother, but this film never pulls this fact, like many important others, into the film's plot. "The Last Stand" also lacks major characters from the cartoon, like Gambit, Jubilee and Sabertooth (who, by the way, shouldn't have died in the first movie.) These are all letdowns for die-hard X-Men fans expecting to film mirroring the cartoon. Thus, these fans are probably more enchanted by the aura of the X-Men saga than by the film itself. The integration of all of the major cartoon characters since the very beginning of the trilogy might have been unrealistic to the film's budget and timeframe, but it would have enhanced the overall plot and connection of the movie to its origins.

Alas, have no major worries: the movie's plot still stands strong as it is, and surely — if they even know the origins –– the fans of this series will forget about the movie's inconsistencies as the cinematography and many plot twists, intensified by the foreboding music, engulf their hypnotized minds. Of the many eye-catching mutant moves: With her new powers, Jean is able to finally peer into Cyclops's (James Marsden) eyes; Juggernaut plows down walls and people; and Magneto breaks a piece off the Golden Gate Bridge. Yet, the most impressive mutant move comes at the very end.

In the film, the cinematography — special effects, fantastic camera shots and all — sometimes overshadows the acting itself. But in a movie famous for its very cinematography, viewers are probably not paying much attention to the quality of acting anyway. Besides, the timely humor, both inherent in the plot and by memorable lines, makes the movie worthy entertainment for everyone.

"The Last Stand" has its disappointments and inconsistencies that kill many of the fans' favorite aspects of the X-Men saga. But it also seizes our attention, maintains that tight grasp and accelerates our heartbeats. For some, this film leaves us almost wanting to join the brotherhood of mutants because of the deep sense of unity that the film establishes. Without a doubt, everyone will find something to love from this film, whether it's the action or the tight mutant bods running around in leather suits.

P.S. After the movie ends, watch the credits. You'll be in for quite a surprise.

"X-Men: The Last Stand" (1 hr 45 minutes, area theaters) is rated PG-13 for violence and language.