This is the third installment in this exciting sci-fi saga that began as a Marvel Comics series. Mutant human beings possessing strange and awesome powers live in most communities but are feared and shunned by humans who are nervous in their presence. Warren Worthington (Michael Murphy), a wealthy industrialist, is alienated from his son (Ben Foster) who has fully feathered wings spanning nearly 16 feet that enable him to fly. Ashamed of this abnormality in his own flesh and blood, Warren funds a cure that promises to make all mutants normal. At the center of it is a mutant boy who can reverse others' powers.

This stunning development divides the country into opposing camps. Magneto (Ian McKellen) sees it as an opportune moment for mutants to rebel against the authorities who refuse to recognize their special gifts and talents. He says to his followers: "Nobody is going to cure us, for we are the cure!" In his quest for power, he convinces Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), a telepath with phenomenal telekinetic abilities, to join his crusade. After being presumed dead at the end of X-Men United, she is reborn as "Dark Phoenix," a lady who poses a threat to the world at large. Also in Magneto's band are Pyro (Aaron Stanford) who can manipulate fire; the shape-shifting Mystique (Rebecca Romijn); Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), a strongman; Callisto (Dania Ramirez), who can locate and assess the power of other mutants; and Multiple Man (Eric Dane) who can exact physical replicas of himself.

Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), a telepath and founder of a special school for gifted mutants, leads the opposition to Magneto and his rebels. He preaches tolerance and peaceful co-existence with humans. Standing alongside him are Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) with his retractable adamantium claws and amazing healing powers; Storm (Halle Berry) who can manipulate the weather; Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) who can lower his body temperature and radiate intense cold; and Kitty (Ellen Page), a young mutant who can walk through solid material. Another ally is Dr. Henry McCoy, a.k.a. Beast (Kelsey Grammer), the Secretary of Mutant Affairs in the U.S. President's cabinet. Sitting on the fence is Rogue (Anna Paquin) whose powers hinder her from touching others; she wonders whether a cure wouldn't make her life more pleasant.

Brett Ratner, as director, puts the emphasis on special effects thrills but the battle between the mutants as to their place in society is an engaging theme and the performances by Stewart and Jackman bring out the best in their characters. Anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or a pariah will identify with the mutant community's ambivalence about being cured. And while X-Men: The Last Stand does not match the thematic clout of the first two movies in the series, it does have enough going for it to recommend it for lovers of sci-fi adventures based on comic books.