X3

I appologize in advance for what will most likely turn into another long-winded rant.

I can understand a little bit of fan service. There's generally nothing wrong with it. But when I review the (probably incomplete) list of characters in this movie, I have to wonder if they're taking things a bit too far. They've already got the movies stretched so thin trying to tell the stories of so many different characters that they're going to branch off two spin-offs.

The List

Beast: Tossed salad and scrambled eggs aside, I'm kind of glad they're putting Beast into this one. On top of being one of the original X-Men, he was always one of my favorite characters. Verdict: Check ++

Angel: Another original, I'm not sure that there's enough movie to properly develop the character. I also get the sneaking suspicion that they're going to move briskly towards him losing his wings. Verdict: Not enough time

Shadowcat: Don't get me wrong. I like Kitty Pryde in the comics. But come on. Don't start dropping in (relatively) minor characters until you've at least given all of your major characters THEIR GOD DAMN POWERS! Sorry, but Rogue is a pansy in the movies. Verdict: No

Dr. Moira MacTaggart: ?? Are you fucking kidding me? There's no way they do this right, and they have to know that, don't they? So why put her in? This is an extreme stretch. Verdict: Develop your main characters

Colossus: I know, he's not technically a new character since he was in the last movie. I'm hoping that he's at least Russian in this one. After that crap, I just don't have any faith in the franchise's ability to handle this character. Verdict: Not good enough, F--

Juggernaut: Okay, some villans just don't need that much introduction. I'm all for putting Juggernaut in the movie. But does he have to get his ass kicked by Shadowcat? Verdict: Check

Callisto and Leech: So, on top of all the other characters that are being introduced, they're going to drop the Morlocks in? Is this their attempt to get Halle Berry more screen time? I don't forsee this going well at all. Verdict: How much did they spend on a sewer set? Wasted money

Multiple Man: Do I even need to say anything? Verdict: Um, no

Siryn: Another technically returning character. If all she does is wake up and scream again...well, that might be for the best. Verdict: Only in cameo

Psylocke: You have no idea how much I want to see Psylocke in this movie. You also have no idea how certain I am that they're going to screw it up. I assume that this will be another quick walk on spot. Verdict: As long as they don't fuck it up

Omega Red: How are they going to fit him in? I was strongly opposed to the way "Lady Deathstrike" was done in the last movie. Yeah, it looked cool, but that wasn't a character, it was a fighting simulation. I seriously doubt that Omega Red will be anything different, and it saddens me. I suppose they have to toss in the requisite "Wolverine's arch nemesis bad guy" into every movie. Verdict: Didn't they imply that Sabretooth lived through the fall off the Statue of Liberty?

Jubilee: Probably another cameo apperance. Another character that I'd really like to see, but only if it's done right. Verdict: Sigh

Add onto all that the fact that they're going to flasback to Jean Grey's and Warren Worthington's childhood, they've got the Phoenix thing to wrap up, and they've got a plotline about a "cure" for mutations and you've got a recipe for terrible. I want this movie to be good, but from the outside it just looks like they've given themselves too much to do in the 103 minutes they've stated they're going to do it.