Well, I saw it and was disappointed. I think part of it was that it wasn't directed by Singer. I think Singer did a decent job with an ensemble (although the Spidey movies were better than the X-men movies in my opinion), and X3 seemed like the writing was done over a weekend by a couple of hacks or something. I found myself rolling my eyes over and over again at some of the dialogue.
I realize that changes do need to be made at times. Take X-men 1 where Wolvie and Rogue have the thing. I felt it was an adaptation of the relationship between Wolvie and Shadowcat or Wolvie and Jubilee (he's got a soft spot for little girls), but since Kitty and Jubilee weren't as popular as character as Rogue, out went Older, comicbook rogue, and in come young movie rogue who seems very crossed with Kitty/Jube elements. I can handle that I guess. Sure, it puts a dimmer on some things, but I guess a Rogue/Gambit relationship could still have happened as age isn't that big a factor in movie relationships, right? Changes need to be made to fit the most popular elements/storylines in. Heck, when they made X1 were they sure that they were going to have an X2? Not really, so it was kind of a one whot at that point, so they were really throwing it all out there I think. Changes can be good. Heck, I didn't mind in Spidey when he grows the web organically instead of creating a launcher and web fluid.
Positives about the movie. I actually liked Kelsey Grammer as the Beast. I'm also a Vinnie Jones fan, man I hope that was digital augmentation and he's not juicin'. I really do.
I think one of the big pitfalls that comic movies fall into, especially ones with large casts is just that. They try and cram too many characters into it. They think they have to be bigger than the last, so the only way to do that is add more heroes and more villains, and you end up with too many to for any meaningful attachments to and then everything just goes to pot. Heck, I think the movie was subpar to average for just being a duke em up type movie even. Still, I did find a few moments of enjoyment (none of which included Halle Berry. Acadamy Award my big white backside. She was barely a B actress before, and she's barely a B actress after, and although I didn't see Monster's Ball, I find it highly unlikely she figured out a way to act for one film and then went back to her old habits).
Overall, I was disappointed though, and would have loved to see what the film would have been had Bryan Singer not been chased off the franchise into the arms of Superman (I don't know about the look of the new Supes. At first I was cool with it, but with time he's kind of wearing on me and looking weaker. Maybe it's all the marketing I've seen him on, I'd almost rather have mr. Smallville at this point, who I liked actually). Like I said, although I think Raimi did better with Spidey on giving everyone a meaningful arc, and emotions, I thought Singer did a decent job with the first two movies. Maybe if they make an X4, they'll stay away from the "cure mutant" storylines that have been the basis of the first three. If they aren't going to get into some emotions and just have a bang-em up movie, why not go for something different and save some of those storylines for when you are ready to get into some real acting and plot? Anyway, I think it's a renter, or if you like to see effects movies in the theater, it's a dollar theatre film, imo. I certainly wouldn't waist 8 bucks on it again. I didn't see after the credits either, by the way, as everyone in my group got up to leave the very second the credits started to roll.