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X-Men 2000 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Bryan Singer
PG-13, 100 min. (violence, mature themes, language) |
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Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Bruce Davison, Tyler Mane, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Ray Park, Anna Paquin
Producers: Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter
Screenplay: David Hayter
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Released: 7/14/00 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Any time a comic book story reaches the big screen, images of Superman and Batman come to mind immediately. The
question is, can it reach the level of success of those films? X-Men is the latest to tread in these waters, and for the most
part, it doesn't disappoint, especially for fans of the comic book series. Despite its popularity, many fans were worried, although
thrilled, that it would attempt to bring its story to the theater. Images of other failed projects that also endeavored to be
successful weighed heavily on these fans' minds, undoubtedly concerned that their favorite comic would be disgraced. Usually
the most important ingredient for success is to sign-on a good director and some talented actors to make the film respectable.
Mission accomplished. The background of director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil) and veteran actors Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan provided
the necessary ingenuity to provide a competent film.
The X-Men are mutants, they have special powers derived from a genetic evolution that is just taking hold in the human
race. They are divided into two camps - those that follow Xavier (Stewart), a wheelchair bound genius who has incredible
telepathetic powers, and Magneto (McKellan), a man with a nightmarish past in a Nazi concentration camp who has the ability
to control metal with his mind. While Xavier is working with the "normal" humans to live in peace, Magneto is determined to
conquer them because of his own belief that they will subjugate them just as he was during the war out of fear or just plain
prejudice. The players are: Cyclops (James Marsden), Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), and Storm (Halle Berry) in Xavier's
camp; and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), Sabretooth (Tyler Mane), and Toad (Ray Park) in Magneto's camp. Two
other mutants, which the story follows, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin) are recruited by both sides
to help tip the scales in their favor. The two sides fight it out to determine the future of the human race, with Wolverine and
Rogue eventually joining Xavier's band of followers.
Xavier and Magneto are old friends - they grew up aware of each other's power, and at one time had the same goal of
trying to convince the human race of their desire to live in peace. When a U.S. Senator, Kelly (Bruce Davison), introduces
a bill that would require all mutants to register with the government (probably in order to eventually eliminate them), Magneto
has reached his breaking point. Despite pleading from Xavier, Magneto has chosen his way as the best way for all mutants,
thereby placing them on opposite sides of the playing field. Xavier is distraught with losing his friend, but believes that
replacing the human race with mutants is not the answer.
As expected, the film is laden with special effects - some of the mutants' powers give rise to comparisons with a Jedi's power
from the Star Wars franchise. But it's interesting to see the mutants use their individual powers to accomplish tasks that
call for more than just one power. It will also be interesting to see successive sequels in the franchise further develop some
of the characters, because the story in this film simply doesn't have time to divulge all their secrets.
The film is not without faults, however, as the story feels somewhat rushed and the mulitude of characters is confusing for the first-time
viewer not familiar with the franchise. But X-Men accomplishes what it set out to do - satisfy the fans, while peaking the
interest of others with likable characters and the promise of stories to come. In a science fiction genre that is in dire need of
some new ideas and involving storylines, X-Men may be the start of a promising series.
© 2000 Jonathan Cornwell
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 |
 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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