I am a lifelong X-Men fan so I watch movies like this very carefully and skeptically. Someone who loves these characters wants to see them done right. I am so glad that Fox Studios has made a sequel which tops the original in every way. Thank God for that.
Now the film isn’t perfect but you can see the groundwork being laid for future installments. I love it when not all plot lines are ended. Right now I wish that there was an X3 because I am ready for it. I’m so hyper after watching this movie...I want more!
Using a director like Bryan Singer for the 1st and 2nd X-Men is a great choice. He continues the style set up in the original and is a great director who tries to make good films. If you are curious about his other films I recommend The Usual Suspects or Apt Pupil. Both excellent films but I think Usual Suspects will always be his masterpiece.
Onto the cast.
Hugh Jackman is Wolverine. The guy just gets it. Wolverine is the classic badass with a heart of gold. You would not want to pick a fight with this guy. And you feel it every time the claws pop out. Wolverine is GORGEOUS! If I had to date any Mutant in the movie, it would definitely be the hunky Wolverine.
Halle Berry didn’t have much to do in the original and her role was upped in this one because of her Oscar win. I bought into her a lot more as Storm in this one than in the original. I also could see her in a possible leader role in the future much like in the comics. She looked Beautiful, of course, in her new platinum wig and soft subdued makeup. Her costume was also superb & well suited for her character.
Jean Grey’s shoes were filled quite well by Famke Janssen. She was much better now than in the original as well. I especially loved when she displayed the Phoenix powers. Great groundwork being laid by Singer. I can’t wait to see what they do with that one in the next movie. Famke emoted quite well and her soulful eyes and angular face spoke volumes on the depth of her character.
Cyclops, who is usually the leader, had a very downplayed part in this one. I never really thought James Marsden made a good Cyclops and I still don’t. He is just not that good of an actor, to start with but he did give an admirable effort.
Rogue, well what can I say - I think that she needs more to do. I want to see more of her powers. I want to see her completely take another character’s power. Anna Paquin plays this role & she does it well but I just wish they elaborated her character more. As a teen Mutant, she had the fashion thing goin on with her hair streaks & her cool clothes.
Iceman & Pyro. Great conflict between these two. I can tell that a battle is coming. Can’t wait for that. Watch out for these two young men in the years to come.
Deathstryke. More, more, more. She was so cool. I wish the fight with her and Wolverine would have been longer. Great casting and use of her. Beautiful Kelly Hu essays this role superbly. Kelly is also a former Miss Teen USA (I told you, I’m really into pageants) as well as the first Asian Teen USA titleholder. Plus she is also the first Asian Mutant in the X-Men series.
Nightcrawler. My biggest worry about this film was them screwing up Nightcrawler. Alan Cumming did a great job. He is a revelation! As a German circus Mutant that recites the Rosary & quotes the Bible, one can’t help but fall in love with him even though he looks repulsive. So will Nightcrawler be and official X-Man by the next film? God, I hope so.
The SFX were just flawless. I loved especially the tornado scene and the dam busting over Jean Grey. At least the money wasn’t wasted. It was SPECTACULAR!
Overall, I think that this was a great sequel to a decent film. The X-Men films are movies I have waited since childhood to see. Good that they are being made when technology can support them. I hope they hurry and make a new one soon, before 2005. I also hope that all of you out there RUSH to see this most excellent film. A movie that is more than a comic book rendering but a moral tale that is still relevant to today’s society.