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X-Men

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan
Director: Bryan Singer
Genre: Action
Year: 2000
Rating: 5 / 5

Reviewed by Guest Scribe Julio

When I first heard that those lovable mutants of comic book fame known as the X-Men were hitting the big screen, I have to admit that I was more than a little leery. After all, could a film full of costumed heroes and villains running around calling each other names like "Cyclops" and "Sabretooth" possibly come across as anything short of ridiculous? I was afraid that the film would try to walk the line between camp and serious adventure movie and fail miserably at both. (See the Joel Schumacher Batman movies.)

As it turns out, I had no reason to worry. My fears had been eased a little when I heard that Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) had agreed to direct. The young phenom manages to make a serious film that does not come across as the least bit corny. He even makes fun of the aforementioned Spandex costumes and silly codenames while deftly avoiding the pitfall of turning X-Men into campy trash. Also impressive is the script that Singer co-wrote with Tom DeSanto and David Hayter. The story does an excellent job of introducing us to the characters and major plot elements without getting bogged down in detail. The crisp dialogue and great directing keep the relatively brief film moving at a breakneck speed.

X-Men is set in the near future, where homo sapiens have become concerned about mutants - people born with extraordinary super powers. Feeding off human fears is Senator Kelly (Bruce Davison), the leader of a faction which believes mutants are dangerous and need to be controlled. Two groups of powerful mutants develop in response to Kelly and the discrimination he represents. The first is the Brotherhood, led by Magneto (Ian McKellen), who believes that a war is brewing between humans and mutants, and mutants should strike now before it is too late. The other is the X-Men, led by Magneto's old friend, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). Xavier plays Martin Luther King to Magneto's Malcolm X, arguing that mutants should strive to co-exist peacefully with normal humans.

In addition to Singer's solid storytelling, X-Men is visually stunning. Any good comic book movie should be pleasing to the eye, and X-Men does not disappoint in this regard. The special effects are top-notch without distracting needlessly from the story. The sets and costumes borrow heavily from Tim Burton's Batman movies, but unlike the Batman films, which seem to look to the past for inspiration, X-Men has a very futuristic, cutting edge feel to it.

Singer should also be complimented for letting the characters dominate the film. At its heart, it is less about plot, and more about letting the unique heroes and villains with their bizarre abilities and quirky character traits strut their stuff. The actors also deserve a great deal of credit. Singer's eclectic cast-which is made up of everything from well-respected stage actors, to professional wrestlers, to super-models, to martial arts experts, to complete unknowns, to Academy Award winners- does a tremendous job of bringing the characters to life. Particularly impressive are Ian McKellen (Gods and Monsters) as Magneto and newcomer Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. McKellen plays Magneto as a character who is not so much evil as he is disillusioned with a world in which his kind are openly persecuted. Jackman's Wolverine is at first glance a one-dimensional tough-guy, but he proves to be multifaceted and very interesting. Jackman seems equally at home going toe-to-toe with his arch-nemesis Sabretooth, playing the role of mentor to the young and confused Rogue, becoming embroiled in a love triangle with Jean Grey and Cyclops, or struggling to sacrifice his independence in order to fit into the team.

X-Men is an excellent film in the classic summer blockbuster tradition, and it should appeal to fans of the comic book and non-fans alike. As a final note, however, it should be pointed out that despite its comic book roots, the PG-13 X-Men may not be appropriate for some children. Like Tim Burton's Batman, X-Men's dark images, intense violence, and creepy bad guys may be a little too frightening for some young children.

Cast:

Certification: Rated PG-13.
Running Time: 104 minutes.

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