Magneto: Are you a God-fearing man, Senator? That is such a strange phrase. I've always thought of God as a teacher; a bringer of light, wisdom, and understanding. You see, I think what you really are afraid of is *me*.
So here it is, the film fans have been waiting for for over a decade, 'X-Men' finally comes to the big screen in an all-out adventure, full of eye popping special effects, great stunts, fantastic acting and a wonderful story. When I first heard they were making a live action version of the movie, I was quite skeptical. I knew I was going to see it, but I wasn't sure if it was going to be good. Then the first teaser trailer came out and I lost all hope. It was so dumb and so confused they should have just left it alone. Then a few weeks later the full trailer came out and I was stunned, the film looked great, it looked wonderfully edited, directed and acted and I was hyped up to see it. Finally the day came I got to see it, and I must say I was a bit disappointed, but I still enjoyed the film immensely.
The movie follows the cartoon and comic books to a T. I don't want to ruin the story so I will just tell you the basic plot: Mutants are despised by humans, because of some of the things they can do, the senate wants mutants to come out in the public with what they have, and register themselves so we are aware of what they can do. Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) is a very powerful mutant who has made a school for the gifted children who have these certain powers. Rogue and Wolverine are two confused mutants who meet each other in a bar after Rogue witnesses Wolverines sharp claws almost go through a guys throat. He takes her with him on the road, but a ways down they hit a tree and Logan (Wolverine) is thrown through the window, then being attacked by a evil mutant Magneto's pack.
Then we finally get to see the good guys, Storm and Cyclops rescue Wolverine and Rogue and bring them to the home of Professor X. Wolverine isn't quite sure of what is going on, but soon realizes that this place is where he needs to be to live safe and free among other mutants, Rogue who was always scared of what she could do, now lives freely in the home. Magneto a very powerful mutant is after the X-Men because of the powers he has and because he is aware that there is a war brewing between humanity and mutants. Professor X and his team of X-Men must try to stop Magneto from destroying the entire world before its too late. Hold on to something because your in for a ride!
Don't worry I didn't give much of the plot away, thats just an outline. The film is very well conceived with its plot, and I was pleasently pleased to find out that each character has a backstory which adds much to the study of these people. I realized however when the film was over that even though it didn't have that much action, this movie is just starting it all. The sequel (which is coming out) will be continuing it, and so on and so on. The direction by Brian Singer (The Usual Suspects) is amazing, the action scenes, and the choreography in the film is amazing. The special effects are mind-boggling and some of them look incredibly real.
The characters we have is Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) who is a great character, brought to life by an emotional back story. Hugh Jackman brings the character to the screen with a bang, and is probably the only person who could have played Wolverine this good, Anna Paquin plays the mysterious Rogue, which as first I was skeptical about, but after seeing her play the part I will say I was impressed by her motions and by her accent she put to the character. Famke Jansen plays Jean Gray but for some reason her character seems pushed back and not doing much, but non-the-less she does a great job in her character, Halle Berry does a good job on playing Storm, but either she didn't bring the character out as much as she could have, or the character just wasn't brought out in the script, because like Jean Gray she seems a bit pushed back. James Marsden is good as Cyclops, and is given some great comic relief between him and Wolverine. Perhaps the best performance of the X-Men is Patrick Stewart who is priceless as Professor X, he plays him with such agility, such expertese that he gives one of the best performances Ive seen this year.
Of the bad guys, Rebecca Romaijn-Stamos plays Mystique who is a shapeshifting, very sexy character that is completely naked with blue all over her body. Of course its PG-13 so you cannot see anything. Tyler Dane plays Sabretooth and is extrmely well at it, Ray Park who played Darth Maul in Episode 1 plays Toad here who is a pointless character but non-the-less a great one. Of course the best of the bad guys is the fantastic Ian McKellan who brings out the character of Magneto more than anyone else could, there is a scene in the film when Patrick and Ian are together talking and it is amazing to watch these two talented actors work.
Even though the movie has these pluses, it also has its minuses. First of all some of the characters are undeveloped, for instance we don't get very much background on Cyclops of Jean Gray. There are many scenes that seem to go and on with talky dialogue, and not enough action. The climax of the film is very well made, but I found that it went way to fast. Of course these flaws come with the movie because it sets up for the sequel. Even with these flaws, seen this year. Its worthy of a movie theatre trip possibly twice or even three times. For the fans of X-Men like me, your gonna love it!
By : Brandon Herring
Source: rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup
Rating: 4
As geeky as it sounds, I must admit it--when it comes to _X-Men_, I am what is called a "fanboy." I grew up fervently following the comic book exploits of the team whose membership is made of genetically evolved, superpowered "mutants." Seeing a group of guys and gals kicking serious ass with their superhuman abilities is undoubtedly a major factor in my (and many others') interest, but what has made _X-Men_ so popular--and very passionately so, at that--are the realistic characters, authentic people who just happen to have powers. And while most comics treat their heroes' and heroines' abilities as simply a cool gift, for the X-Men and mutants in general, it is also very much a curse; much like any other minorities, mutants face severe prejudice from the rest of the population.
So adapting _X-Men_ and its sprawling, 30-year-plus history into a 100-minute feature film is a dicey proposition for any filmmaker, and even moreso for one who was not a fan to begin with--such as Bryan Singer, who is at the helm of Fox's lavish, long-awaited $80-million extravaganza. Not only must he appease the fanboys by not deviating too far from the source material, he must also make what is essentially a three-decade-long-and-counting soap opera accessible to the non-fan. And contrary to fans' greatest fears, Singer's _X-Men_ is an exciting, fast-paced adventure that will satisfy both audiences.
For a summer blockbuster--especially one based on a comic book--an $80-million budget is a pittance, but it's an appropriate figure for _X-Men_. Spectacular visual effects are called for (and are effectively employed) to bring the team's powers to life, but the budget limitation forces the filmmakers to make the effects a carefully used enhancement of the story and characters, which are hence given more weight (as they always had been in the comic).
For the most part, credited scripter David Hayter and a gaggle of uncredited scribes (including Singer's Oscar-winning _Usual_Suspects_ partner Christopher McQuarrie and _Buffy_ maestro Joss Whedon) succeed in making the characters mirror their counterparts on the page. The X-Men is a team of mutants led by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), a powerful telepath who runs a school for "gifted youngsters" and fights for mutant tolerance. As the film begins, his team consists of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), a telekinetic (i.e., can move objects with her mind) and a telepath herself; Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops (James Marsden), who cannot control his deadly optic blasts; and Ororo Monroe, a.k.a. Storm (Halle Berry), who can control the weather.
Those established members, however, take a backseat in the film to the new recruits, Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin). The wild, mysterious Wolverine is perhaps best known for his retractable, razor-sharp claws made of the indestructible metal adamantium (his entire skeleton is also bonded with it), but his mutant abilities are heightened senses and a rapid healing factor. Rogue can absorb a person's lifeforce, personality, and memories (and, in the case of other mutants, powers) with a single touch. After discovering her ability after kissing her boyfriend, a distraught Rogue flees her native Mississippi for snowy Canada, where she meets Wolverine. When the two are attacked by the evil and animalistic Sabretooth (Tyler Mane), it's Storm and Cyclops to the rescue, and Wolverine and Rogue soon find themselves getting acquainted with the ways of Xavier's school.
Jackman, an unknown Australian actor known for his musical theater credits, and the teenage Paquin were Singer's two most controversial casting choices. Only one will completely win over skeptical fans: Jackman, who completely inhabits Wolvie's wild, woolly persona; from his first scene, fans should have no doubt about the actor's ability to embody the character's trademark ferocity. Paquin will have a harder time of convincing the fanboys. Young, waifish, and unglamorous, she in no way resembles (in appearance and temperament) the sexy, sassy, voluptuous, and now-20something comic book Rogue (the team's most popular female member). But within the context of the film's story--that is, as a "starting point" Rogue--her casting is understandable, and aside from an inconsistent Southern accent, Paquin is perfectly adequate. Even so, for the inevitable sequel, I suggest Singer pull an Anakin Skywalker and age Rogue a few years by way of a recast--and thus bringing to the screen the true Rogue fans know and love.
Needless to say, Rogue is the character that is least true to her printed incarnation. In addition to the change in age, she is given a real name (Marie), and her upbringing by evil mutant shapeshifter Mystique (and, hence, Rogue's history as a villain) is completely jettisoned. Mystique does appear in the film (played by Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), but only as part of a fairly faceless support team (along with Sabretooth and the aptly named Toad, played by Ray Park) for the film's central villain, Magneto (Ian McKellen). Magneto is an old friend of Xavier's, but the two drifted apart over their difference of philosophy. Xavier believes that there is hope for regular humans to accept mutantkind, but Magneto doesn't, preferring to go to war with them.
Magneto's dastardly scheme to bring humans and mutants to level genetic ground is the focus of the plot, and this thin story is indeed the film's weakest element. But the shortcoming is easy to forgive when the atmosphere and smaller details feel so right. The whole allegorical issue of "mutant hysteria"--perpetuated by bigoted U.S. Senator Robert Kelly (Bruce Davison)--is well-developed and played with the earnestness it deserves, as is a WWII-era-set prologue that faithfully details Magneto's beginnings. In fact, the serious--though never pretentious--tone of the film perfectly matches that of the comic, never veering into the camp sensibilities that have marred other comic-to-screen adaptations. Singer and the writers must also be commended for doing a bang-up job with the character relationships. The tense triangle between Scott, Jean, and Logan is perfectly played out; and Wolvie's bond with Rogue is also nicely handled.
But, being a fanboy, I'm not above nitpicking over certain things. While the Wolverine/Rogue relationship works in the film's context, in terms of the comics it bears more resemblance to his bond with two other young mutants, Kitty Pryde and Jubilee (both of whom have cameos in the film), than anything he ever had with Rogue. Another throwaway mutant appearance, that of Iceman (here referred to only by his real name, Bobby), is sure to upset purists; he's a teen and Rogue's kinda-sorta boyfriend at Xavier's school. Rogue's young age also means the erasure of the fascinating sexual tension between her and Magneto, which could have come into play at a crucial juncture of the film. And pity poor Storm. While Berry gives the character appropriate poise and elegance, the writers give her very little to do. Her forceful leadership abilities are gone, as are her claustrophobia (which should have been a factor in one scene) and sisterly relationship with Jean. Plus, what is the deal with that woefully unconvincing wig and her brown eyes (they should be blue)?
But some things have to give when adapting a comic to film (much like any book-to-screen translation), and for this fanboy, it's a relief that overall _X-Men_ the film bears uncommon fidelity to its source material. And as a critic, it's a relief to see an effects-laden popcorn movie offer a bit more meat than is traditionally required of such films. That said, _X-Men_ is best seen as just the jumping-off point for a possible big screen franchise--one whose full potential can be realized in subsequent installments.
