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*.
OK – it's not the comic book, but it's a darn well-made movie, with a large and solid cast, and you don't have to be familiar with Stan Lee's comics to pick up and enjoy the story.
The premise? A result of quickened evolution, mutated humans have developed a range of extraordinary powers. Trouble is, they pose a threat to the rest of humanity, or at least to those hatemongers who want to pass laws to force `mutants' to register (as Jews registered early during the Nazi terrors?). Many mutants are allied with Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), who runs a special school for `gifted youngsters' and who is himself a mutant, with powerful telepathic capabilities. Dr. X's nemesis is Magneto (Sir Ian McKellen), a sometime friend who believes he is leading a war against humans – the species that would annihilate mutants. Magneto's specialty is creating magnetic fields, and all kinds of mayhem involving metal.
A side conflict that flows into the primary one involves Senator Robert Jefferson Kelly (Bruce Davison), who is the main political force against mutants. In one early scene he is assailing the credibility of Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), who is testifying before Congress on behalf of her fellow differently abled homo sapiens. (Dr. Grey is telekinetic, with telepathic powers in their infant stages.) What keeps us engaged in the story is the question of whether Magneto will succeed in his campaign against conventional humankind. Will he thwart both Senator Kelly and the superintelligent Dr. Xavier?
The acting is strong, helping to make a fantastic story more plausible. Stewart delivers a magnificently understated performance, showing the control and range of emotion of a master actor. I would tend to agree with some critics that McKellen is a tad too old for Magneto, though he too achieves a masterful subtlety of character. This is a pair of seriously talented actors playing unusual but gripping antagonists.
Hugh Jackman plays a brooding Wolverine. This character is virtually indestructible, his powers a bizarre combination; his body almost instantly heals itself, but his mind is continually bothered by the traumatic experiments done to him at some earlier time (that he cannot remember). The perverse experimenters implanted a wondrous metal skeleton throughout his body. Anyhow…Wolverine is moody and extremely powerful, his sword-like talons shooting from his knuckles, and Hugh Jackman creates a level of sympathy that superheroes don't usually receive.
The rest of Wolverine's cohorts – the `good' X-Men working with Xavier – include Janssen as Jean Grey, Grey's boyfriend Cyclops (James Marsden), Storm (Halle Berry) and the newcomer Rogue (Anna Paquin). The baddies – Magneto's henchmen – are Sabretooth (Tyler Mane), Toad (Ray Park), and the intriguing Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos). Although some of these characters are featured less than others, all of the actors turn in transparent jobs.
Bryan Singer keeps a tight pace but does not ignore characterization. His scenes are functional, and they don't feel the pressure of supplying non-stop action. We need to feel close to the featured X-Men, just as Stan Lee causes readers to sympathize with the print versions of these mutated heroes. And character development serves Lee's creative purposes.
If you are a fan of the comic, you will be instantly aware of the plainness of the heroes' costumes. Wolverine appears mostly in street clothes, and when he joins the other X-Men, he dons their same black body armor. (We are treated to a piece of wit, by the way, concerning Wolverine's usual yellow tights.) I think the lack of flamboyance actually helps the story; we are not distracted by the neon colors. In addition, Jean Grey appears normal, Janssen's dark hair supplanting Grey's orange. Good decisions, Mr. Singer.
In all, X-MEN does suffer from the formulaic blues, the clichés of superhero stories coming out all over. But there is enough catchy dialog, cool powers, and human interest to make the running time seem very quick. Wherever your tastes in movies run, X-MEN will keep you entertained this summer.
By : Mark O'Hara
Source: rec.art.movies.reviews newsgroup
Rating: 4
years it has been since you enjoyed the wonderful escapist pleasures of comic books, you can relive those happy times of your youth by watching SUSPECTS).
Based on the comic books of the same name, first-time screenwriter David Hayter has come up with a remarkably lucid tale given the complexity of all the characters and their various skills, powers and motivations. As the story opens, it looks like it will be another POKEMON, in which the only ones who can decipher what is happening are long-time veteran viewers of the series.
In no time at all, however, the story is clear. There are two groups of mutants. One, led by the honorable Professor Charles Francis Xavier (Patrick Stewart, STAR TREK's Captain Jean-Luc Picard), wants to live in peace with humans. Another, led by the nefarious Magneto (Ian McKellen, Oscar nominee from GODS AND MONSTERS), doesn't trust the human race and has an evil plan to control them. Given the superhuman powers of the mutants, Homo sapiens don't appear to have much of a chance.
Meanwhile, back on Capitol Hill, jingoistic Senator Robert Jefferson Kelly (Bruce Davison) doesn't trust the mutants and wants the government to register them all. This part of the story is lifted directly from Senator McCarthy and the Commie scare of the 1950s.
Every mutant has different and unusual powers. Toad (Ray Park, Darth Maul from THE PHANTOM MENACE) fights with a killer tongue like a gigantic frog. Storm (Halle Berry) generates her own perfect storm to blow others away. Cyclops (James Marsden) has killer, laser vision. And Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is implanted with sharp, metal blades for slicing and dicing opponents.
Hugh Jackman steals the show with his compelling performance as the story's main fighter, Wolverine. All of the performances are quite good, including the work by the leads, Stewart and McKellen. Anna Paquin (THE PIANO), as apparently the most vulnerable mutant, Rogue, turns in one of her best performances. Rogue is an unhappy girl who had the misfortune to have put the first boy who ever kissed her into a coma for three weeks. She has some special powers that are much in demand.
The fast-action fighting sequences are imaginatively choreographed and fascinating, rather like watching gladiators with different weapons going after each other. And the movie is smart enough to inject just enough well-placed humor to keep it from ever flagging.
After one twist and turn after another, we end up with the big confrontation sequence, set at Ellis Island. After this engrossing battle, the movie makes its only small mistake, it takes too long setting up for the sequel. Just a hint would have been enough. If they will make it, we will come.
and would be fine for kids around 12 and up, depending on their ability to handle a film of this intensity.
By : Steve Rhodes (http://www.InternetReviews.com)
