X-Men 2: X2 Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)May 9th, 2003
X2 (2003) / *** 1/2
Directed by Bryan Singer. Screenplay by Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris and David Hayter, from a story by Zak Penn, Hayter and Singer, based on the comic book characters created by Stan Lee. Starring Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen. Running time: 124 minutes. Rated PG by the MFCB. Reviewed on May 9th, 2003.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: A mutant attack on the President of the United States gains the sinister William Stryker (Brian Cox) authorisation to raid the school run by Professor Xavier (Stewart), which teaches mutant children how to live in harmony with normal humans. Stryker's objective is Cerebro, a machine which enables the Professor to locate any mutant on the planet. But what is the connection between Stryker and the mysterious past of Wolverine (Jackman)? And what role will the imprisoned militant Magneto (McKellen) play?
Review: Although the first "X-Men" was an enjoyable film, I found it was all set-up, with little plot. That balance has shifted in "X2" which builds on its predecessor to deliver a more solid, exciting adventure. It's significant that most of the small army of characters play an important role in the story. Only Cyclops (James Marsden) and Rogue (Anna Paquin) feel shunted to the sidelines here, a far cry from "X-Men", whose emphasis was firmly placed on four or five mutants. The female characters -- Storm (Halle Berry, in a much better wig), Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) and especially Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) -- benefit most. But there are juicy scenes for the favourites from the first film too, particularly Wolverine and the deliciously malevolent Magneto. And there's time to introduce new mutants, notably Alan Cumming's visually impressive Nightcrawler. In addition to a more clever, better developed storyline, "X2" benefits by casting greater light on the plight of mutants in society, something the first "X-Men" rather trivialised. This lends the movie dramatic impetus but, remarkably, is also channelled for good laughs, as in a scene in which a mutant "comes out" to his parents. "X2" is a rarity in Hollywood: a sequel which impressively improves upon the original, giving hope that there may be even better films to come.
Copyright © 2003 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
Archived at The Popcorn Gallery,
http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sps/movies.html
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
