X2: X-Men United (2003)

Written by Daniel P. Harris and David Hayter / Directed by Bryan Singer
Starring Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen and Rebecca Romjin-Stamos
133 mins / 20th Century Fox / Rated PG-13

The Poster

Perhaps X2's greatest problem is that it has far too many characters for the two hours allotted. Naturally, some characters come to the forefront and some are put onto that great movie backburner. In this case, it was Cyclops who got the shaft with a role more reminiscent of Storm's role in the original X-Men Movie. Of course, our reward is far more Mystique action and I don't know a man alive who would complain about such a thing. This confluence of character only creates a scattershot feeling to the proceedings. It's definitely a movie that has some ADD issues.

Thankfully, the character arcs are more interesting this time around. We get some nice bickering between Wolverine and Jean Gray, with some teen angst with the younger mutants thrown in. The movie shows such potentials in the scenes where the parents are interacting with their mutant children, that you wish there would be more of it. For me, the fun of superhero movies is seeing how the heroes interact with the public and attempt to lead normal lives. We get to see them overcome their minority status with their superpowers, fighting the good fight. Instead, of this wonderful

Another Staged Cast Photo

setup, X2 prefers mutants fighting amongst themselves in warehouses and steam and fireworks factories. The special effects are aptly amazing, especially the kinetic opener where Nightcrawler zaps around and disappears in thin wisps of blue smoke. Unfortunately, not much else in the film matches this intensely suspenseful scene. That's not to say it isn't entertaining. It's a fun flick. And for a movie that has superheroes running around in leather, that's the least you can ask for.

Movie Grade: B