Rating: 
Summary: In addition to action, there's actually some depth...
Review: First off, for those of you who don't know, the background of the films is this: there are two major races on earth - humans and mutants. Humans are us, basically. Mutants are folks who are born with a x-factor in their genes which gives them superhuman powers - reading minds, turning things to ice, healing, creating storms, etc. Due to the mutants' exceptional powers, humans tend to be afraid of them. Not all mutants are bad, but those that are are nearly unstoppable, and that is incredibly frightening for American and others who are used to safety and security.While the first movie deals with "the good mutants" (led by Xavier) versus "the bad mutants" (led by Magneto), the second movie puts a real twist on this. Here, one human (Stryker) acts as a mastermind to rid the world of mutants. Thus, the great mutant minds now need to work together to stop his efforts. The reasons why I enjoyed this film are pretty similar to why I enjoyed the first film. 1. The man Xavier(played masterfully by Patrick Stewart)embodies every ideal we hope for in fellow man. Though wrongly persecuted, he uses his incredible powers & understanding for good rather than revenge. 2. The relationship betweem Xavier and Magneto (played equally masterfully by Ian McKellen). This complex friendship and opposition of equals is fascinating...and rare in epic films. Magneto is everything that Xavier is except that he is shrewder than Xavier and believes the solution to their troubles lay in wiping out humans. 3. The fact that the whole set-up is laced with social commentary. Most of these themes are overt and are predictable - anti-war, tolerance, the impact of evolution. Generally, I despise preachy messages. However, here you can understand why the humans are afraid of the mutants, but you also see the vulnerability of the mutants. 4. I thought Nightcrawler's character development added some spiritual depth to the film. He quotes from the Bible and speaks of angels and sin...all the while looking like a little devil with his black tail. This adds the involvement of the heavenlies into a situation that is beyond our control. 5. The action, the cast of characters, the cinematography were all great. There are some flaws with the logic of the plot, but it wasn't too critical to me. As for performance analysis of the stars, how much they stuck to the comic books, and plot flaws, I will leave that to more able reviewers than myself. But, as a regular ol' movie watcher, I very much enjoyed the journey to this world the 2nd time round. And I do hope they make another movie...but only if they can keep up this quality.
Rating:
Summary: Top shelf superhero movie
Review: The defining characteristic of "X2: X-Men United" is the approval bestowed upon it by fans of the origin comic books; whereas the original "X-Men" movie was seen as truncated and flat in parts, the sequel delivers the goods fans craved: a full half-hour more action, and a dazzling opening sequence that features a mutant attack on the U.S. President. The mutant is a newcomer: Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) a German circus runaway with blue skin that can bounce and teleport at alarming speeds. Director Bryan Singer watched his first "X-Men" effort start with a slow burn of introducing the setup and character; "X2" had the "geeks" bouncing out of their seats. What follows is a superhero movie on par with "Spider-Man" and the best parts of the "Superman" and "Batman" series. "X2" is a too busy and farfetched, but it keeps twisting, and it features a great villain in Col. Styker (Brian Cox) a military scientist bent on erasing the mutants from the Earth. In theme and approach, "X2" is similar to the second and best installment of the "Star Trek" series, "Wrath of Khan" -- "X2" features a large sacrifice from a major character, and serves as a launching pad for future installments. Just about anything could happen in "X3," and that's a testament to how well this movie is structured. Every important mutant is still on the playing field. After the Nightcrawler attack -- a spectacular, dizzying assault through the hallways of the White House right to the president's desk -- "X2" sends its characters in various directions. Stryker, who has the president's ear, convinces the chief that the mysterious mutant school run by wheelchair-bound Xavier (Patrick Stewart) could be behind the attack. The real source is a nifty twist, but Stryker nonetheless storms the school while Xavier is away visiting his imprisoned enemy/friend Magneto (Ian McKellen). Though human, Stryker is as formidable as either Xavier or Magneto -- he has methods of coercing mutants, putting him in position to rid the world of them through Cerebro, a special tracking machine only Xavier can use; how Stryker tricks Xavier into using it is one of the movie's best secrets. Because Stryker means to destroy the mutants for good; Magneto sets aside his grudge match with Xavier to save both their hides, hence the title. Stryker also holds the key to the identity of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), the steel-knuckled, mutton-chopped tough man of the mutant school. "X2" has a full plate of characters, but Jackman's the star; Wolverine does most of the fighting, and serves as a romantic possibility for X-woman Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), a telekinetic with growing strength and X-girl Rogue (Anna Paquin), whose powers were coveted in the original movie, but not worth much this time. Also onboard is Storm (Halle Berry) who finds and connects with a confused Nightcrawler, and bad-girl Mystique (Rebecca Romejn-Stamos) whose shape-shifting gifts bust Magneto out of prison and hack into Stryker's computer for his master plan. Singer strains to offer every mutant decent screen time, which spreads "X2" a little too thin in the middle; one mutant that figured prominently in the first movie, Cyclops (James Marsden), mostly tags along in the sequel. Despite the generosity, Cox and Jackman return the forefront again and again as Stryker and Wolverine size each other up. Cox, actually, has played a similar role once before in the terrible Keanu Reeves vehicle "Chain Reaction;" what seemed cartoonish about his military monster in that movie works just about perfect here. Jackman has a look about him that fits the part, and he's surprisingly funny to boot -- the throwaway lines of David Hayter's script are one of "X2's" prime pleasures. There aren't as many action sequences as you'd expect -- the canvas is so big, a good part of the movie is spent just leaving and arriving -- and none match the opening Nightcrawler attack, but there is enough for a fight junkie to appreciate. And though there's a bit of social commentary mixed into the movie's fabric, "X2" is nothing less than a fantasy. There's a climax, so to speak, beyond the climax, and then another climax beyond that, which is annoying, but it sets the table for a major transformation of Jean's character. Singer obviously has his options wide open for the third installment, which will presumably pit good and bad mutants against one another again. "X2" ends with Magneto having gained a precious new weapon for round three. For what it does, "X2" does it very well. Singer is clearly serious about not letting the franchise descend into camp as "Batman" and "Superman" eventually did -- there are dumb moments, but they're quickly forgotten. It improves on the original and improves the chances of the series at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: For fans
Review: This one is just as good as the first. Fans will love it.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow
Review: This was 100 times better than the original! The visual effects were so enjoyable, and the acting was greatly improved. I wasn't really looking foward to this film, but now that I have seen it I can't wait for another. Great buy. Great extras as well!
Rating:
Summary: Spectacle and excitement in powerhouse sequel
Review: X2 (USA 2003): Following an attempt on the US President's life by what appears to be a rogue mutant (Alan Cumming), the school for 'gifted youngsters' established by Prof. Xavier (Patrick Stewart) is raided by military factions opposed to the integration of mutants into American society. The X-Men are subsequently forced into a collaboration with their mortal enemy Magneto (Ian McKellen) to clear their names and destroy an all-powerful threat from humankind... Opening with a scene-setting quote from Abraham Lincoln, followed by one of the most astonishing action set-pieces of recent years (underscored by the 'Dies Irae' from Mozart's 'Requiem'), and closing with an extended confrontation between Good and Evil that tops anything in the original X-MEN (2000), Bryan Singer's powerhouse sequel ups the ante in terms of spectacle and excitement, whilst simultaneously expanding and developing the radical subtext (a minority group forced to take a stand against prejudice) inherent in the original Marvel comic strip. Beautifully filmed, and performed with gusto by a dedicated cast (including Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen and Brian Cox, relegating Patrick Stewart, James Marsden and Anna Paquin to secondary roles this time out), the narrative unfolds with bold precision, constantly surprising the audience with inventive visuals and heartfelt emotional drama (the mutant 'coming out' scene - played with knowing irony by young Shawn Ashmore - will resonate especially with gay viewers). Also, this is one of the few movies in recent years to use the Super 35 format in a defiantly cinematic manner, with none of the concessions to television which usually characterizes this 'fake' widescreen process. 20th Century Fox's 2-disc special edition looks and sounds about as good as current DVD technology will allow (see technical specs below) and includes a wealth of extras, most of which are dedicated to the visual effects and production design, along with an exploration of the comic strip which spawned this fascinating franchise. A fullscreen edition is available separately, which this viewer hasn't seen, but which probably opens the image up top and bottom, thereby altering the compositions in a manner that was never intended. When will Hollywood learn that this kind of thing is just as bad - if not WORSE - than pan-scanning an anamorphic widescreen image?... 133m 36s
2.35:1 (Super 35) / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby 5.1/DTS 5.1
Dolby Digital/DTS [theatrical]
Optional English subtitles and closed captions
Region 1
Rating:
Summary: Good. Me likie.
Review: You want to read aaaaaaall about the movie and it's long strides and short comings? Read all the other reviews. You want to know if this is a fantastic movie that, regardless of critical comparison to the comic books, is worth watching? Read below. Yes. Movie good. You watch.
Rating:
Summary: better than the first
Review: the first xmen movie had to accomplish so much in the introduction of so many characters that most of them as well as the plot itself got short-changed. that said it was still an enjoyable film. in this film we know most of the pricipal characters and the essential nightcrawler is introduced in dramatic fashion at the beginning of this movie. the visual effects are spectacular and several of the actors contribute memorable performances. not all of them though. it may not be his fault given the lines he has and minimal screen time, but James Marsden as cyclops seems to prove that it is possible to be at once stiff and limp. That is a shame because his character is the longest tenured member of the group in the comics as an original member of the 60s xmen and the only original to stick around when the xmen were completely reinvented in the mid 70s. he deserves a more dynamic role. maybe in x3 (probably the phoenix story) he will come to life. hugh jackman is great as wolverine. and i really like gandalf as magneto.
Rating:
Summary: Great Superhero picture!
Review: I grew up reading the Uncanny X-Men and other comics, and I have to say this is a pretty darn good picture. Humans came a long way from the old 1980's superhero movies. You gotta love it! Finally, after all these years, they have made some huge strides in producing quality superhero movies. If you read X-Men when you were younger, or are young and reading the comic, then you will love this flick. Simply awesome! I didn't give anything away, did I? Heck no! Go see it ASAP.
Rating:
Summary: Mutant Heaven
Review: X-Men was a joy to watch when it first came out in the cinema as it was a blockbuster with all the fast moving action that implies but it also tried to give the main characters depth, exploring what it is to have these powers that scare 'ordinary' people so much and showed two ways of handling the situation. Try and take the world over or use your powers for the good of the rest of humankind. I liked also the background to Magneto and the way this meant that why you do all the traditional hating of the bad guy, you still feel a sympathetic understanding towards him, probably in the same way as Charles Xavier himself does and a hope he'll change his mind. X-men 2 in a sense is more of the same except it builds on what X-men starts. It deepens relationships, especially in a love triangle between 3 of the x-men, and portrays the younger generation coming through and growing up and making their own choices about their lives. There are also a few genuine powerful emotional moments which changes the pace of the film now and again effectively and gives you a chance to catch your breath.
Both are well worth seeing as the films that set the present trend of super heroes films with more humanity and depth than spandex.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie. A must have.
Review: The X-men are back and now their in more trouble. After an assassination attempt on the president. Charles Xavier and the X-men are afraid the government will issue the mutant registration act. The culprit is William Stryker. He kidnaps charles and uses him to use celrebro to kill all the mutants in the world. William's son was a former student of charles, but after william wanted him to cure him not help him. The X-men must stop william before charles is able to use celrebro to kill all the mutants.
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