Rating: Summary: More than just a sci-fi action spectacle Review: In the near future, a new breed of humans--known as mutants--begins to emerge from the general population. Gifted (or cursed, depending on one's standpoint) with a variety of extranormal abilities, these mutants face fear and distrust from society. But under the leadership of Professor Charles Xavier, a group of these mutants has banded together to help light the path to a better future for both mutants and normal humans. This is the premise of "X-Men."Director Bryan Singer and screenwriter David Hayter faced a daunting task in taking the massive X-Men mythos (which has evolved through decades of different comic book titles, and has involved an encyclopedic number of characters) and adapting it into a feature film. But, together with a superb international cast, the filmmakers succeed brilliantly. A prologue set during the Nazi Holocaust sets the overall serious tone for the film--a welcome change from the increasingly campy and ridiculous "Batman" film franchise. Yes, "X-Men" is a science fiction film with plentiful action and special effects. But at its heart, this film is an intelligent drama about characters who face crises and challenges. Professor Xavier (played by Patrick Stewart) squares off against Magneto (Ian McKellen), a rival mutant leader with a radically different philosophy. Add to this struggle Bruce Davison as a McCarthyesque, mutant-hating U.S. senator, and you have a rich tapestry of ideological conflict which serves as a backdrop for the frequently explosive action. But overall I found the emotional core of the film to lie in the relationship between Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), a seemingly indestructible warrior with retractable metal claws, and Rogue (Anna Paquin), a young mutant with the ability to suck the life force out of others. Each of the actors delivers an excellent performance. The mutants of "X-Men" can be seen as metaphors for any feared or persecuted group in human history. Ultimately, the film celebrates the ability of oppressed individuals to overcome alienation, to form supportive communities, and to work for a greater good. It is, I believe, the film's success in tapping into universal human fears, hopes, and ideological conflicts that elevates it above being merely an excellent sci-fi action epic.
Rating: Summary: Major gaps in the storyline. Review: As a fan of the TV show "X-Men" and a reader of the comic books, I am sorry to say that there were some major mistakes made by the writers of this movie with the making of this film. While I do admire the effort, making Storm a history teacher, Beast was conspicuously absent from this film. He would have made an excellent English teacher or a professor of languages. He was already a medical doctor by trade. I wouldn't have put Rogue and Jubilee in the same class because the orignal members were all in their mid-twenties or older when Jubilee joined them both in the comic books and on the TV show. Rogue already had the ability to fly, thanks to Marvel Girl. At 14, Rogue was taken in by Mystique, "Mama" and coerced into sucking the life from Marvel Girl, leaving her in a coma and listed as a Jane Doe in the cartoon. At least Bobby's (Iceman) role was correct. He liked to push limits with athority AND he was two years older than Jubilee. Patrick Stewart played an excellent Professor X. Maybe some of the gaps left in this movie will be filled if Hollywood decides on a sequel.
Rating: Summary: Good movie Review: While three stars may not seem that big, I must admit that this is the best comic book to movie screen adaption ever. Even better than superman
Rating: Summary: "We are the future Charles, not them." Ain't that the truth! Review: I wrote this line because the X-Men are the future of good comic book adaptations. Yes Spider-Man is coming, but i'm not seeing Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, and Kristen Dunst is just not red haired. The X-Men is not a Batman (for me the best adaptation yet), but is really entertaining: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen ARE perfect on their roles, the other actors are good but they don't have comparsion with them. Good FXs , good plot but with some minor holes (is not a big deal), and it's simply good to see the X-Men on action in the big screen. 6 out of 10, 3 stars out of five.
Rating: Summary: Another great comic book film Review: Hell, I thought this movie was great! I saw it the first day it came out and it made me want to be an X-woman myself. There was great acting in this movie, especially from Patrick Stewart and Hugh Jackman. The special effects are jaw-dropping, from the showing of the powers, to the Blackbird, to the battle of mutants in the end. And best of all, Toad was actually turned into a badass! (if you are a fan of the comics, you know how much of a loser Toad is). The only things I didn't like on this film were how the story centered more between Wolverine and Rogue, and the rest of the X-Men were more like coat hangers. And hey why the hell is Sabretooth in a team?? Everyone knows that he doesn't give a crap about the X-Men, he just wants Wolverine! Oh well. Great movie noneotherless. If you want to see more good comic-based films, check out: Blade, the first two Batman films, The Crow, The Mask, Conan the Barbarian, and the R-Rated version of Spawn
Rating: Summary: Fantastic Review: I was unsure about this film being a sucess as the comic books had always been a sucess, and i didn'd think the film would be able to make the cross-over, but it did. X-men is full of special effects and of the wonderful characters that brought the comics alive. The fil is about Magneto who wants to convert all of the humans into mutants to stop the segregation and outing of mutants who are then referred to as freaks. The x-men have to try and stop Magneto and co from doing this as the machine that Magneto has devised for the conversion actually kills the humans. This film is worth a watch even if you are not a fan of the comic books as it has a good story line that is easy to follow, as it explains all about the x-men clan
Rating: Summary: Yay! A comic book movie that [isn't horrible]! Review: Let us pause to mourn the passing of the Kevin Smith script for Superman once more as we remember not so fondly the comic books to movies that have crashed and burned. It seems so easy to make a comic book into a movie. Comic books use frames and shots and the storyboards are already there, just adapt. Yet when they get to the screen, the tights look silly, the villains aren't what you expect and the whole thing seems to be an origin story even if you are familiar with these characters from long back. This movie could have been horrible. There are so many characters in the comic book that the origin portion of the movie could have rivaled the original Superman for tedium. The cliched storyline running through the comic book has the theme of "oppression is wrong". This movie gets it right by focusing on Wolverine and Rogue. Already the two most interesting characters in the comic, these are the ones you want to watch anyhow. Preserving the Wolverine loves Jean Grey and hates Cyclops storyline from early X-men helps to drive the story along. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan are the best distinguished actors in Hollywood now that John Gielgud is dead. And there is a real plotline. Sure, it sufferes from the action movie problem of random bits thrown in for no reason, but you feel like someone actually sat down and wrote this. As opposed to most Batman movies where you think that a bunch of producers sat on the set yelling things at the director to do. Of course there are problems and no comic book fan is going to love a comic book movie unconditionally. Sabretooth is supposed to be Wolverine's bigger and meaner double, but since they hired a pro wrestler (and not a very talkative one) they didn't give him anything but a lot of grunts. Ray Park is a great martial artist which you can tell from his too-few-scenes. And a lot of the other X Men are just sort of there. But still this is a fun movie and one that almost takes the bad taste of eitehr Punisher or Captain America out for only a moment.
Rating: Summary: 'Toad has a wicked tongue, Senator. Just like you.' - Magnet Review: My fave film of 2000. It beat out a host of other films. Anyway - [By the way, there is no such word as anyways] For years a good pal of mine had been talking about X-Men and not being a comic book fan, I just listened. When I saw the movie again and again, I came to like it myself. Interesting characters. Just about everyone is well-cast, and I can hardly wait to see the sequel, which I hope will be good. Mystique has one memorable line, Wolverine's impressively battle-ready, Rougue is not bad ['Are you going to kill me?'], and Professor Charles Xavier ['I'm looking for hope.'] is fantastic, but I think Magneto has the best lines in this film. 'They will return home as brothers. As mutants.' Well-written, well-acted, well-directed, and well done. X-cellent. 2000's best film, in my humble opinion.
Rating: Summary: Intelligent,engrossing Sci-Fi fantasy Review: Coming from the director of The Usual Suspects and Apt Pupil,one would partake the same director dredging up an adaptation of a famously known comic book to be a bizzaire career choice.But,alas to say,the movie adaptation of the Marvel comics classic is a highly absorbing Sci-Fi Fantasy film indeed.The special effects are rip-roaring,and the characters,such as Wolverine,Rogue ,Storm and Lizard are intelligently conceived and well portrayed.The superb Patrick Stewart shines as the benevolent Dr.Xavier ,and the film wisely doesn't overdo itself at a wise running time of 90 minutes.Another one to catch on a widescreen TV with a powerful speaker system.
Rating: Summary: Meet the King of Superhero movies. Review: Too often are we shown cheap, rushed superhero movies. One only has to mention "Batman and Robin"... ugh... Superhero films are never taken seriously these days. But X-Men shows that there's life in the old dog yet. One of the most popular comics around, X-Men centres around the very adult theme of racism, discrimination, and ofcourse, lots of great super-human powers and a juicy battle between good and evil. The film is a perfect mix of straight-faced storytelling and tongue-in-cheek in-jokes. Those who never take these films seriously will no doubt identify with Hugh Jackman's fabulous Wolverine, who never passes up an oppertunity to point out the stupidity of the situation. But things are carried out seriously and intelligently - hence the casting of first rate actors Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen as the leaders of good and evil. The script is never anything less than excellent, and the direction by Bryan Singer (the genius who gave us the indisputable masterpiece that was the Usual Suspects) is flawless. The supporting cast, made up mainly of unknowns (although sci-fi fans may recognise Ray Part, alias Darth Maul, as Toad) shows a great deal of promise. And the effects... well, probably inspired by the Matrix (a landmark in effects technology), this film looks fantastic. No effect is underdone, no set is not awe-inspiring. The music, alas, is where the movie is let down. Although dramatic and tense, there's just nothing memorable here. Gone are the days of the groovy title theme, by which the audience can identify the film. Never mind - who needs a catchy theme, when you've got a brilliantly directed, perfectly acted, intelligently written film to replace it. And just to make things better, there's sequels on the way. Look no further for the finest comic-book adaptation of the year. Unless Spider-Man's any good... Unmissable.
|