X-Men
Directed
by Bryan Singer
Story
by Tom DeSanto and Bryan Singer. Screenplay by David Hayter
Starring
Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, James Marsden,
Halle Berry, and Anna Paquin
105
minutes. Rated PG-13. Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1. 2000
I had problems with X-Men. Not because it wasn't true to the comic
-- I couldn't care less about that, and I wouldn't know, anyway, having
only a passing knowledge in the massive X-Men mythology that has grown
and grown since Stan Lee first created the book in the early sixties. No,
rather, my problem with X-Men is the fact that certain plot elements
seem too much like a dopey comic book plot. Being a dopey comic
book fan, it didn't bother me too much, but I wanted people to take
this film seriously, and I'm worried that might not happen, now.
But let
me tell you, the movie still left me with a big old grin on my face when
it was over.
Dopey
plot elements or not, this movie has it. X-Men grabs you
by the throat and doesn't let go until the end credits are rolling. It's
one of those films that leaves you with an adrenaline high -- which I suppose
is why I'm sitting here typing this at half past midnight and not sleeping.
Not only that, but it is a film that should, can, and probably will
be taken seriously, thanks to the fact that it's based on one of the more
high-concept comic books available.
Mutants,
this film hypothesizes, are all around us. These people, with a mysterious
"X" factor in their genes, are considered freaks by the general population,
but most scientists recognize this as the next stage of human evolution.
That "X" factor gives these mutants certain gifts. Logan, or Wolverine
(Jackman), has heightened senses and can heal almost any wound instantaneously
-- plus his skeleton has been laced with a metal called adamatium, which
is virtually unbreakable. He has retractable claws made of the same
material that can cut through almost anything (and let me tell you, the
first time he pops those babies out -- it's effective, to say the least).
Scott Summers, or Cyclops (Marsden) has incredible energy pouring out of
his eyes, that can only be controlled by a ruby quartz visor he must wear
at all times. Ororo Munroe, or Storm (Berry) can control the weather, Rogue
(Paquin) absorbs the memories and the abilities of anyone she touches,
and Jean Grey (Janssen) and Professor Charles Xavier (Stewart) are powerful
telepaths.
And let
me just say, the casting of the above characters is perfect. Patrick
Stewart was born to play Professor X, and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is
just brilliant. Janssen, Marsden, and Berry are likewise perfectly cast,
and Paquin -- who comic book fans felt was miscast as Rogue, given that
in the comics Rogue is a busty southern belle probably more than twice
Paquin's age -- is wonderful as the frightened girl who put her boyfriend
in a coma with a kiss. The rogues gallery is likewise terrific. Toad (Ray
Park) and Sabretooth (Tyler Mane) are pretty peripheral to the story and
could have been played by anyone, but Ian McKellen was a brilliant choice
to play Magneto, the would-be ruler of humankind. And then of course there's
Mystique, the naked blue shapeshifter, played by model Rebecca Romijn-Stamos,
who doesn't say much, but who managed to titillate and freak out the audience
at the same time. 
At
any rate, I cannot stress how perfect this cast is, and how well they all
work together. These are fully-realized characters who just leap off the
screen, the actors playing them have such presence. Wolverine is the most
interesting character out of all of them, and Jackman can bring it.
Cyclops had always been something of a whiny boy scout in the comics, and
they play with that here, as well -- but it works, and the relationship
between Cyce and Wolverine is one of the best bits in the film. Rogue has
got to be one of the most tragic and heartbreaking characters ever brought
to screen -- a beautiful young girl, who can never touch anyone for fear
of killing them. We don't get much insight into Jean or Storm, but what
we do get is great, and I have a feeling more will be done with them in
the films that are almost certain to come.
The script
is decent. Frankly, given the hundreds of writers who have been writing
and rewriting the thing for the past five or so years, I'm surprised the
film was as sleek and lean as it is. Indeed, it seemed a bit too lean for
my tastes, clocking in at a mere 105 minutes. But the script moves along
at a brisk pace, and again, my only main problem was with certain plot
elements -- namely, Magneto's plan to change ordinary humans into mutants.
It just doesn't strike me as the most well-thought out plan, and the way
in which he intends to carry out this plan -- which I won't ruin for you
-- doesn't really make much sense either. But y'know what? It's okay. The
script is so tightly woven, the acting so powerful, and the directing so
terrific, that it makes Magneto's plan (and the accompanying plot holes)
forgivable. There are also a couple of nice touches thrown in for those
of us familiar with the comics -- Rogue befriends a young man named Bobby
who seems to have freezing powers (obviously Bobby Drake, or Iceman, one
of the original five X-Men) and Wolverine has a brief encounter with a
girl named Kitty who can walk through solid walls (obviously Kitty Pride,
or 
Shadowcat).
I was personally pleased to see these two, because they're two of my favorite
characters from the X-Men comics I have read, and I hope they show
up again in the, again, sure-to-come sequels.
But I
digress. The man that brings it all together, of course, is Bryan Singer.
His talent for getting gifted performances from eclectic casts has been
seen before (The Usual Suspects), but for someone who's never done
a big action movie before, Singer does a great job there, too. There's
a great fight between Logan and Sabretooth atop the Statue of Liberty,
and there's some cool stuff done with Storm and Cyclops, as well. Singer's
done a fantastic job here, not only in coaching the actors to top-notch
performances, but with the way he handles the camera, the blocking, and
everything else about the way this film looks. And Michael Kamen's rousing
score gives it that extra push, and just brings it on home.
Those
of you familiar with the comics, I think, will be pleased. And if you can
overlook the lame-brained plan Magneto hatches, I think those of you who've
never heard of the X-Men before this movie will be pleased too. These are
universal characters, in a situation all too familiar to the Jews, or the
African-Americans, or the Japanese, or homosexuals, or anyone else who
has been labeled, ostracized, made fun of, or excluded -- which I'd say
includes pretty much everyone. These are universal themes, and the
film carries them well.
I can't
wait for the sequel.
Bottom line: If you can overlook a dumb-ass plan on Magneto's part and
a couple gaping plot holes, then you will have a very, very good time at
this movie.
My grade:
A -
My advice:
Like I said, these are universal characters, and universal themes. Everyone
can identify with this movie in one way or another. And if not, well, then
just see it for the action and the special effects.
Get the movie
poster!
