X-Men (2000) ½
cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Tyler Mane, Ray Park, Rebecca Romijin-Stamos, and Bruce Davidson
action director: Corey Yuen Kwai
director: Bryan Singer

I suppose growing up having read the "X-Men" comic books and their spin-offs made me apprehensive about a feature film adaptation. I must confess that I was never a fan of the overrated Saturday morning cartoon based on the comics so basing a film on the world's most loveable mutants was not something I was anticipating.

Though some of my insecurities about the film were confirmed when I finally screened it, I must also admit that I was in some ways pleasantly surprised by Bryan ("The Usual Suspects") Singer's "X-Men."

One of the film's better qualities is its sense of self-aware humor often laid to rest at the feet of Hugh Jackman, who despite his slim build pulls the character of Wolverine behind him well. As does supporting actor Ian McKellen, who compared to his comic book counterpart looks just as iron deficient, and yet plays the part of Magneto so well you'll never notice.

The script, co-written by Singer and his "Apt Pupil" cohort Tom DeSanto, is a sometimes thinly veiled racially motivated think piece that probably was more in tune with the decade the series came into existence via Marvel Comics.

Set during the present "X-Men" follows the uncertainty in the U.S. government over the inclusion of mutants in society. The mutants themselves divide into two separate camps with two different ideals on humankind.

One camp, led by Professor X (Patrick Stewart) dreams of a peaceful co-existence in society, while his former ally turned arch rival (Magneto) wishes for a complete separation from humans.

Stumbling upon the Professor X camp, which is really a college designed as a safe haven for mutant children and adults alike, is Wolverine, a mutant twice over haunted by his past and his future with the human race. Joining him is an equally troubled soul, a young runaway named Rouge (a miscast Anna Paquin), who's teenage years have been marred by more than just angst.

The problem for me with "X-Men" however is its failure to capture or even capitalize on its comic book origins. I was worried early on that the film's special effects and art direction could never match the forty plus years of creative minds operating at Marvel, and unfortunately I was right. Some of the film's sets and CGI look just downright pitiful.

Hong Kong action choreographer Corey Yuen Kwai stages his sequences with attitude, however, director Bryan Singer at times seems to distribute the CGI with an unnecessary sense of conservatism.

"X-Men" barks but rarely ever bites.