X-Men - movie review

  

X-Men

Plot: Two mutants come to a private academy for their kind whose resident superhero team must oppose a terrorist organisation with similar powers.

Cast: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen

Director: Bryan Singer

Rating: 12

Runtime: 1hr 44 mins

Release Date: Thursday 13th July 2000

Let's travel back in time to the year 2000. It was the dawn of the new millennia. The Y2K myth had been proved false. American Beauty had just won the Oscar for Best Picture. But in July, cinema itself would suffer a gigantic shift as to how Hollywood smash hits would be represented. Comic book films are now something that we take for granted but sixteen years ago, X-Men revitalised a world we thought was once dead.

Only being two years of age when released, I didn't understand what they hype behind X-Men was. It was only really when I began watching the animated cartoons that I became infatuated with superheroes in general. Therefore, when I was old enough to comprehend the motion picture adaptation, I sat down and watched X-Men. Thankfully, it was everything I could have hoped for. The characters is what this film truly thrives off of. These  weren't the most well known of characters at the time, with only a select few comic book fanatics having any form of connection to the mutants. Seeing them transfer from page to screen was just as fulfilling as I had hoped. But it was the performances and writing of these beloved superheroes that make it just more than a casual superhero flick. As the animal himself, Hugh Jackman doesn't just play Wolverine, he embodies him perfectly. I mentioned this before in my Deadpool review, but there are only about three actors that have truly encapsulated themselves into a superhero role. Jackman does that tenfold. The physical transformation that he went through is extraordinary, especially when you realise that he was only known for his stage and musical roles before he was cast. When the first images and trailers were released, some were quick to criticise Jackman due to him not fitting the requirements that Wolverine possess. Jackman is around six foot whereas Wolverine is quite small. Also, the musical theatre background made some very wary of how this adored character would be portrayed. Over a decade later, where are those haters now? Probably worshipping the ground Jackman walks upon.

However, it isn't just Wolverine in this film. It's the X-Men, so that means even more depictions of our favourite group of mutants. In charge of the team and his very own school for gifted youngsters is Charles Xavier played the flawless Sir Patrick Stewart. Butting heads with Xavier is the master of magnetism himself, Magneto portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen. Just hearing that these two world class treasured actors in roles that fanboys have had dreams about provides music to the ears of many. And to make matters even more incredible, they give it their absolute all. Even though Stewart is confined to the wheelchair, the charm and wit of Xavier gushes out of the screen. As for McKellen as Magneto, he is superb. Some may see him as Gandalf but his depiction of the human hating mutant is an incomparable watch. You may not agree with Magneto and his terrorist like way of doing things but through the enigmatic performance by McKellen, we completely understand why he is doing this. Other characters that make a supporting but significant appearance are; Famke Janssen giving a fun and fiery performance as Jean Grey, James Marsden supplying the gung-ho likeability of Cyclops, Anna Paquin providing a calm yet accurate representation of the power stealing Rogue and Halle Berry who isn't necessarily given the most to do yet the look of her character is a pleasure. Also, Rebecca Romijn is great as Mystique for me. I know that some will say that Jennifer Lawrence gives a better performance and whilst she certainly does, Romijn just has the inner ferocity to edge in front of Lawrence.

With Bryan Singer at the helm, apprehension was to be expected. At that point in time, the now well recognised director only had The Usual Suspects in his repertoire, many fans weren't sure what to expect from this film. Having been disappointed on many occasions with other superhero properties, Singer was dicing with death. Would he create a story that would only appeal to comic book fans but exclude the general public? Or would it be visa versa? Fortunately, he makes a film to accommodate both. Fans will be pleased of how their adored heroes are presented whereas the casual audience member with no knowledge of the comics will enjoy the action spectacle as well as the important social message it provides. And that was something that I wasn't entirely sure would work. One of the key aspects of the X-Men comic books was the message of equality and themes of social isolation. With the help of screenwriters Tom DeSanto and David Hayter, Singer crafts a story to tell the message with care but he never beats you over the head with it. Whilst it may seem that I am doted with this film, which I am slightly, there are a few imperfections. Firstly, with a runtime slightly over an hour and a half, certain moments feel rushed and hurriedly put together and I could have done with more development. That being said, there was never a moment where this film felt crowded. With what is basically a superhero team, X-Men could have thrown every hero at you in order to please fans but not advance the story. Instead, it provides the main and well-known heroes and casually references other characters that will have a more prominent role in sequels. Those include; Shadowcat, Iceman, Pyro and Jubilee. Whilst I did say that the writing worked well with the depiction of certain characters, there were odd moments of comedy thrown in to try and make it funny. Interactions between Cyclops and Wolverine worked fantastically,  yet one liners forced in during action scenes didn't quite have the same effect. An example of this is the unintentionally funny line from Storm when she asks Toad, "Do you know what happens to a toad when it's struck by lightning?" "The same thing that happens to everything else."

What X-Men accomplished for the superhero genre is phenomenal. Only a few years after the unmitigated disaster that was Batman & Robin, Blade was the only comic book film out in cinemas, and that wasn't doing all too well at the box office. People could still remember the 1970's Superman with Christopher Reeve as well as Tim Burton's Batman but what they were really after, was something new and fresh. X-Men filled that gap. The effect it created from then on, is unprecedented. Critics and audiences alike realised that this style of film could be a huge success. Because of this, we have been treated to six (seven this year) X-Men sequels or spinoffs, five Spider-Man films, three Batman films, an entire Marvel cinematic universe as well as an incoming DC movie universe. We've even had the most obscure characters come to life. Who would have even thought that we would see a Raccoon and talking tree grace the screen and for us to absolutely love it? I cannot stress the gratitude that we, as comic book fans, should give to X-Men. Without this film, it is likely that The Avengers may never have formed on screen nor would we have received Heath Ledger's immaculate performance as The Joker.

This may be a trial run for comic book films but it worked to the best effect. The short runtime and odd one liners are just a little nitpick on what ultimately is, a love letter to comic book fans. Jackman, Stewart and McKellen are simply perfect in their roles and Jackman will be sorely missed when he goes into a berserker rage one final time next year. Bryan Singer, we as a comic book community wholeheartedly thank you.

My Verdict: 9/10

                           

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