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The
2003 summer movie season is upon us with the release of X2 the
highly anticipated follow up the 150 Million plus grossing
"X-Men". The film continues the story of a band of genetic
mutants known as The X-Men who find themselves battling a fearful
and mistrusting society as well as fellow mutants for better
understanding of their kind as well as their very survival.
Based on the hit Marvel comic series, the film directed by Bryan
Singer, "X2" revolves around an attempt by Colonel Stryker
(Brian Cox), to eliminate the mutant threat by invading the training
school and home of the X-Men and their leader Professor Charles
Xavier (Patrick Stewart). This direct attack on the mutants adds
fuel to the fire as Charles's old friend yet recent enemy Magneto
(Ian McKellen), now has proof to his long standing theory that
mutants must fight the humans for survival. Until now, Xavier has
always believed that humans and mutants could co-exist in peace and
has trained his students in this philosophy as well as the
enhancement of their talents. Magneto has always believed that
mutants must fight to survive, and that humans are inferior and has
surrounded himself with followers who share this belief. Naturally
this conflict of interest has lead to skirmishes between the two
sides as well as an increased fear of mutants from a human
population caught in the crossfire. As if the attack on the academy
was not enough to complicate the lives of the X-Men, Magneto has
escaped from his high security prison and a mutant assassin has made
an attempt on the life of the President making a tense situation
even more volatile as fear and paranoia regarding mutants is now at
an all time high.
Faced with a battle on several fronts, the X-Men join forces with
Magneto's troops in a reluctant alliance that is necessary for the
survival of their kind as well as for the very human race. What
follows is a dazzling mix of special effects and action as the two
sides battle Stryker's legions and each other with the very real
threat of genocide hanging in the balance.
There are some fine performances in the film especially those of
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as the shape shifting Mystique and that of
Alan Cumming as the Bible quoting teleporter Nightshade. The two
characters add energy and humor to their roles that makes them stand
out from the majority of the cast save Hugh Jackman's standout
performance as Wolverine.
This is a much more serious X-Men than the last adventure as people
are killed along the way upping the violence from the traditional
comic book style yet none of it is overly explicit. My biggest gripe
with the film was that there were several long gapes in the film
where little was happening and that talents such as Hale Berry,
Patrick Stewart, Anna Paquin, and Ian McKellen were not given much
to do with the screen time they had. There were flashes of great
moments such as Roque (Ana Paquin), confronting Magneto for the
first time since he tried to kill her in the last film, and a
bizarre love triangle involving Wolverine that has to be seen to be
believed, yet as a whole, "X2" left me wanting more. I
know with so many characters in the story it would be difficult to
develop them all, and "X2" does a nice job expanding on
the roles of some of the smaller characters from the comic and past
film, yet it simply does not add up. I think that with a tighter
script and more attention to the details this film would have been
truly great. That being said, "X2" is an entertaining
summer film that should delight fans of the past film and the comic.
If you can get by a few plot holes, then you might find yourself
having a good time.
-- Gareth
Von Kallenbache
( 2 1/2 out of 4 pops )
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