Contrary to popular belief, it was 2000's X-Men (NOT 2002's Spider-Man) that saved the superhero/comic-book movie genre after Joel Schumacher nearly killed it with Batman & Robin. Once again, Bryan Singer (no matter what you might think of him) shows the heights comic-book movies are capable of reaching with this sequel. 'Dies Irae' from Mozart's Requiem in D minor has never been better utilised than it is during this film's opening scene at the White House, which introduces the character of Nightcrawler (a blue demon-looking creature...with a TAIL, who might *appear* menacing/'bad', but is later revealed to be the complete opposite). He's a teleporter who can single-handedly take out a bunch of opponents as he 'BAMF's from one place to the next. I have yet to see teleportation brought to life onscreen more effectively than it is here. It remains one of the all-time BEST scenes in any comic-book movie EVER.
While Wolverine's having a stare-off with a wolf, trying to regain memories of his past/the experimentation that gave him his indestructible adamantium skeleton, we're reintroduced to the other returning X-Men from the first film. Storm's wig is fluffier/slightly less fake-looking; Jean's having trouble controlling her powers which seem to be growing, Cyclops is still being severely underused (Singer might like James Marsden as an actor, but he obviously cares little for Cyclops as a character given how his screentime keeps decreasing with each movie), Rogue's now together with Iceman/Bobby Drake, the character of Pyro/John has been recast and Professor X uses his telekinetic abilities to make an entire food court of people freeze/stop moving.
The dynamics established in the first film are acknowledged (ie. Rogue's attachment to Logan and the Logan/Jean/Scott 'love triangle'), though not dwelled upon, as there's other stuff going on such as the Mutant Registration Act being pushed, Mystique posing as the deceased Senator Kelly, and Brian Cox's very human (but very dangerous) William Stryker launching an attack against the X-Mansion. This is another stand-out scene, as we're not only treated to a glimpse of a new character's power (the metal-skinned Colossus) but also Wolverine going into a 'berserker rage' against the attackers who *may* be considered the 'bad guys', but I was nevertheless thankful to for shutting up that one screeching mutant girl. It's weird that a school FULL of super-powered mutants are seemingly no match for a bunch of human guys with stun-guns (I guess this is why the mutants are mostly kids...because if they were *adults*, they'd wipe the floor with their enemies).
Meanwhile, Magneto stages a fantastic escape from his plastic prison with the help of his trusty henchwoman, Mystique (it was nice seeing a non-blue/non-scaly Rebecca Romijn in one brief scene). Elsewhere, Jean/Storm track down Nightcrawler (of all the new characters, Alan Cumming's was easily my favourite, as he brings a LOT to this role, managing to make Nightcrawler scary, sympathetic, and even funny with how he keeps introducing himself to people. He and Storm also have some good moments together, he proves an asset to the team, and although their comic-book connection is never acknowledged, it's fun to see the two blue mutants, him and Mystique, briefly interact). They soon learn his attack on the President wasn't of his own volition, as Stryker has a means of controlling mutants/making them do his bidding as evidenced by his own mutant henchwoman, Lady Deathstrike.
Speaking of, poor Kelly Hu (like Rebecca Romijn before her in the previous movie) only gets ONE line of dialogue...but at least her fight with Wolverine helps make up for that. It's definitely a stand-out (being about as intense/violent as a PG-13 film will allow). Another good scene is the one where Pyro makes it known just how dangerous the power of fire manipulation can be. Aaron Stanford plays the part well, and his exchange with Magneto is a good one. It must also be mentioned how very 'mean girl'-like the Magneto/Mystique pairing are towards Rogue regarding her unique hair...which they're responsible for (ignore them, Rogue. Your hair's great!). In most cases, this sequel gives us *more* of everything: more mutants, more fight scenes and more of the different powers displayed...except for Cyclops' and Rogue's, of course, which continue to be frustratingly underutilised.
This brings me to the 'negatives' of the film: It's baffling why those^ two characters are wasted and the full extent of their powers aren't taken advantage of, the movie seemingly resorted to ripping off a line from Joss Whedon's series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (replacing the word 'Slayer' with 'mutant') since they apparently didn't have him to supply the jokes this time, and I could've done without the blue-lizard-tongued mutant child/'kiddie humour'. Still, there's a LOT to like: Singer manages to keep things coherent (even when there's some weirdness involving mind-tricks/illusions), Hugh Jackman's Logan/Wolverine continues to steal every scene he's in, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen command the screen whenever they appear, Romijn's Mystique is fascinating to watch (look out for her amusingly rude gesture she gives the bad guys at one point) and, as mentioned, Nightcrawler makes one hell of a debut (such a shame the extensive/time-consuming makeup process put Cumming off returning).
These movies have always excelled at is being about something *deeper* than just seeing 'cool powers' onscreen. The way the subject of those who are 'different' is tackled gives these films much more 'weight' than other previous superhero movies had (Iceman/Bobby 'coming out' to his parents as a mutant is one such example). The action, whilst impressive and expertly staged/shot, isn't the main focus of the movie which delivers its 'message' *without* being as ham-fisted/obvious as other more modern superhero movies. Although these films mightn't be the most accurate at translating the comic-books they're adapted from to screen, the 'differences' don't make them *bad* (though you have to wonder what they would've been like if they *had* stuck to the comics more closely). The movie's climax packs an emotional punch, whilst the ending shot promises more interesting/exciting things to come.
While Wolverine's having a stare-off with a wolf, trying to regain memories of his past/the experimentation that gave him his indestructible adamantium skeleton, we're reintroduced to the other returning X-Men from the first film. Storm's wig is fluffier/slightly less fake-looking; Jean's having trouble controlling her powers which seem to be growing, Cyclops is still being severely underused (Singer might like James Marsden as an actor, but he obviously cares little for Cyclops as a character given how his screentime keeps decreasing with each movie), Rogue's now together with Iceman/Bobby Drake, the character of Pyro/John has been recast and Professor X uses his telekinetic abilities to make an entire food court of people freeze/stop moving.
The dynamics established in the first film are acknowledged (ie. Rogue's attachment to Logan and the Logan/Jean/Scott 'love triangle'), though not dwelled upon, as there's other stuff going on such as the Mutant Registration Act being pushed, Mystique posing as the deceased Senator Kelly, and Brian Cox's very human (but very dangerous) William Stryker launching an attack against the X-Mansion. This is another stand-out scene, as we're not only treated to a glimpse of a new character's power (the metal-skinned Colossus) but also Wolverine going into a 'berserker rage' against the attackers who *may* be considered the 'bad guys', but I was nevertheless thankful to for shutting up that one screeching mutant girl. It's weird that a school FULL of super-powered mutants are seemingly no match for a bunch of human guys with stun-guns (I guess this is why the mutants are mostly kids...because if they were *adults*, they'd wipe the floor with their enemies).
Meanwhile, Magneto stages a fantastic escape from his plastic prison with the help of his trusty henchwoman, Mystique (it was nice seeing a non-blue/non-scaly Rebecca Romijn in one brief scene). Elsewhere, Jean/Storm track down Nightcrawler (of all the new characters, Alan Cumming's was easily my favourite, as he brings a LOT to this role, managing to make Nightcrawler scary, sympathetic, and even funny with how he keeps introducing himself to people. He and Storm also have some good moments together, he proves an asset to the team, and although their comic-book connection is never acknowledged, it's fun to see the two blue mutants, him and Mystique, briefly interact). They soon learn his attack on the President wasn't of his own volition, as Stryker has a means of controlling mutants/making them do his bidding as evidenced by his own mutant henchwoman, Lady Deathstrike.
Speaking of, poor Kelly Hu (like Rebecca Romijn before her in the previous movie) only gets ONE line of dialogue...but at least her fight with Wolverine helps make up for that. It's definitely a stand-out (being about as intense/violent as a PG-13 film will allow). Another good scene is the one where Pyro makes it known just how dangerous the power of fire manipulation can be. Aaron Stanford plays the part well, and his exchange with Magneto is a good one. It must also be mentioned how very 'mean girl'-like the Magneto/Mystique pairing are towards Rogue regarding her unique hair...which they're responsible for (ignore them, Rogue. Your hair's great!). In most cases, this sequel gives us *more* of everything: more mutants, more fight scenes and more of the different powers displayed...except for Cyclops' and Rogue's, of course, which continue to be frustratingly underutilised.
This brings me to the 'negatives' of the film: It's baffling why those^ two characters are wasted and the full extent of their powers aren't taken advantage of, the movie seemingly resorted to ripping off a line from Joss Whedon's series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (replacing the word 'Slayer' with 'mutant') since they apparently didn't have him to supply the jokes this time, and I could've done without the blue-lizard-tongued mutant child/'kiddie humour'. Still, there's a LOT to like: Singer manages to keep things coherent (even when there's some weirdness involving mind-tricks/illusions), Hugh Jackman's Logan/Wolverine continues to steal every scene he's in, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen command the screen whenever they appear, Romijn's Mystique is fascinating to watch (look out for her amusingly rude gesture she gives the bad guys at one point) and, as mentioned, Nightcrawler makes one hell of a debut (such a shame the extensive/time-consuming makeup process put Cumming off returning).
These movies have always excelled at is being about something *deeper* than just seeing 'cool powers' onscreen. The way the subject of those who are 'different' is tackled gives these films much more 'weight' than other previous superhero movies had (Iceman/Bobby 'coming out' to his parents as a mutant is one such example). The action, whilst impressive and expertly staged/shot, isn't the main focus of the movie which delivers its 'message' *without* being as ham-fisted/obvious as other more modern superhero movies. Although these films mightn't be the most accurate at translating the comic-books they're adapted from to screen, the 'differences' don't make them *bad* (though you have to wonder what they would've been like if they *had* stuck to the comics more closely). The movie's climax packs an emotional punch, whilst the ending shot promises more interesting/exciting things to come.