Let me start out by saying that I am not and have never been an X-Men fan. I have seen a few episodes of the animated series and am familiar with the comic books, but I’ve never been that impressed with either one. I understood that they were considered far more intelligent and character-oriented than most comic book/cartoon series, but I never found that much appeal in them. When I heard that the series was making the leap to the big screen, I wasn’t looking forward to seeing it. If you’ve read some of my other reviews of comic book movies, like Spawn, Batman, and Blade, you know that I’m always ready for a good, solid translation of a comic series to the big screen and am disappointed when I don’t get it. X-Men just sounded like a disappointment waiting to happen. I was wrong for the most part.
X-Men begins by introducing the concept of the Mutants, humans who have evolved special powers through natural genetic mutations. The first mutant to appear on-screen is Erik Lehnsherr, who discovers his power to move metal and create magnetic fields as a boy in a German concentration camp. Fast forward to present day, when a Senator Robert Jefferson Kelly (Bruce Davison) introduces legislation that will force Mutants to identify themselves and be registered so that the U.S. government can keep tabs on them. Erik, now known as Magneto (Ian McKellen) finds the parallels of this legislation and the Germans’ treatment of the Jews during World War II very disturbing. He vows to fight a war with the humans rather than submit to their persecution. Diametrically opposed to Magneto is Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), a Mutant with telepathic powers. Professor X hopes that the human race has evolved since the 1940s and would no longer persecute a race for simply being different. He has created the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning that claims to be a school for gifted children but, in actuality, is a safe-haven for Mutants, giving them the opportunity to help them understand themselves.
We then meet the individual X-Men, who are assembled by Professor X to help him protect the humans from Magneto’s aims. Rogue (Anna Paquin) has the power to temporarily absorb the life-force of others, taking on their essence for a short time. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) has the power to heal himself and has been modified with internal adamantium armor and blades that can extend from his knuckles. Cyclops (James Marsden) can emit strong laser beams from his eyes. Storm (Halle Berry) can control the weather. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), a doctor at Professor X’s school, has telepathic powers. Magneto’s group of Mutants includes Sabretooth (Tyler Mane), who is a less-smart version of Wolverine (minus the adamantium); Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), a blue-skinned woman who can morph into other people’s appearance; and Toad (Ray Park), a half-human/half amphibian with a long, dangerous tongue.
The plot concerns the admission of Rogue and Wolverine into the X-Men and their uncovering of Magneto’s attempts to disrupt a summit of the world’s leaders that may determine the fate of the Mutants. It’s a typical, simplistic comic book style plot that serves at once to introduce the audience to the X-Men and their foes as well as to give the bad guys something to do. It’s not terribly imaginative, but it works.
The cast, which I had initially thought ill-chosen, is remarkably good. Patrick Stewart makes a believable Professor X and Hugh Jackman is absolutely perfect at Wolverine. The biggest trip-up? Halle Berry as Storm. She simply lacks the charisma of the character and delivers her lines with no wit or wisdom. Her singular attempt at a one-liner flops miserably, which is in stark contrast to the rest of the cast, who fit into their roles quite nicely. Ian McKellen, who I had feared was above this type of material, makes a great Magneto although he doesn’t look very good in the get-up he’s required to wear.
The action, which is the heart of any solid comic book film, is excellent if not quite spectacular. A fight between Wolverine and Mystique recalls the fight scenes of The Matrix while not quite matching them in terms of style points. Another battle, between Toad and Storm, is also quite good. The only thing that feels odd is the whole point of Jean Grey’s character. She doesn’t seem to have much to do, aside from examine Wolverine on a table several times and use her telekinetic powers once or twice. Fans of the comic book may scoff at the omission of notable characters, such as Beast, Gambit and Jubilee. Other comic fans may argue that the characters are too far removed from their comic representations in terms of how powerful they are or how they behave. Frankly, none of this mattered to me as I enjoyed all of the characters, aside from the lackluster Storm.
In the end, this is not the perfect comic book movie. X-Men does take itself seriously, which is what I think is proper for a movie that deals with issues such as prejudice and persecution for “being different.” The movie doesn’t hit on all cylinders at all times, faltering with a somewhat anti-climactic ending and an inability to remain at a steady pace throughout the film. However, the story gets top billing over the special effects and the characters are strong enough to carry the movie from beginning to end. If the inevitable sequel does a bit of fine-tuning, the ultimate comic book movie may become reality.
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Buy on Amazon!
