| Written by Drew Morton,
on 29-10-2003 09:23
|
Published in : Reviews, Movies |
Every May, Hollywood begins their presentation of a series of massively over budget movies that seem, for the most part, to lack the overall quality of the films presented in preparation for the Oscars. Moreover, it has been increasingly common for these movies to take the shape of comic book adaptations, giving their grossly over budget special effects sequences a proper venue. Case in point: last year’s Spider-Man. This year, like last, Hollywood has decided to begin the blockbuster season with the release of not only another comic book adaptation but a sequel, X2: X-Men United. Thankfully, X2 is not only an improvement over last year’s equivalent but also an improvement upon its predecessor.
The film begins not only where the first film left off but with one of the most stunning special effects sequences seen in both the film and in motion picture history. During a tour of the White House, a teleporting mutant, Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), literally blindsides the President’s secret service and makes an attempt upon his life. This attack not only adds to the public’s resentment towards mutants but gives General William Stryker (Brian Cox) the opportunity to execute a state of military command, which he uses raid Professor Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) school for the gifted. A number of children are detained while Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Rogue (Anna Paquin), Iceman, and Pyro escape to find Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and Storm (Halle Berry) who are searching for Nightcrawler.
While this is occurring, Professor X and Cyclops (James Marsden) are questioning the captured Magneto (Ian McKellen) about the assassination attempt on the President. Stryker, who plans to brainwash the Professor into using his powers to destroy all of the world’s mutants, captures both the Professor and Cyclops. Magneto is sprung from prison, in another one of the film’s spectacular effect sequences, by Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) and they form an unlikely alliance with the remaining X-Men to save the world’s mutants.
X2, like all films, is not without its share of problems. The main problem is not only the same one that plagued the original film but is foreshadowed in the film’s marketing. Every advertisement, video game, and toy seems to feature Wolverine. Wolverine, quite possibly the favorite character of the ensemble, is given vastly more screen time than his remaining colleagues are. Cyclops has about the same amount of screen time as he did in the first film, which is nearly forty minutes shorter. Storm also suffers from a lack of character because of lingering presence.
Many critics have argued that the vast amount of characters keeps an audience member from relating and clinging on to a character the way they do Clark Kent or Peter Parker. This, however, is not the case. Director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) gives the Wolverine character not only screen time but development to remedy this problem. Moreover, Singer improves upon having one main protagonist by providing multiple, adequately developed characters for the audience to relate to regardless of their familiarity with the comics.
Overall, compared to its predecessor, X2 is a great improvement. Like The Empire Strikes Back, X2 is one of the few sequels that has been able to rise above its original. It does so by providing nearly forty minutes more of extraordinary special effects sequences, interesting characters and development, a compelling plot and combining them all together at the appropriate pace to create not only one of the best summer blockbusters to come along in awhile, but one of the best comic book adaptations as well.
- Drew Morton
What do you think? Talk about it on the Forums
Related Items:
|
