X2: X-Men United(2003)
[ARCHIVE: I think this one turned out pretty well, actually. In retrospect, the complaint about not enough characterization seems trivial when compared to X-Men: The Last Stand]
On the eve of Free Comic Book Day, X2 debuted in theaters nationwide. The sequel to 2001's successful movie property, X-Men, X2 returns us to a world filled with a people genetically gifted with super-powers. Fearful for their own safety, the regular humans launch an offensive to curb the "mutant problem." Now on the run, the X-Men must not only rescue their mentor, but also halt the escalating hostilities between man and mutant.
When viewing X2, you get the feeling that this was the movie that returning director Bryan Singer really wanted to make. Now that the first movie has introduced the characters and the world in which the X-Men, live in, Singer drops in a single catalyst and lets the story take off. Never lingering too long in one place, X2 keeps the story moving at a nice pace, alternating between different plot threads before you think "Hey, what's going on with what's-their-buckets..." If any complaint can be levied against the movie is that there isn't enough down-time. With such a large cast of characters, Singer has no choice but to keep dialogue to the minimum level of explanation. An exchange between Storm and Nightcrawler, meant to create a relationship between them, is reduced to five minutes so that we can hurry up and get to Pyro blowing up the police. The conversations thus feel somewhat perfunctory. Get point one across, then point two, then point three, done. Next scene, go. If a little more time were given to character-development, we would closer to the characters, instead of just receiving the highlights of their life.
What development is present is of high quality. You can feel Pyro's philosophy become more and more extreme as he listens to Magneto. The flirtation between Iceman and Rogue is believable and frustrating when they have to stop because of her condition. Human antagonist William Stryker (Brian Cox) delivers his lines masterfully, his voice laced with both malicious arrogance and intelligence. Unfortunately, Deathstrike (Kelly Hu) gets the "Sabretooth shaft," getting virtually no lines of dialogue. But what she lacks in lines she more than makes up for with her emotive expressions, particularly that one scene near the end of the movie.
In addition, the special effects have been amped up. The Cerebro sequences are particularly improved, no longer a cheap-looking shot-montage. Instead, we're treated to a dynamic three-dimensional light-point collage. Storm finally gets to cut loose, ditching the localized thunderbolts for truly severe weather conditions (haw, I crack myself up). With the exception of one scene in the beginning, involving the entrance to a military facility, the sets all look authentic, or consistent with the first movie at the very least.
I almost forgot the action sequences. Once again, Wolverine leads the pack as far as sheer awe factor. Limited to grappling with Sabretooth in the first movie, Logan truly cuts loose here, downing dozens of opponents. Even the one-on-one battle with a fellow mutant is superior, having replaced a brutish opponent for a nimble and graceful one.
No comic book movie is complete without fanboy shout-outs, and X2 delivers, even more so than its predecessor. The scenes within the mansion are filled with familiar faces, including Syren, Shadowcat, and Colossus. Hugh Jackman once again sneaks in a "Bub" onto the end of one of his lines. And the last shot... well, let's just say if you know anything about the X-Men, you'll be thoroughly satisfied.
All in all, X2 was a very entertaining movie. While nothing to write to the Motion Picture Academy about, I felt that five out of my six dollars were well spent. I recommend that you go out and see this one in the theaters.
