Outcasts from society, the X-Men are a small band of mutants, so called because each was born with a unique genetic mutation that gives them superhuman powers. As the X-Men have learned to harness their special abilities for the greater good, they have also realised that the human race they fight to protect both rejects and fears their presence. Battling against prejudice and agents of intolerance, the X-Men will either establish a peaceful co-existence between mutants and mankind, or perish.
Now, the team come across a dangerously wild mutant named Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) - a creature whose bones have been fused with the world's hardest substance - admantium, making him almost invulnerable. Together they must train the new recruit and assimilate him into their ranks. But is it possible? No-one knows of his origins, and most of his memories are found to be implanted by someone. Will he bring about their downfall?
Worse still, a new mutant appears - Magneto (Ian McKellan), a powerful being who can control the magnetic and gravitational forces of the earth and plans to kill of the normal humans for the contempt they have shown his kind. Can he be stopped in time?
Based on the comic book series.
Special Agent Matti
Coolness.
When you have a comic and you want to make it into a movie, this is the way you do it. Get a talented actor who's also a babe like Hugh for instant chick appeal (and he looks just like Wolverine in the comic), give him a talented actor who's also a legend for a mentor like Patrick, throw in various babes of all sexes with various superpowers of all types, throw out the Lycra and party!
X-Men is a fun, funny, exciting ride with real danger and real heroes. Unlike, say, Daylight, with its ordinary guy who just happens to be unkillable and has all the answers to all the questions, these characters are flawed with kindness, bad tempers, impatience. If you prick them, do they not bleed? I think so.
The effects are seamless, not a big thing in these days of CGI, but still a difficult thing when dealing with human beings who keep moving around and talking. It's good to watch a film where it isn't always possible to tell which are the fake shots and which ones really happened.
Hugh has always been pretty legendary but this is the first time he actually gets to play that out on the big screen. No more the musical theatre pretty boy, he devours this role with an appetite bordering on gluttony. Even when up against actors of the calibre of Patrick and Ian there's no diminishing of quality. He's slick, he's cool, he's hot. He's got it. And so does the film.
And guess what? X-Men 2 is already in pre-production.
M (Low level violence, supernatural themes)
100 minutes (1:40 hours)
DVD rental: 4 July 2001
VHS rental: 4 July 2001
DVD retail: 15 May 2002
VHS retail: 15 May 2002
DVD retail: 27 November 2002
