X-Men
X-Men
(Film Review)
(Film Review)
By the time the new millenium rolled around, the once promising superhero film industry had been murdered. The industry had been dying a slow death for a while now - beaten mercilessly by poorly handled adaptations such as Superman III & IV, The Toxic Avenger, Captain America, Nick Fury, The Punisher, The Phantom, to name a few. Then, the latter two Batman films by Joel Schumacher, Batman Forever as well as Batman & Robin, decided to kill the industry for good. I would suggest that Batman & Robin didn't just kill it - they set it on fire, beat it with a sledgehammer, boiled it in acid, ran it over with a semi truck and the for good measure, set it on fire again. Then, shot it in the head - just to make sure it wouldn't get up again. (We can discuss the autopsy later).
However, like the fabled Phoenix, superhero films would rise again, thanks in no small part to the X-Men. In 2000, the excellent adaptation and success of the first X-Men films would lead to a resurgence of the genre which has certainly had its share of hits and misses. Even today though, X-Men is still a great representative of the best the superhero genre has to offer.
X-Men
Released: July 14, 2000.
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Hugh Jackman, James Marsen, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romjin-Stamos, Ray Park, Tyler Mane and Shawn Ashmore.
Running Time: 120 Minutes (2 Hours).
Rating: PG-13.
Director: Bryan Singer.
When the X-Men first burst onto the comic book scene in the 1960's, the civil rights movement was in full swing as the country dealt with issues such as prejudice and intolerance. In the world of the X-Men, as the opening narration explains, mutants are people who are alienated and set apart simply because they find themselves receiving powers as a result of mutation. People always fear what is different and this is no exception. When it comes to fear, there are certainly different reactions to it and different ways of handling it. X-Men sets up the dynamic extremely well as it shows a number of competing idealogies. For the sake of this review, I'll focus on the main three which are espoused by Senator Kelly, Magneto and Professor Xavier.
Senator Kelly: "We must know who they are, and above all, what they can do. "
In Washington, Senator Kelly (played ably by Bruce Davison), who is whipping up fear and mistrust towards mutants as he attempts to get passage for the Mutant Registration Act. This act would attempt to require mutants to reveal both their identities and abilities to the public, something that many feel would make those who comply targets. Senator Kelly genuinely feels mutants are a threat - one that needs to be dealt with as swiftly as possible. Exploiting the fear, he is using a largely anti-mutant platform to try to remove or at the very least control what he feels is a mutant menace.
Magneto: "We are the Future, Charles, not them. They no longer matter."
Magneto (Ian McKellen) is the villain of the film, who believes the only way to avoid cruelty at the hands of humankind is by force. Magneto, whose real name is Eric Lensherr, has a unique perspective as we see from the start of the film as he is a survivor of the Holocaust. Here, he seems humanity repeating their mistakes from the past and is determined not to let this occur again. To assist his cause, Magneto has assembled the Brotherhood of Mutants, who is composed of Mystique (Rebecca Romjin-Stamos; ability to shapeshift or assume the likeness of others), Sabretooth (Tyler Mane; an individual with superhuman strength and animal appearance) and Toad (Ray "Darth Maul" Parks; as his namesake implies, can jump real high and has a sticky tongue). Magneto, whose ability is to exert control over anything metal, feels that a war is brewing between mutants and the rest of humanity. Rather than wait, Magneto wants to fight back now and has devised a plan to level the playing field.
Charles Xavier: "Humans aren't evil, just....misinformed"
On the opposing side is Professor Charles Xavier (dream casting of Patrick Stewart), who believes that harmony between mutants and humans is possible. Due to the anti-mutant fervor sweeping through the nation, he has set up a haven for mutants in the form of a school for the gifted, where mutants can learn to develop and use their powers safely. This is also the home base for the X-Men, the heroes of the film, an assembled team of heroes whose roster includes Cyclops (James Marsden; who can shoot laser beams out of his eyes), Jean Grey (Famke Janssen; who is telepathic), and Storm (Halle Berry; whose abilities are controlling the weather). Together, the X-Men fight to defend a world which largely fears and hates them.
These three opposing viewpoints are the conflict for the film as the viewer is allowed to explore each of them, taking time to understand each of them as they apply to relevant issues that are faced in the real world. To help the audience pick a side, there is a suplot that eventually ties into the main plot involving Rogue (Anna Paquin), a mutant whose ability is to suck the life force or powers out of anybody she touches. Rogue's ability really reinforces the theme of isolation that all individuals experience as she fears getting close to anybody and is unable to physically touch them in any way. Forming a unique bond with her is Wolverine, who is perfectly cast as Hugh Jackman. Hugh Jackman was a virtual unknown at the time and his role as Wolverine allowed him to shoot to superstardom, which was a blessing for X-Men fans. (Before Jackman, the role was supposed to go to Dougray Scott, who in my opinion, is one of the most boring actors in the world and would've killed the film.) Wolverine's powers include regenerative powers and can make sharp claws emerge from his knuckles. Together, they have yet to choose one way or the other, functioning as a kind of outsider's view into the conflict and making it accessible to the audience.
The premise may, of course, sound a little far-fetched but it doesn't keep it from being fantastic or fun. Underneath all of the action, drama and banter are some serious allegorical undertones which discuss the larger issue of intolerance that we've faced in this country repeatedly. The messages proposed in this film are clear, obviously promoting against prejudice, letting us know that if anybody is going to solve the issue, it won't be through violent means. However, the message is never hammered in, but done in pretty subtle fashion, a testament to Bryan Singer.
This was Bryan Singer's first foray into the comic book world and it's a fantastic entry into the genre. Bryan Singer had already proved himself a talented filmmaker with earlier films like the Usual Suspects and Apt Pupil, but here he shows a real gift for action scenes and with his pacing, as the film moves pretty smoothly throughout. It's actually one of those rare films I think could've been longer and I wouldn't have minded a bit.
Casting as I've already mentioned is really very impressive, as it assembles a great roster of actors and actresses. When the idea of an X-Men movie was first introduced, my friends and I would discuss casting ideas and of course, Patrick Stewart was the first and often only choice for Professor Xavier. Ian McKellen is an great decision for Magneto and I've already mentioned Hugh Jackman, who even though his character would end up monopolozing the later films to an extent, was a great addition. Every other character was cast as well as I could've hoped for, although I do have a minor complaint with Anna Paquin. Although I am a big Anna Paquin fan, she doesn't represent the Rogue from the comic books at all and I feel was slightly miscast. For this film, it worked, since it was meant to represent early Rogue and I hoped she would eventually change into the Rogue we all love and know from the comic books, but that never came to be. However, I digress, as this is one of the best cast comic book movies ever.
One aspect I always look forward to with each comic book movie and movies in general is the music and this one doesn't disappoint, with great scoring by John Ottman. John Ottman has worked with Bryan Singer for most of his film career, although he has branched out in the comic book industry by also scoring for the Fantastic Four films. Ottman's work here is consistently good, creating identifiable themes which I really enjoyed listening to both separately and in the context of the film. John Ottman creates a score that compliments what is already a great film.
Excelling in virtually every category, X-Men is certainly a classic film, setting up a highly plausible world in which the characters are fairly realistic and believable. X-Men uses the characters and the plot to reinforce the themes, tell a serious message and still make an entertaining movie. X-Men created a real blueprint for future comic book adaptations and one that still sets a standard even today. The opening narration discusses how every once in a while, evolution takes a leap and for superhero films, this was a huge leap forward.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
(In discussing with a few friends about reviewing this film, I was still surprised by how many people had yet to see this film. Some of them had not seen any comic book films because they are simply opposed to superhero films on general principle, but this would be a fantastic entry into the world of comic book movies and so, if you're one of those people who haven't seen it, I'm very sad for you. If my review didn't convince you, then here is a trailer for the first film which is excellent: X-Men Trailer. Don't fear what's different - embrace it and enjoy this movie!)
However, like the fabled Phoenix, superhero films would rise again, thanks in no small part to the X-Men. In 2000, the excellent adaptation and success of the first X-Men films would lead to a resurgence of the genre which has certainly had its share of hits and misses. Even today though, X-Men is still a great representative of the best the superhero genre has to offer.
X-Men
Released: July 14, 2000.Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Hugh Jackman, James Marsen, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romjin-Stamos, Ray Park, Tyler Mane and Shawn Ashmore.
Running Time: 120 Minutes (2 Hours).
Rating: PG-13.
Director: Bryan Singer.
When the X-Men first burst onto the comic book scene in the 1960's, the civil rights movement was in full swing as the country dealt with issues such as prejudice and intolerance. In the world of the X-Men, as the opening narration explains, mutants are people who are alienated and set apart simply because they find themselves receiving powers as a result of mutation. People always fear what is different and this is no exception. When it comes to fear, there are certainly different reactions to it and different ways of handling it. X-Men sets up the dynamic extremely well as it shows a number of competing idealogies. For the sake of this review, I'll focus on the main three which are espoused by Senator Kelly, Magneto and Professor Xavier.
Senator Kelly: "We must know who they are, and above all, what they can do. "
In Washington, Senator Kelly (played ably by Bruce Davison), who is whipping up fear and mistrust towards mutants as he attempts to get passage for the Mutant Registration Act. This act would attempt to require mutants to reveal both their identities and abilities to the public, something that many feel would make those who comply targets. Senator Kelly genuinely feels mutants are a threat - one that needs to be dealt with as swiftly as possible. Exploiting the fear, he is using a largely anti-mutant platform to try to remove or at the very least control what he feels is a mutant menace.
Magneto: "We are the Future, Charles, not them. They no longer matter."
Magneto (Ian McKellen) is the villain of the film, who believes the only way to avoid cruelty at the hands of humankind is by force. Magneto, whose real name is Eric Lensherr, has a unique perspective as we see from the start of the film as he is a survivor of the Holocaust. Here, he seems humanity repeating their mistakes from the past and is determined not to let this occur again. To assist his cause, Magneto has assembled the Brotherhood of Mutants, who is composed of Mystique (Rebecca Romjin-Stamos; ability to shapeshift or assume the likeness of others), Sabretooth (Tyler Mane; an individual with superhuman strength and animal appearance) and Toad (Ray "Darth Maul" Parks; as his namesake implies, can jump real high and has a sticky tongue). Magneto, whose ability is to exert control over anything metal, feels that a war is brewing between mutants and the rest of humanity. Rather than wait, Magneto wants to fight back now and has devised a plan to level the playing field.
Charles Xavier: "Humans aren't evil, just....misinformed"
On the opposing side is Professor Charles Xavier (dream casting of Patrick Stewart), who believes that harmony between mutants and humans is possible. Due to the anti-mutant fervor sweeping through the nation, he has set up a haven for mutants in the form of a school for the gifted, where mutants can learn to develop and use their powers safely. This is also the home base for the X-Men, the heroes of the film, an assembled team of heroes whose roster includes Cyclops (James Marsden; who can shoot laser beams out of his eyes), Jean Grey (Famke Janssen; who is telepathic), and Storm (Halle Berry; whose abilities are controlling the weather). Together, the X-Men fight to defend a world which largely fears and hates them.
These three opposing viewpoints are the conflict for the film as the viewer is allowed to explore each of them, taking time to understand each of them as they apply to relevant issues that are faced in the real world. To help the audience pick a side, there is a suplot that eventually ties into the main plot involving Rogue (Anna Paquin), a mutant whose ability is to suck the life force or powers out of anybody she touches. Rogue's ability really reinforces the theme of isolation that all individuals experience as she fears getting close to anybody and is unable to physically touch them in any way. Forming a unique bond with her is Wolverine, who is perfectly cast as Hugh Jackman. Hugh Jackman was a virtual unknown at the time and his role as Wolverine allowed him to shoot to superstardom, which was a blessing for X-Men fans. (Before Jackman, the role was supposed to go to Dougray Scott, who in my opinion, is one of the most boring actors in the world and would've killed the film.) Wolverine's powers include regenerative powers and can make sharp claws emerge from his knuckles. Together, they have yet to choose one way or the other, functioning as a kind of outsider's view into the conflict and making it accessible to the audience.
The premise may, of course, sound a little far-fetched but it doesn't keep it from being fantastic or fun. Underneath all of the action, drama and banter are some serious allegorical undertones which discuss the larger issue of intolerance that we've faced in this country repeatedly. The messages proposed in this film are clear, obviously promoting against prejudice, letting us know that if anybody is going to solve the issue, it won't be through violent means. However, the message is never hammered in, but done in pretty subtle fashion, a testament to Bryan Singer.
This was Bryan Singer's first foray into the comic book world and it's a fantastic entry into the genre. Bryan Singer had already proved himself a talented filmmaker with earlier films like the Usual Suspects and Apt Pupil, but here he shows a real gift for action scenes and with his pacing, as the film moves pretty smoothly throughout. It's actually one of those rare films I think could've been longer and I wouldn't have minded a bit.
Casting as I've already mentioned is really very impressive, as it assembles a great roster of actors and actresses. When the idea of an X-Men movie was first introduced, my friends and I would discuss casting ideas and of course, Patrick Stewart was the first and often only choice for Professor Xavier. Ian McKellen is an great decision for Magneto and I've already mentioned Hugh Jackman, who even though his character would end up monopolozing the later films to an extent, was a great addition. Every other character was cast as well as I could've hoped for, although I do have a minor complaint with Anna Paquin. Although I am a big Anna Paquin fan, she doesn't represent the Rogue from the comic books at all and I feel was slightly miscast. For this film, it worked, since it was meant to represent early Rogue and I hoped she would eventually change into the Rogue we all love and know from the comic books, but that never came to be. However, I digress, as this is one of the best cast comic book movies ever.
One aspect I always look forward to with each comic book movie and movies in general is the music and this one doesn't disappoint, with great scoring by John Ottman. John Ottman has worked with Bryan Singer for most of his film career, although he has branched out in the comic book industry by also scoring for the Fantastic Four films. Ottman's work here is consistently good, creating identifiable themes which I really enjoyed listening to both separately and in the context of the film. John Ottman creates a score that compliments what is already a great film.
Excelling in virtually every category, X-Men is certainly a classic film, setting up a highly plausible world in which the characters are fairly realistic and believable. X-Men uses the characters and the plot to reinforce the themes, tell a serious message and still make an entertaining movie. X-Men created a real blueprint for future comic book adaptations and one that still sets a standard even today. The opening narration discusses how every once in a while, evolution takes a leap and for superhero films, this was a huge leap forward.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
(In discussing with a few friends about reviewing this film, I was still surprised by how many people had yet to see this film. Some of them had not seen any comic book films because they are simply opposed to superhero films on general principle, but this would be a fantastic entry into the world of comic book movies and so, if you're one of those people who haven't seen it, I'm very sad for you. If my review didn't convince you, then here is a trailer for the first film which is excellent: X-Men Trailer. Don't fear what's different - embrace it and enjoy this movie!)
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