Merry Christmas one and all. Many thanks for all the reads, rates and comments - all are appreciated...
Merry Christmas one and all. Many thanks for all the reads, rates and comments - all are appreciated. An accountant by day and a random reviewer by night I am not a professional writer, nor do I have any ambitions to be I guess I am just opinionated.
Member since:07.03.2007
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Written by Zak Penn, David Hayter, Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris and Bryan Singer, and directed by Bryan Singer X-Men 2 is the follow up to the hugely successful X-men, released back in May 2003.
Plot
Just as the dust had settled and things were getting back to normal, Whitehouse security is breached and there is an unsuccessful assassination attempt on the President of the USA (Cotter Smith) by a mutant that goes by the name of “Nightcrawler” (Alan Cumming). The failed attempt naturally makes the headlines resulting in a public out-cry and the tension between humans and mutants is ignited as there is renewed support for the Mutant Registration Act.
Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is keen to find out about his history and ventures north of the border in his quest. Mean while, William Stryker (Brian Cox), a military leader, makes it his sole aim to rid the world of mutants and begins by interrogating Magneto (Ian McKellen) and starting with Professor Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) school for “gifted” children.
The mutant onslaught carries on and Professor Xavier’s X-men, Cyclops (James Marsden), Jean (Famke Janssen), Storm (Halle Berry), Rogue (Anna Paquin) come together once more, however this time they are joined by new recruits in the form of Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) and Pyro (Aaron Stanford).
Do the mutants of the world unite to fight for their common course of survival? What happens to Magneto? Does Wolverine ever find out about his past? What becomes fo the school for gifted children?
Opinion
Whilst the story line is a bit unrealistic, even when you consider it is a comic book adaptation (after all the “goodies” and “baddies” should never fight side by side), it is entertaining nonetheless. This film rattles along at a good pace, but not so fast you have to concentrate on everything that is going on to ensure you can follow it (I hate movies like that), it ensures the audience remains captivated. Not once did I wish it would end, nor did I start clock watching at any point as I was hooked throughout. Not an easy task, with a short attention span like mine.
The producers have done a great job casting for the roles and all actors and actresses do the hero they are representing justice. The acting is spot on, and I actually thought it was quite believable. Once again Hugh Jackman steals the show in the acting stakes. He is simply brilliant and it is so good how he shows the human side most of the time but the ‘animal’ during the aggressive and fighting scenes, just like in the comic. Wolverine is also a lot more violent in X-Men 2 than X-men 1, which is a good thing. It seems that Jackman can do no wrong in his role but then Wolverine is a crowd favourite and it is always difficult to criticise your favourites. That said, Alan Cumming is also particularly good as Nightcrawler.
There is also plenty of eye candy, which also helps to keep the audience interested. Once again Famke Janssen looks absolutely stunning, Halle Berry looks great (but in a weird sort of way) and Rebecca Romijn has a fantastic figure. The song “nice legs, shame about the face” springs to mind in her blue spray-on costume, but good on her for having the confidence to do it.
The special effects are adequate, although they are not mind blowing, and I think the producers could have done a bit more with them especially given the technology around, which was even very good back in 2003.
A great film needs a great soundtrack, and unfortunately X-Men 2 had no soundtrack whatsoever. I think good audio compliments the visuals and adds that little bit extra to a film. Audio doesn’t have to consist of just soundtracks and “songs” as sound effects can also enhance the mood just as well, if not better in some circumstances. In my opinion the sound effects are lacking in this film, which is a shame.
Overall the producers have done a fantastic job with this sequel. Keeping the die-hard comic fans happy and producing a movie that your average cinema goer is going to enjoy can’t be an easy task, but I think it has been cracked with X-Men 2. Films are meant to be entertaining and X-Men 2 definitely is that. It is not the best comic book adaptation out there but it is very good nonetheless and will have you starring at the screen for an hour and a half.
Other
Run time – 133 minutes Certificate – 12A 4 awards and 32 other nominations
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
I keep meaning to watch this (well it would make sense to watch the first one first) as I enjoy this type of sci-fi movie, although this does sound rather mediocre. x
X-Men 2picks up almost directly whereX-Menleft off: misguided super-villain Magneto (Ian ... more
McKellen) is still a prisoner of the US government, heroic bad-boy Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is up in Canada investigating his mysterious origin, and the events at ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
X-Men 2picks up almost directly whereX-Menleft off: misguided super-villain Magneto (Ian ... more
McKellen) is still a prisoner of the US government, heroic bad-boy Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is up in Canada investigating his mysterious origin, and the events at ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
The time has come for those who are different to stand united... The X-Men have to band ... more
together to find a mutant assassin who has made an attempt on the President's life while the Mutant Academy at Westchester is attacked by military forces promptin...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Hatred and distrust brew between human and mutantkind. An unprovoked mutant attack on the ... more
President gives General William Stryker (Brian Cox) his long awaited opportunity to wage all-out war against the mutants. A war that would leave only one race vic...
Advantages: Great Cast, wicked Speacile Effects, Deeper than Original Disadvantages: Halle Berry Criminally Underused, Maybe To Long, and Script Flounders At End
JayHall1991 06.10.2004 (06.10.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of X-Men 2 (DVD)
![X-Men 2 Special Edition DVD (Two Disc Set) [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78518491.jpg "X-Men 2 Special Edition DVD (Two Disc Set) [2003]")
Oct 20th, 2009
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![X-Men 2 [Special Edition]-DVD](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/99007250.jpg)
