Bored silly the other night, hubby and I decided to order a film from ntl`s front row movies. After spending ten minutes watching the trailers we both decided x-men looked pretty cool. So out came the sofa bed and the surround sound and the popcorn and we were off.
Well, what can I say but wow, this film is absolutely excellent.
The story is mainly based around 6 main characters. They are wolverine, rogue, cyclops, storm, magneto and the professor, although there are many more superb characters.
The government know that there are mutant humans living amongst the normal human population and want it brought in to law that they must all register, so they can keep an eye on them.
The mutants all have very different surprising powers which are portrayed excellently through the amazing special effects. The government are frightened by what the mutants can do with these powers that`s why they want them all to be registered.
The main part of the story starts with wolverine who has the power to heal himself and sprout razor sharp knives from his hands. To earn a living he has been wrestling in a back street dive but his powers display themselves unexpectedly and he is thrown out. A young girl who is hitching rides witnesses this and manages to cadge a ride with him in his motorhome.
That girl is rogue, another mutant. She cannot allow anyone to touch her as when they do she drains all their life source from them, and she doesn`t know how to control this so she keeps on running.
As they are driving a trap is laid in the road and they crash. This is one of my favourite parts, because rogue says to wolverine that he should wear his seatbelt in case of an accident, it is because he turns to reply to her that he doesn`t see the tree in the road, so when they crash he goes straight through the window. Maybe I`ve got a warped sense of humour but I thought that was really funny. Anyway, the motor home goes up in flames and wolverine is attacked by magneto`s gang.
They are both saved by two other mutants, cyclops and storm. Cyclops has to keep his eyes covered as they send out powerful rays, and storm has the ability to cause lightnening to strike where she wants it. Wolverine and rogue are taken back to the school for gifted children, this is just a cover as the school is for teaching mutants to control their powers, and is run by the professor, the leader of the mutants.
The professor is up against magneto who wants to turn the whole population into mutants. To be able to do this he needs rogue so that he can transfer his powers to her so that he doesn`t have to sacrifice his own life. The problem is that when normal humans are turned into mutants their bodies can`t take it and so they die. Magneto doesn`t realise this so the professor sets out to stop him.
The big fight occurs in the Statue of Liberty and this is where it really gets going. Special poweres are then thrown about all over the place as cyclops, storm and wolverine set out to save rogue from death.
There only real soundtrack in the film is orchestral which changes in pitch to suit each scene. As I said earlier, it`s the special effects that make this film so good as they really are amazing. One of the best ones is the way the mutant mystique continually changes to suit her surroundings, she is continually changing into other people to confuse everyone. These changes are so smooth which makes them all the more magnificent.
This film had me spellbound from beginning to end and I will definately be watching it again. If you haven`t seen it already then put it on your list because it is not to be missed. An absolutely stunning piece of sci-fi work.
![X-Men [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78537118.jpg)
![X-Men [DVD] [2000]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78514605.jpg)
24.09.2001 19:58
Still haven't gotten round to seeing this film yet... it's out on video now isn't it? (Not that I have a video :) I assume John isn't writing here?
12.09.2001 17:39
Great review, I was thinking of watching this and I think you've convinced me..cheers!
27.08.2001 20:32
not bad film this, watched it once - but your op was better! ciao! paul