X-Men DVD > Reviews > What do they call you, "Wheels"?

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Satisfactory
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	good effects, good performances
Disadvantages:	not entirely true to the comics/cartoons

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Mutation: it is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This process is slow, and normally taking thousands and thousands of years. But every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward…

Although “Blade” was made two years before, “X Men” is widely considered to be the first Marvel Movie Adaptation. This is probably because “X Men’s” box office friendly 12 Certificate (before 12A came about: thank you “Spider Man”) made the film financially more successful than its “Blade” comrade. With a budget of $75 million, “X-Men” became one of the largest grossing films of 2000, and is currently the 133rd most successful film ever, world-wide (source: imdb.com). Arguably, although “Blade” was a more mainstream unfriendly film with its violence and 18 certificate here in the United Kingdom, it was the better film. But even if this is true, “X-Men” remains top in the ever-growing list of Marvel Comic Book film adaptations. Ever since “X Men’s” box office success, studios left, right and centre having been buying up comic book rights in order to adapt them into films. With comic book heroes now saturating the Hollywood film catalogue for the last few years, there has been no real quality control over the newly evolved genre. There have been some good and some bad attempts at adapting comic superheroes in order for producers to pay the mortgages for their third homes. Such disasters may include “Daredevil”, Ben Affleck donning red leather and an awkward performance as blind lawyer Matt Murdock. Although director Mark Steven Johnson tries to create a gothic tone not seen since “Batman” and in some cases he succeeds, he has the habit of not using the camera to the full and either using ideas too much so that they become excessive and saturated or not using other, more better ideas enough creating a confusing, incoherent picture. Another is “Hulk” directed by legend Ang Lee, although it is visually incredible to watch in places, it fails in its pace and its power of the script. Ang wanted to blend tense drama with spectacular action but with the script as weak as it was, neither was really carried off with great success. I’m sorry, I’m rambling… blah blah blah blah blah…

For those unaware of the general premise of “X Men”, i.e. you haven’t read the comics, nor watched the animated TV series: the X Men are a group of mutants led by a disabled man named Charles Xavier. Charles is also a mutant. A mutant is an individual who is genetically superior to that of a normal human being hence you and me due to natural evolution. Mutants each are possessed with a certain skill that can work in their favour: examples include, rapid healing abilities, igniting objects when touch by your flesh, telekinesis etc. As expected, humans fear what they don’t understand and therefore see them as an enemy to mankind. Of course there are evil mutants, using their powers to aid in mutant domination. The X Men however are the good guys. Led by Xavier (who has psychic abilities by the way) he runs a school for ‘gifted’ people: mutants in other words. This is the headquarters of the X Men who have leant to harness their powers and use them to protect people, ironically those who fear them.

Now that I’ve shed some light on the subject, it may make the story more understandable. The story begins in Poland in the 40’s: The Holocaust; where we see a young boy being separated from his parents by German soldiers. The boy reaches out to his parents as they are aggressively escorted down a pathway sectioned off with giant metal gate; it is recognised that the path they are forced on will lead to death, as they are too old for slave labour. The boy reaches out as his parents disappear within a sea of other Jewish captors and all hope seems to be lost. His determination to no longer be apart from his parents heightens as a guard starts to drag him away, but still the boy continues to reach out. At that moment, something unexpected happens that makes everyone nearby turn heads. The gradual building of a magnetic sound is heard and we see the spikes upon the giant, metal, closed gate bend towards the boy as if he is manipulating them. More guards assist in dragging the boy away as the boy starts to slide through the rain soaked mud, as if being magnetically attracted to the gate. He is knocked out by the butt of a rifle and all bizarre happens cease, leaving the boy unconscious and the gate in twisted and ruined form. This scene builds upon the very principle on why mutation occurs. The genetic structure is in certain individuals, but is not active. It can be triggered by a traumatic or highly emotional event as seen in the Nazi death camp.

Flash forward to the present if not, the near future where mutant presence has become known by society. We follow the story of a man named Logan aka Wolverine, (Hugh Jackman – “Swordfish”, “Van Helsing”) a drifted floating from bar to bar, partaking in cage fights to win money. His path collides with that of ‘Rogue’ (Anna Paquin) a young girl who’d discovered that she was a mutant and then decided to run away from home. They meet and go on the road together only to come into complications with a mutant named Sabretooth (WCW Wrestler ‘Big Sky’). They are however rescued by other mutants and are taken back to the infamous Professor Charles Francis Xavier (Patrick Stewart – “Conspiracy Theory”, TV’s “Star Trek”), the head teacher of ‘Charles Francis Xavier’s School for the gifted’ and leader of the ‘X Men’, his longest running and most experienced students. These people all have an alias as opposed to their real name and each have their own special attribute.

There is Cyclops (James Marsden – “Gossip”, “The Notebook”) a mutant who fires laser like energy from his eyes whenever they are opened. To solve this problem, his has fitted himself with a special visor that controls his awesome power. There is Storm (Halle Berry – “Swordfish”, the upcoming “Catwoman”) who does what the name says. She can control the elements, wind, rain, snow, she can harness lightning to her advantage. There is Dr Jean Grey (Famke Janssen – “Goldeneye”, “I Spy”) who keeps her own name for some reason, unless of course old Stan Lee (the creator) couldn’t think of one that was totally lame. Jean has telekinetic abilities and also can read minds, of course not to the degree of Xavier but she’s working on it. Logan and Rogue are taken under Charles’ wing, Rouge: who absorbs the life force of those who she touches with her skin, learns with the other young mutants and befriends a boy named Bobby (who fans will refer to as Ice Man). If Rogue were to touch another mutant, she would be able to use their powers for a short period of time. Xavier makes a deal with Logan/Wolverine that he would help put together Logan’s unknown past together.

Wolverine’s mutation is rapid healing meaning he can persevere more than most humans. In the past, people have exploited this mutation by grafting Adamantium to Wolverine’s skeleton (a fictitious metal that is indestructible). This has aroused the attention of evil mutant, Magneto, (Sir Ian McKellan – “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy) the young boy we see at the beginning in the Nazi camp. As that scene may or may not have explained to you, depending on how much on the ball you are, Magneto has the ability to manipulate metal as he can create a powerful magnetic field around his person. Magneto is planning an evil scheme with his subordinate mutant comrades Sabretooth: a mutant with superhuman strength and rapid healing ability, Mystique (Rebecca Romijn Stamos – “Godsend”, “X Men 2”) a very agile being who can imitate anyone’s appearance and voice. There is also Toad (martial artist Ray Park – “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace”): a very slippery individual with a long toad tongue and rapid wall climbing abilities. He also has very strong legs, capable for both devastating fight moves and for jumping great distances.

Performances are good throughout. Jackman shines as Wolverine, playing the man with a tortured past very well. He needed too in order to play Van Helsing in the film of the same title. Although his overall tallness shatters the preconception of Wolverine being a squat, hairy man he does make a good performance re writing the character in a good way. He also doesn’t stay completely true to the overall character of Logan. In the animated series, people will know that Logan is a gruff and occasionally bitter character. In the film, although he presents this, he also presents a more human side and has an especial vulnerability with Rouge, as in the cartoon but it is never really amounted to much.

Patrick Stewart has a superb resemblance to that of the comic book and cartoon Professor Charles Xavier both in appearance and performance making compulsive viewing. As is friend/foe Magneto played by Sir Ian McKellan both of which are British acting heavyweights. They bring their experience to what could have easily been a routine Hollywood effect-a-thon. James Marsden steers clear from his usual teen drama persona and takes on a more mature role with Cyclops. Being the operational leader of the group there is instant rivalry between himself and Wolverine upon Wolverines’ arrival to the school. Marsden performs well and proves that he can work within more effects laden genres of film. Famke Janssen provides an intelligent yet hidden sassiness as Dr. Jean Grey and provides a good performance. Halle Berry is a sometimes underrated actress even with her Oscar glory in “Monster’s Ball”. Although she puts in a good performance, she’s not as convincing as she could have been as passionately spoken Ororo Munroe, well in the cartoon she is. Berry goes with a more sweet sounding performance but she does have her aggressive side as proven toward the end.

The remaining cast members (there are so many that it would bore you, if you’re not already) all put in good performances, take my word, I’m good for it, honest. It is not often that a film such as this gets a fantastic line up of actors. Director Bryan Singer (“The Usual Suspects”) delivers in all aspects, the star talent, the action/effects, the script. An overall good quality film is something we expect with Singer after the likes of “The Usual Suspects”, a masterful suspense thriller. In “X Men” he paces things quite slowly at the beginning, slowly showing us the world in which these characters live so that those who are unaware of the mythology can understand it better. He then slowly elevates the excitement with a few teaser-esque sequences that build towards an effects showdown that is easy to watch and very entertaining. Singer seems to focus more on the development of his characters rather than big budget effects. This gives the film a hidden substance, which may not be noticed upon the first viewing. Chemistry amongst the X Men and the villains is good throughout making a seemingly unbelievable story and plot premise to be more believable. There is a surprising sense of reality despite the fact that the film is a fantasy.

Although it was Bryan Singer’s idea for the story, it is David Hayter’s script that shines, systematically showing us the world of X Men and Marvel Comics. It makes any new comers (i.e. parents being harassed by their teenage kids to watch it when they haven’t a clue about it) enjoy it more as they actually understand what is going on. My father for example, went to see this with me when it was in cinemas four years ago without any knowledge of X Men whatsoever. He ended up loving the film, probably because of the special effects.

DID YOU KNOW?
"X Men" screen writer David Hayter does voice over work for multiple computer games. Most famously, Solid Snake in "Metal Gear Solid".

On that note, the special effects are top notch, from Storm’s weather effects to Magneto’s metal manipulation, tearing open train carriages and lifting police cars into the air only to drop them back to the ground upside down. Singer expertly paces the film so that you appreciate the effects more when they happen instead of recent films: “Van Helsing” for example where every frame of film has at least one special effect and therefore leaves you saturated and insulted. “X Men” makes its effects special by not having them in frequent measure. Wolverine’s healing effects are another highlight making this film a superb visual ride. The score is good but lacks from the absence of the “X Men” theme tune to which fans will recognise and probably hum as they read what I am writing. The orchestral score comes in at the right moments and does its job. The costumes are not the blue/yellow spandex that are seen in the animated series and comic book strip. In fact they make a joke about it, an in-joke as it were but could appeal to any superhero:

Wolverine looks at the sleek, black suits that the X Men where and quips: “You actually go out in these things?”

Cyclops then turns and says in defence: “What did you expect? Spandex?”

As stipulated the costumes have had a makeover, the characters altered slightly to inspire more drama. Of course, hardened fans will be a little miffed by this but this should not spoil the enjoyment. I am an X Men fan and I was never upset about Bryan Singer making a few minor changes to the very appeal of the famous Marvel cartoon. Any hardcore fans reading should take the film at its value. Of course there is always going to be criticism toward it, of course there are going to be expectations. But “X Men” is one of the best Marvel comic book film adaptations so far in a seemingly endless line up of the buggers.

BOTTOM LINE
“X Men” is well worth viewing more than once. Of course it is not perfect and not entirely true to the series of comics/cartoons but it still does a good job on the entertainment front. Delivering in both special effects and action and in genuine drama, not something forced upon falsely in other action yarn. Although “X Men” is somewhat of an action yarn it is done with slightly more substance and ingenuity than others. Well worth watching yet again, and this is only the ‘extended trailer’ according to Singer, the real war begins in “X2”: now that’s gotta be worth viewing.

CERTIFICATE: 12
TIME APPROX: 100 minutes

CAUTION
moderate sci.fi violence

IF YOU LIKE THIS TRY:
X2 – Singer’s amazing sequel that is much bigger and arguably better

We’re not what you think. Not all of us…

<DarkMark