Nice Start to the Series

Rating: Null/10 (6 June 2013)

X-Men (2000)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) builds a safe haven where mutants from around the world can feel normal among one another. Soon Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Cyclops (James Marsden), Storm (Halle Berry) and Rogue (Anna Paquin) must come together when Magneto (Ian McKellen) plans to use some mutants for bad reasons. I don't see why any comic book fan will be disappointed with this film from Bryan Singer as the director manages to make it look extremely good and we're given a nice cast of actors for these parts. If you're looking for action you're certainly going to find plenty of it here and you're even going to get a few laughs along the way. To me this here was a fairly good movie that at least didn't run too long but at the same time it just seemed that the majority of the running time was just letting you get to know the characters as if the filmmakers were just using this here as an introduction film and then the real stuff would take place with the sequels. While this film has quite a bit of stuff going on, the majority of it is just scattered out as the characters try to come to terms with being mutants and of course we're introduced to them and what it's like being someone with special powers. All of this is well and good but I think there's a bit too much time spent on this because after a while you get it. I will say that I enjoyed the cast in their roles with Jackman clearly stealing the film with the angered up Wolverine. Berry was also quite impressive in her costumes if you know what I mean and Rebecca Romijn was extremely good as Mystique. The visuals in the film were quite impressive as well and there's no question that director Singer knows how to stage an action scene including a terrific one early on in the snowy woods.