Impressive!

Rating: 8/10 (23 December 2008)

I have to admit I hired this movie purely as part of a Hugh Jackman fan phase, however I think the movie delivered far more than I required of it; a lovely surprise.
I've never read a comic strip in my life, so I can't compare the film with the comic series, and to be honest I wouldn't want to. Whatever the comic series may have or have had, the film stands strong enough all on its own.
The writing of the Wolverine character was brooding, intriguing, and totally believable, and Hugh Jackman slipped into the part with his usual ease and extraordinary charisma. Anna Paquin, as Rogue, was awkward at times, but seamless at others. Perhaps she has a great deal of natural talent, as long as she can be made to relax and forget about the acting? I expect she will continue to develop into an excellent actress. McKellen and Stewart were perfect in their roles, but I would have liked more screen time with Storm, as I felt her character was under-developed on screen and Halle Berry is capable of great things.
As for the special effects, they blended into the background, just as I feel special effects should. Due to the powers of the mutants special effects are crucial to the basic plot, and it was great to see the director and designers creating effects that served the story with complete obedience, rather than dazzling and distracting. The film, after all, is not about the powers but about the choices of the people use or abuse them.
The story flowed well, the pacing was just right and the plot was easy to understand but still captivating. The characters were recognisable and the themes were universal. In short, the script had all the compulsory characteristics of a typical pop film, however a fantastic collaborative effort between director, writers, actors and designers has ensured that X Men does not feel stale. Instead, this is an excellent film to relax to, and easy to watch with friends.