A comic book movie with depth

Rating: 8/10 (15 July 2000)

One of the things that made the Marvel comics special back in the 60s was their quirkiness. Spider-man agonized about the same stuff that other teenagers did. Maybe not acne, but problems with fitting in to the adult world. Superheroes with problems.
The X-men have problems, too. They may have some phenomenal powers, but they're outsiders. They look human, but their powers put them on the outside. Feared and misunderstood, they are targets.
Targeted by a Senator as a threat to humanity, they face the sort of persecution that supposed "Reds" did at the hands of Senator Joseph McCarthy and HUAC.
They are also the targets of the super-villain, Magneto (Ian McKellan). He feels that there will be a war between humanity and mutantkind. But he has a plan to swing the tide. All he needs is one special mutant.
Magneto is aided by a trio of mutants: Sabertooth, Toad ("Episode I's Darth Maul: Ray Park) and Mystique.
Opposing them are, of course, the X-men. The main group this time are Wolverine, Rogue, Cyclops and Dr. Jean Grey. Others make cameos this time around, like Iceman.
But what makes this movie more than just a special effects romp is the subtext. That has to do with fear and prejudice. Magneto feels that the mutants will be treated in the same way that his Jewish mother was during WWII: despised, imprisoned and killed. (Explaining to my six-year-old nephew about concentration camps was one of the toughest and most frustrating things I've ever done)
Great performances from Patrick Stewart (Prof. X) and Ian McKellan (Magneto) also lift the film above the usual comic book movie fare.
Some of the scenes might be a little intense for youngsters. My nephew had his eyes covered during some of the scenes (like the Senator's final scene), but very little overt bloodshed.
Good stuff. Looking forward to the sequel which they left ample room for.
Eight stars. Uncle Steve says check it out.