Awesome special effects, plot very disappointing ***spoilers***

Rating: Null/10 (20 July 2001)

This really is a great movie. I saw it a long time ago, but decided to rent it. Unfortunately they didn't have it for rental (WHAT?!) so I just bought it. It figures, hehe.
When I first saw this (about half a year ago), I thought it was really disappointing and just ok. Which is half-true. I can't lie to you- the plot really stinks in this movie. It's a major drawback, but the awesome special effects make up for it. The costumes on the characters were fabulous- ingenius! I was very impressed by the style and overall appearance of the movie. It was very classy, very hard-core, very intense. Now that I've seen the movie again, I have to say that it's better than when I saw it the first time. I didn't really want to see it the first time, but now that I went out and got it voluntarily, I have retained a sense of open-minded-ness.

Hugh Jackman, as Wolverine, is destined to be a star. Heck, he already is one. He's been in three movies I adored: this one, Someone Like You, and Swordfish. With a handsome, roguish, dashing look about him, charming good looks and charismatic persona, he's bound to be on the cover of ever magazine in the near future. Girls are already crazy about it him, and he has a strong fanbase. It's not hard to see why. As the strong, intense, never-let-your-guard-down Wolverine, and the distinctly more human Logan, he's just oozing with sex appeal. I can't think of anyone else who could have played Wolverine better. He said in a quote that it was either him or Val Kilmer. I was like "They were even considering someone else!?" ;)
Anna Paquin, while sincere and very real in her emotions, really disappointed me. I'm not a big fan of hers in the first place, except for her cute role in Fly Away Home, but I didn't see any magic onscreen while I was watching this movie. I really don't tap into the chemistry between Logan and Marie. All I see is a brother/sister type relationship- nothing more. While she is a very human, very sweet girl, I don't think we deserved to see that much of her in the movie.
Famke Janssen- WOW. Loved her. She's such a controlled actress, it's scary. You don't see much of her in the movie (to which I'm very mad about), but the scenes you do see emit such a poised, passionate, heroic, yet restrained woman who has a lot of back history I hope we explore in the sequel. Famke is a gorgeous actress, and is very direct and very honest. I wish they gave her more screentime. The love triangle among Logan, Jean Grey, and Scott was something I'm glad they went into (and if you have the tape, at the end you can see an expanded version of that scene in Logan's bedroom). This is one of the most interesting storylines in the movie, and I'm eager to see how Rogue gets thrown into the mix, if she does at all (I'm thinking she might). Personally, I love the Logan/Jean Grey pair. I know that the storyline will probably turn out to be Scott/Jean, but I'm very content and proud of my couple shipper fetish. :D
James Marsden, great role for him. He, like Famke, doesn't get much of a chance for screentime in here, but hopefully he will in the sequel. I don't like him much as Scott (look to the "love triangle" diatribe), but he did play a good part as Cyclops. I loved the throw of words he shared with Logan ("Stay away from my girl"). He's a great actor, and very handsome too. But I do have a slight hostility toward his character (getting in the way of my Logan/Jean, lol).
Patrick Stewart, exceptional! Who could've played Professor X better? Nobody! I'm so glad they cast him. He shares many of the same traits as Famke (ironic, since in the movie they share the same type of power)- poised, intelligent, and controlled. Such a great actor, who's able to look at you and direct an emotion so powerfully.
I liked this movie when I saw it a second time. The action scenes were phenomenal, but I felt the movie had something missing. Perhaps we will see whatever it was in the sequel.