A big budget comic book movie that succeeds on all counts

Rating: 10/10 (14 July 2000)

I'm an independent moviemaker in Canada that aspires to do big budget blockbuster summer movies. I'm also an avid comic book reader. But, I hate Marvel Comics & the X-Men. Have for ages. So I can't say I was exactly looking forward to this movie. And I never ever thought I'd LOVE this movie. Bryan Singer (who directed the also excellent "Usual Suspects") & his fellow X-Moviemakers did an amazing job translating these characters to the big screen. Relative newcomer Hugh Jackman gives what may end up being a breakthrough performance as Wolverine. Only die-hard X-Fans may be a bit upset by how some of the characters are adapted to their motion picture versions (Rogue is quite different than the sexy southern bell X-readers are probably used to). My favorite thing is that they didn't have a cheesy top 10 soundtrack to accompany the movie (as they did with Mi2 & other such summer fare). When a movie comes out that's based on something that's already beloved by a large # of fans (whether it's Hamlet, X-Files, Batman or Silence of the Lambs), the key is to appeal to the worshipers AND the people who've never heard of the thing before. Rarely does this succeed, but with X-Men, they pulled off a movie that should be enjoyable to both forms of viewers. I give it my highest possible recommendation. Go see it.