An excellent introduction into a franchise.

Rating: 9/10 (17 November 2002)

This was a decent movie. There is really no other way of putting it. It wasn't the best it could be, but it didn't suck either. It was a good attempt. I'll warn you now of possible spoilers listed throughout this review.
With a sequel being filmed as I right this, and a director already in talks for a part three, X-Men has the makings of a very successful franchise. The first was essentially a trailer, a sign of things to come for Marvel's mighty mutants. Bryan Singer shows off a pure talent in this film. With a short shooting schedule and a lackluster budget, Singer managed to create a film truly worth watching. He took the X-Men's central theme and well, centralized it. Throughout X-Men's long comic book history, the theme of tolerance has been lost to flashy costumes and over-the-top villains. Singer brought this theme to the forefront with a thought-provoking movie that entertains on multiple levels. What could have been a campy mess in the hands of most directors was made into a down-to-earth, serious movie. What could have been a special effects extravaganza without a plot was instead made into a character-driven story.
The movie itself could have been better, but what movie couldn't? A little more action wouldn't have hurt, not to mention a longer film. With such a short movie, you have very little time to care about a single character. Only the characters at the story's nucleus, Professor X, Magneto, Rogue and Wolverine, are given personalities. The rest of the characters are seemingly just there. The plot was interesting enough, although it too took a backseat to Wolverine and Rogue's father/daughter like relationship. Magneto's cheesy plot was actually not as corny as it could have been. Having survived the Holocaust, you could see why he wanted to make the world's powerful like himself.
The cast was nothing short of exceptional. Hugh Jackman is Wolverine. There is no other way to say it. He truly nailed the role. McKellen managed to display so much in his comparatively small amount of screen-time. His eyes displayed the pain and anger felt by the character of Magneto. Patrick Stewart portrayed Professor Xavier as I had always imagined him to be in "real life". Honorable mentions to the rest of the cast who came together well in such a short period of time.
In short, X-Men was a decent stand-alone movie, but an exceptional start to a franchise. Kudos to Bryan Singer and the cast for bringing us a realistic science-fiction movie, if there is such a thing. 7/10.