wonderful adaptation

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2005)

Evolution has created the next link in the chain, people who have special powers. They have been classified as mutants by the 'normal' population, who fear these different people, greeting them with trepidation. Rogue has only realised she is a mutant after she place her boyfriend into a coma; she takes peoples' energy. On the run she runs into Wolverine; another mutant with fast healing abilities and three retractable blades on each hand. The two are attack by an mutant Sabertooth on unknown intentions, Rogue and Wolverine are saved and taken into the care of Professor Xavier; with his protégés Storm, Cyclops and Jean. Xavier has been fighting for equality between mutants and people, but a former friend Magneto has the opposite idea. Magneto want superiority over the human race; believing mutants are the next ruler of earth. Magneto has devised a plan with his henchmen Sabertooth; Toad and Mystique that will make people think differently about mutants.
X-Men is a faithful adaptation of the comic book series, without ever falling into the pit of over the top sensibilities. Bryan Singer has played it on the lower keys where the characters come to the fore front; instead of the action. There are a lot of character in X-Men, yet it doesn't over load you. They may not be fleshed out a lot, but your still are able to understand them and attach yourself to them. The most developed is Wolverine who has a lot of past to uncover, yet it still would have been nice to have more depth on the other characters.
The action is kept on the low down, there isn't a lot of it, and it soars in that respect. With action and special effects kept to the minimum, they have been able to develop the characters and the story. As the special effects are used a lot, it allows the scenery to come forward, and the scenery is visually rich and detailed. X-Men has a real quiet tone, but from this the subtexts really are uncovered. There are a lot of ideas and morals beneath the surface; acceptance, tolerance, bigotry,social stature, and that fear that everyone has when they don't understand the unknown. There are some great scenes between Rogue and Wolverine that elevate this from just am action film and really humanise the story. There is a sense of realism to the story, reflecting a lot of the racial intolerance in humanity at our current times.
X-Men shows what great casting can lead to. All the actors perfectly fit their roles, with a lot of unknown actors showing some great talent. Hugh Jackman is great as the rugged Wolverine, Famke Janssen wonderful as Jean, same with Halle Berry as Storm, Anna Paquin shines as Rogue, James Marsden also great as Cyclops. Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart both are great in their roles, Ian as the determined Magneto and Patrick as the humble Xavier.
X-Men is one of the better comic book adaptations as it goes beyond the action and delves deeper to bring a very deep and meaningful story, with so much subtext to explore.