A very good film; it surprised me very much when I saw it in the theater, even if it is inferior to the 2003 sequel...

Rating: 9/10 (19 January 2004)

I'm not a huge comic book fan, so I went to see "X-Men" in 2000 with hesitation. I was blown away. Bryan Singer ("The Usual Suspects") introduces non-fans to the world of the X-Men extraordinarily, while still implementing references to the series for the die hard fans.
What separates this from a lot of other comic book films is that the mix of fantasy and reality makes the film more than what it could have been -- a corny remake of a comic book/television show. Singer's choice to make the X-Men part of this world, and his decision to have a backdrop of anti-mutation rallies, is really what makes this film great. And Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is pitch-perfect! Never would have guessed he was an Aussie! And he seems like a genuinely nice guy in person, too!
Inferior to the 2003 sequel, "X2," but a must-see for an introduction to a world within our world. Re-launched the comic book films we've been seeing lately ("Spider-Man," "Daredevil") and is the rare series that is almost guaranteed to have better sequels as it comes along. This is just the beginning!
4/5 stars. (X2: 4.5/5 stars.)

John Ulmer