Wonderfully Entertaining

Rating: Null/10 (25 July 2000)

I really liked X-Men. It's the first film of the summer which I've seen more than once, and I still haven't been bored with it. It's full of action, yes, but deep down it is more concerned with characterization. The action scenes in the film are few and far between and most of the characters aren't fully explored, but the DVD will probably clear that up with cut footage. As far as the plot goes, it isn't anything to write home about, but it doesn't matter. It's just a clothesline for some great visuals and scenes. Acting isn't great across the board-only a few stand out from others. Let me start by naming my least favorite performances--James Marsden and Halle Berry(she gets saddled with the worst line of the film). Everybody else works fine, but there are three performances that stand out in my opinion. First, Hugh Jackman has the star-making role of Wolverine and he is great in the role and has some of the best one-liners in the film (yes, the movie has a sense of humor), plus he is backed up with major energy and charisma. I see big things for him in the future. Second, is there anything the great Ian McKellan can't do in terms of acting? He's superb as the villain Magneto, plus he has a legitimate back story for why he is bent on performing his evil deed. Finally, the best performance, in my opinion, comes from Anna Paquin, the little Oscar-winner from The Piano, now all grown up and suddenly very lovely. It's a tender and touching portrayal--what would you do if you had to spend the rest of your life without human contact due to mutant powers? She has great chemistry with Jackman, and has several wonderful scenes. The one I'm thinking of is the quietly performed but still heartbreaking train scene between her and Jackman as her tears spill silently down her cheeks. I never liked her (and still don't like it) performance in The Piano, and I feel she didn't deserve the Oscar--she was simply too grating, to me at least. However, look at what a couple of years has done to her acting--she's given more and more solid performances, and with this one, proves that she can at least now back that Oscar up. Finally, this is a summer movie that at least has a message in it--it deals with prejudice and fear of those who are different from the rest of us. Great popcorn entertainment mixed with solid filmmaking make this a must-see.
Grade: B+