And I'm not a fan-boy!

Rating: 10/10 (17 July 2000)

From the time I was 11 until I was 15, I admit-- I came home every day and watched 'X-Men' cartoons. And I loved them. So when I heard that there was going to be a movie, I couldn't wait. But oh, the wait was worth it. I don't care how many screenwriters it has (many props to Joss Whedon of 'Buffy' fame), or the fact that there was no Danger Room, this movie flat out rocked. Bryan Singer is an amazing director, and his touch kept 'X-Men' from being campy and heavy-handed. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine-- people, in two years, you won't be able to escape this guy. But why would you want to? He was absolutely amazing, for fan-boys and non-fan-boys alike (hey, I'm a chick!), the embodiment of everything Wolverine could, would, and had to be. Anna Paquin as Rogue? You may laugh, but she made me ache, what with the can't-touch-you problem and the inner strength. What I mean is, just because she doesn't look like Rogue in the comics doesn't mean she can't be Rogue. I think it was a great opportunity for her to flex her acting ability a bit, and hopefully in the sequels (you know there will be) she'll really get to use the whole flying aspect of her power, too. Halle Berry was not, however, the person for Storm. Growing up on the streets of Cairo? I think not. Angela Bassett would have been awesome (to borrow an idea from the Stranger). Scott Marsden played Cyclops exactly as he should be, a bit of a self-righteous jerk, but basically a good guy. Famke Janssen looks EXACTLY like Jean Grey, and Patrick Stewart was his normal elegant self.
Villans: Ian McKellan is great at whatever he does, but even the Magneto getup towards the end made him look like a little Lego man. Ms. Romijn-Stamos played a great Mystique (watch how guys in the theaters crane their necks for a better view), and Ray Park's martial arts skills, formerly showcased as Darth Maul, were missing as Toad. However, did you catch the Ep.One joke?
All in all, I very much appreciate the main arc of the story being Wolverine and Rogue, not Cyclops and Jean. They were always my favorites. It was well-written, well-acted, all that good stuff. This is definitely the new yardstick to judge all comic book films by from now on. Kevin Smith is right in saying it's one of the top five. It's plain awesome, which is exactly why I ended up dropping $16 this weekend to see it twice. You have to, so you catch all the little things you miss the first time. I can't wait for the sequel.