Mutants ARE Among Us

Rating: 9/10 (12 September 2000)

Rarely does a movie come along that works so well on so many levels, with the appeal to engage an audience of young and old alike. `X-Men,' directed by Bryan Singer, is one of them. Simply put, there is something here for everyone; there's the obvious story (which is excellent, by the way) which can be taken at face value and will be the attraction of the wider audience, and then there is the allegory to ponder for those who choose to go the distance (sorry, folks, no clues; you have to do it on your own, it's part of what makes this movie so good). Just be advised, there is a whole lot more to this movie than meets the eye, and it's so well done and delivered, from the directing to the outstanding performances to the dazzling special effects. Singer has done a superb job of bringing this all to the screen; his pace and timing couldn't be better, and he seems to have an innate sense of what makes this material work, and how to put it across. This film could so easily have become just another sci-fi `B' rated throw away in the wrong hands, but with Singer at the helm, and with such a great cast, it doesn't come anywhere near sinking to that level. There is also a restraint in the use of the special effects here that makes them all the more spectacular, and again, Singer must be given credit for that as well.
As far as the performances, this movie should launch the relatively unknown Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) toward stardom. He's charismatic and has a magnetic screen presence; he's given Wolverine real depth and credibility and emerges as the star of the show. Anna Paquin (Rogue) also stands out, creating a truly empathic and sympathetic character that makes her accessible and allows her to connect with the audience. Other notable performances are turned in by Patrick Stewart (Professor X) and Ian McKellen (Magneto). The supporting cast includes Halle Berry (Storm), Famke Janssen (Dr. Jean Grey), James Marsden (Cyclops), Bruce Davison (Senator Kelly), Tyler Mane (Sabretooth), Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (Mystique) and Ray Park (Toad).	There is a depth to this story of mutant's living among us that comes, quite frankly, as a pleasant surprise. The dialogue is believable, and the characters are distinctly drawn and avoid stereotype. Again, there is nothing about this movie that can be dismissed out-of-hand; even the mutant's names are cryptic, which adds yet another level to the story. Whether or not it was the conscious intent of the author and creator of the X-Men is open to speculation; what is important is that it works, and makes it all that much more engaging. `X-Men' is destined to become a huge success, and will no doubt spawn welcomed and eagerly anticipated sequels. This movie is further evidence that since `The Matrix' came into being, the genre of Science Fiction has risen to an unprecedented height, the progression of which began with George Lucas and `Star Wars' in 1977. Since then the cinematic Universe has never been the same, and `X-Men' is proof that it will only continue to expand in the future. I rate this one 9/10.