Not enough character development

Rating: 7/10 (17 July 2000)

Five more minutes with each character would have made this movie a 9. Rogue and Wolverine were developed, as were Magnus and Xavier, but we never got a feel for Cyclops, Jean, Storm, or any of the bad guys.
For example, the sexual tension between Jean and Wolverine wasn't fully developed, and so the conflict between Cyclops and Wolverine was superficial. Mystique, Toad and Sabertooth were basic thugs--we saw their abilities, but not their personalities. Worst, Storm was nothing more than a pretty statue. What motivated her? Why was she there?
Those of us who followed the characters' exploits in the comic books may have taken our knowledge of the characters for granted. I know I did--I loved the film! My wife, however, had no idea who those people were before she sat down in the theater, so while she enjoyed the action and the special effects, the characters were little more than trained monkeys to her. I was ready to give it a 9, but she thought it was a 5.
So, after seeing the amazing way Singer developed the divers characters in the Usual Suspects, I'm deeply disappointed in his treatment of the X-Men's heroes and villains. Maybe X-Men 2 will do better.