The Usual Suspects are Apt Pupils indeed

Rating: 8/10 (21 September 2005)

Rouge and Wolverine, two mutants with extraordinary powers (Rouge can sap people's energy by more touch, while Wolverine has an exoskeleton made of an unbreakable alloy, retractable claws, and an accelerated healing factor).join Charles Xavier's school for gifted young students and become the newest members of a team of other mutants, called the X-men and together they fight Magneto, a Jewish mutant who hates humanity after growing up in Nazi-era Germany, and his brotherhood of Evil mutants. All the while trying to dissuade a public from hating all of them. This was one of the first superhero films that opted for a more serious tone as opposed to the campy ones that preceded it, and for the most part works, True there were a few things I would have changed (Glenn Danzig would've made a more kick ass Wolverine, I never warmed up to Halle Barry as Storm), but all the other actors are very good (particularly, Ian McKellen as a spot-on Magneto). And the storyline is deep, yet remains still extremely accessible. Followed by a sequel that wasn't as good.
My Grade: B+
Single disc DVD Extras: - 6 Deleted Scenes; Excerpts from Bryan Singer on "The Charlie Rose Show"; the 22 minute "The Mutant Watch" special that aired on Fox; 6 minute X-men featurette; Hugh Jackman screen-test; 2 Animatics; 2 art galleries; Soundtrack Promo; 3 TV Spots; 2 Theatrical Trailers; a FOX compilation trailer
2 Easter Eggs: Highlight the Rose n the "Trailers And TV Spots" section to see a practical joke scene involving another well-known superhero; Highlight Wolverine's Dog Tags in the "Art Gallery" section, to see character designs for Beast and The Blob