Great casting and action combined with a bold story and top notch special effects all work to bring this film together.

Rating: Null/10 (19 July 2000)

STORY X-Men is a science fiction action film which takes place in the near future. The human race is evolving at an accelerated rate. At random, people are born `mutants' with extraordinary powers ranging from heightened psychic senses to animal like abilities. Because some mutants have potentially dangerous powers, a political battle rages over what precautionary steps the government should take to safe guard normal civilians against mutants.
The good guys are the X-Men, a team led by Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart, famous for his role as Captain Jean Luc Pickard). Xavier also heads a school where young mutants learn to control their powers. The film eludes to a long standing friendship between Xavier and Magneto, who are still friends despite their opposing goals. Magneto believes that the human race should be conquered by the genetically superior mutants. Xavier believes that the two should work to co-exist peacefully, despite the personal and political bigotry most men show towards mutants. Unlike many other generic super hero films, X-Men has plenty of content. There is obviously much more story to tell both in the past and the future, than what has been shown in this film.
CHARACTERS The bad guy, Magneto, wishes to destroy the human race. He is a mutant with the ability to create magnetic fields, and thus has a seemingly telekinetic influence over all metal objects. Aiding him are henchmen Mystique, Toad, and Sabertooth. Mystique is a doppelganger played by Rebbecca Romijin-Stamos. I have to wonder why a super-model was cast into the character whose face and body are never seen, as Mystique frequently shape shifts from her original form, which resembles a blue alien. Toad is played by Ray Park, famous for his role as Darth Maul. Disappointingly his role is very small (again), although his incredible martial arts skills stand out in the few moments he has onscreen. Sabertooth is played by professional wrestler Tyler Mane, whom I am not familiar with yet he plays his simple role of dumb henchmen perfectly.
The X-Men include already mentioned Professor Charles Xavier, who can control the minds of others, and is farsighted through clairvoyance. At his side is apprentice Jean Grey with, among other psychic powers, telekinesis. Jean Grey is the girlfriend of Cyclops, who can shoot laser beams from his eyes. Cyclops is at ends with Wolverine, who take a liking to his girlfriend. Wolverine has indestructible claws build into his metal skeleton, and regenerates his wounds faster than most bad guys can dish 'em out. Rounding out the team is, Halle Berry playing Storm, who can control the weather. Finally there is Rogue, who has the most crippling and unique power. She can absorb the life force and mutant powers of others by touching them.
OVERALL This film of course is based upon the poplar comic book of the same name. Portraying a comic book on film always requires careful direction. Most comic book characters wear outrageously unrealistic costumes (Spawn), and perform surreal actions nearly impossible to translate into reality on the silver screen. X-Men however handles these problems perfectly. Costumes are never over done (characters even joke about this), and superb special effects make the plot progress very fluidly throughout even the most unrealistic comic book scenarios (although I've heard several people claim they could see a string attached to Toad at one point).
All things considered this is a good film. Great casting and action combined with a bold story and top notch special effects all work to bring this film together. Thumbs up and four stars!