Satisfying but too many questions left unanswered.

Rating: 8/10 (15 July 2000)

(Warning: Spoilers at the end)
I went to this movie expecting to be blown away but left with less than I went in with. I am an ideal audience member to test because I am a long-time sf fan but an x-men newbie. I admit it, I've never read a single x-men comic.
So going in, I looked forward to some exposition of who these characters were, how they came to be, some glimpse of the backstory, etc. Well, this movie left me empty like all the questions I'll pose at the end.
Good stuff: Visually, it is beautiful. The sets and lighting are wonderful. The little in-jokes are a treat. The introduction to the relationship of Wolverine and Rogue is very enjoyable. The acting is very tight and well-cast.
Bad stuff: I am reminded of Episode I -- this is more of a long trailor for XX-men than a satisfying story in itself.
Some spoilers here): # # # # # Can you kill these guys? What does it take? Three blades through the chest or a direct laser blast in the back (while in a weakened condition) don't seem to do it. Why are the good guys so inept at fighting? What makes a character with a fancy pair of glasses a mutant? Why can the bad mutants be so many places at the same time? How are they able so easily to infiltrate and anticipate the X-men? So many questions, no answers. More in-depth bio-sketches and some back story at the Marvel website would be appreciated.