A worthy introduction to the characters in this new media

Rating: 7/10 (30 September 2016)

There have been some attempts to adapt comic characters to the big screen. The most successful adaptations so far were certainly Blade: The Vampire Hunter (1998) and Blade II (2000). Subsequently, the first adaptation of X-Men along with Spider-Man (2002), led Marvel to transform his studio Marvel Films in a specific producer to adapt their characters, with distribution of Paramount Pictures. With the granting of the film rights of the X-Men purchased by 20th Century Fox in 1994, scripts and treatment of the film were ordered until finally Bryan Singer - Suspense acclaimed The Usual Suspects (1995) - signed to direct in 1996. X-Men was released to positive reviews and was a financial success, starting the X-Men trilogy and beginning a resurgence of superhero films.
X-Men is a film that, despite all the success made at the box office worldwide, divides opinions. Bryan Singer is an uneven film, but it fully works as a starting franchise. The script, written by David Hayter, is extremely didactic, since the first line of text when explaining about genetics and mutation evolution, even when Professor Xavier explains to Logan (and the public) which is Charles Xavier School for Young gifted, which serves as a front for these young people learn more about themselves and about their newfound powers. Moreover, the characters are constructed of one-dimensional, without further development. All personalities and special powers of each of the characters were very explicit, but it is very little explained in the past of the characters, except with the Vampira character. We get the impression that the film is short (takes just over 90 minutes), nothing is satisfactorily developed and the first hour of life is uneventful, except for a few moments. It is clear that lacked at least thirty minutes dedicated to a better development of these characters and to increase the action scenes.
One aspect in which Singer was largely responsible, was to give the right tone in addressing these characters to the movies. The director tried a story of a superhero group, a science fiction and fantasy film, more seriously and merging and political aspects of our contemporary society in this context special newly discovered super-powered beings. It is precisely this relationship scenes of our society in direct conflict with a new variation of the human race and all moral and philosophical conflicts is this discovery that guide the whole narrative structure of production. The trial of the X-Men by the world's leading authorities and that decision can affect the mutants and Magneto plan that considers humans as a lower stage in the evolution line is a well explored conflict. Synger hit the tone of the story giving a science fiction air and focusing on marginalization of mutant minority, creating an interesting parallel with the struggle of real minorities (such as homosexuals, for example) and the peaceful and respectful coexistence between different religions, political positions etc., bringing an appeal for the production that made possible the identification of the work with your audience. Perhaps for being openly gay and Jewish, the director Singer brought in his heroes the bitter hatred for being excluded from society.
The fans were not disappointed as the relevant visual effects, with the manipulation of particles such as fire, ice, lightning, wind and others. I emphasize here the battle in the train station, the individual struggles of Mystique against Wolverine and Storm against Grocho and the final scene of the Statue of Liberty. Allied to photography Newton Thomas Sigel, costume Louise Mingenbach, John Myhre production designer are in perfect harmony. In the all-star cast, Famke Janssen (Jean Grey), James Marsden (Cyclops), Halle Berry (Storm) are great supporting cast. Already Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen veterans are sovereign in opposition as the leaders of both sides of the mutants, and the highlights are even Anna Paquin (Rogue) and Hugh Jackman, the embodiment of Wolverine, delivering a visceral performance, animalistic and at the same time human. Besides the similarity with the original mutant design, Jackman exudes an undeniable charisma.
What is missing in this production is a grandeur it deserved. Either for lack of a larger budget, either for lack of boldness of the writer and director, the great action scenes only occur even in the final half hour of production. Missed scenes that leave the affected public. Compared to current superhero film, X-Men disappointed by its weak and lacking action sequences of emotion. Moreover, it is clear the aging effects and the soundtrack of Michael Kamen is disappointing. Not far heard a marked trail, differentiated and personality.
Even just using the concepts of comics and the essence of the characters, the production is not very faithful in many ways (after all, the true original members of the team have only Cyclops and Jean Grey, the uniforms were all replaced by black clothes that look military uniforms , etc.), this was certainly a worthy introduction to the characters in this new media and made room for a new niche in Hollywood. From there, the productions coming from HQs dominated movie screens and became the highest grossing in history.