Special effects galore, but where's everything else? *1/2 (out of four)

Rating: 3/10 (13 September 2000)

X-MEN / (2000) *1/2 (out of four)
It is never a good sign when a movie features a theatrical trailer more entertaining than the movie itself, but Bryan Singer's "X-Men," the live action version of the outdated cartoon, is as disposable and lightweight as its characters on helium. The film brings new meaning to the art of science fiction, where it attempts to portray futuristic ideas in human evolution without drastically changing the world around them. There is no explanation behind the movie's concepts, that become lost in an overzealous and dramatically disappointing script.
The story takes place in "the not so distant future," where the government considers mutants, people with extraordinary powers, a threat to society. U.S. Senator Robert Kelly (Bruce Davison), is proposing a plan to expose these individuals to the public. Although most mutants are decent, ordinary, law-abiding citizens, Kelly feels others have the right to be informed about their powers and potential dangers.

Humanity has greater concerns, however, like continuing their ordinary existence. Magneto (Ian McKellen), the aging but magnetism controlling madman who believes humans are mutant's nemesis and his gang, including Sabertooth (Tyler Mane), fierce and beast-like, Toad (Ray Park), who has abilities similar to his namesake species, and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), who can transform into anyone, plan on conquering the planet with complex technology.
There is the good hearted professor, Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), the handicapped but telepathic leader of the X-Men, a group of mutants bent on peace between humans and themselves. He owns a school for the mutants and among his longtime students is Cyclops (James Marsden), a young man with laser-firing eyes, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), who has telekinetic powers, and Storm (Halle Berry) who is able to control the weather. Newcomers Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), a man with retractable claws and the ability to heal himself quickly, and Rouge (Anna Paquin), a young, confused teenage girl that drains the power from anyone she touches, are quickly woke up to the dangers of their counterparts and his plan to seek total denomination.	As in all superhero movies, we expect big, explosive special effects, heart-pounding action, and a final confrontation between the head honchos of both good and bad sides. "X Men" adequately provides all but the later, which ultimately leads to the film's horrible conclusion, naturally setting up for a sequel. However, where can the story go from where this one leads off. The filmmakers have no choice but to place the variety of diabolical characters in a world-threatening situation for our succeeding heroes to return to duty. I dread the day "X-Men II" hits theaters, surely only to spark quick commercial success in the box office, but then efficiently be flushed through the drain of forgotten Hollywood cinema.
"X-Men" opened to sensational success in the box office (well over 50 million) undoubtedly due to the big time summer anticipation of the film. With such a star-studded cast, including hot young stars James Marsden and Anna Paquin, as well as older, more sophisticated performers like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, how can audiences expect little of the production. Bryan Singer, who so vividly directed "The Usual Suspects," also precedes to undividedly disappoint us with unfocused direction and a style not even die hard "X Men" fans will enjoy. Not coincidentally, the very expensive production quickly lost interest with audiences (plummeting over fifty percent in its second weekend in release). As this movie proves, American audiences can continue to confidently rely on word of mouth.