Cracking Superhero Flick

Rating: 8/10 (25 March 2009)

X-Men as a whole has to be one of the best things Marvel have trundled out so far. Each of the Marvel films shares a similar look, which helps to realise each of these characters are in the same universe. The first X-Men works well, largely because it abandons any attempt to fill in a long, overwrought origins story (see Spider-Man, Iron Man etc.) and just jumps right in there. Particular highlights of the cast include a hardened Hugh Jackman on growling form as Wolverine, Ian McKellen as Magento and Patrick Stewart who holds it all together as Professor X. What's great about this film is that it focuses on the team dynamic, something director Bryan Singer made his name for in The Usual Suspects. We have a good even spread of all the X-Men instead of being bogged down dealing with just one. It's also rather satisfying to see the baddie mutants (Magneto et all) making life difficult, especially for the slimy Senator Kelly. As you would expect, the graphics are spot on and there are some very memorable fight scenes. A worthy superhero movie.