Mutation: it is the key to our evolution.

Rating: 8/10 (23 May 2014)

Back in the summer of 2000, no other movie had been more hyped up and anticipated than X- Men. Nowadays, the reactions from people ranges from "It sizzles" to "It's just OK." The movie itself, adapted by director Bryan Singer, supports all those responses.
What sizzles? Start with Hugh Jackman as Logan,also known as Wolverine. Jackman energizes X- Men with power doses of fire, flashy humor and somehow creates the character as his own. Many people were skeptical about a Broadway actor playing one of the most bad-ass characters in comic book history; however, Jackman gives Wolverine an identity of his won while trying to be faithful to the source material.
The other characters also shine in this movie. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen play the ongoing characters of Charles Xavier and Magneto. They aren't enemies so much as ideological opposites; Magneto, having seen the Holocaust, has a deep pessimism about human nature. Xavier, who runs a school for mutants in Westchester County, where it doubtless seems no stranger than the other private schools, hopes these new powers can be used for good.
Others like Storm (Halle Berry), Cyclops (James Marsden), Jean-Grey (Famke Janssen), and Rogue (Anna Paquin) all lend great performances. The Brotherhood of Evil also make a great rogue of villains that stand in the way between the other X-Men.
What's just OK? The thin excuse for a plot. While it boasts a great cast, that doesn't mean that all of them are developed. Wolverine and Rogue are, and they have great chemistry between each other. In fact, I wouldn't have minded if the movie was about these two; two mutants that are lost and need help from each other sounds like a great plot. Unfortunately, great actors like McKellan and Stewart, are just supporting characters. I wish they were more scenes of them discussing their plans, and the reasons why they are against each other. Also, Magneto's villains aren't as memorable as Xavier's X-Men. They just seem like pawns rather than real characters.
I respect this movie rather than I do view it. Without this movie (and arguably Blade), the comic book movies that we know today wouldn't have existed, or would've been drastically different. It's a good movie, but with a lot of flaws. However, it was just the stepping stone to what would become a great franchise.