Stylish & Exciting but where's the climax???

Rating: Null/10 (19 November 2000)

X-Men achieves what so many other films of it's genre fail, intelligence, style and a sense of morality, yet the film always manages to retain an essential humour. The cast is well placed, especially Hugh Jackman as a moody yet likeable Wolverine and Patrick Stewart as the sensible, Martin Luther King Jr.of the mutant world - Dr. Charles Xavier. The film stays true to the original comics & cartoons, the general story is relevant, the cinematography is beautifully executed by Newton Thomas Sigel and both cast and direction strong, but there is something missing. The script builds the film up & up, the audience wait in teeth-grinding anticipation as the big finale rolls on upon the Statue of Liberty, NY, but the big finale ain't so big and leads to somewhat of an anti-climax, that leaves film-goers asking 'What the h**l???'. Also, the story is very much centred around Wolverine & Rogue and leaves little for the other mutants to display. Sure the film is generally good but it lacks spectacularism. However, the one thing that left me hunting for Bryan Singer is the very ending where we find that Magneto has lived and a movie that screams "Sequel Ahoy!" I hate when they do that!