Delivers as promised

Rating: 8/10 (10 July 2000)

It's very rare for a movie to live up to the claims made about it by publicity and in articles prior to its release; even GOOD movies often fall short. But by George X-MEN does deliver the goods right down the line. It's made in a straightforward, basically realistic style, with superpowers taken for granted and, thankfully, not >explained<. If this isn't our world, it's the one next door. I loved the first Tim Burton BATMAN, but it takes place in its own dark universe; the Richard Donner SUPERMAN (and Donner was involved in X-MEN, too) has some problems, but its big, sweeping, almost pastoral approach was just right. Singer does X-MEN differently, but just as legitimately. It's one of the best super-hero movies ever made, and the best big-studio movie this year -- easily.

Just as they said they'd do, the movie concentrates on the characters and their relationships to the degree that the superhero stuff, of which there is plenty, seems almost secondary to the story which, in this first entry, is mainly about Wolverine and Rogue. I was very disappointed in APT PUPIL; Singer misjudged that one, so I was unsure as to what to expect with X-MEN. Would it be more like USUAL SUSPECTS or more like APT PUPIL? It turns out to be MUCH more like USUAL SUSPECTS, at least in terms of quality.
And you get to see the X-Men turn into a team before your eyes. Very satisfying movie.