Very Good Fantasy Film

Rating: 8/10 (3 February 2001)

I've never been an X-Men comic book reader, but I did know that the X-Men were a large collection of mutants with a wide array of super powers. Some worked for the forces of good, some evil. So, when I heard that this stew had been made into a movie my first thought was that this would be a mess. I could imagine the moviemakers wandering all over the map without focus, making a real hash of things.
What a surprise when the movie proved my fears groundless. What could have happened (an unfocused mess) didn't happen, and the chief thanks belongs with the screenplay; it made the movie. It's tight, well crafted, and focused. It's not played for camp, but straight up. With lots of help from a talented cast, and direction, "X-Men" makes for a very entertaining fantasy film. I recommend it highly when fx-supported escapism is needed.