The Start of Marvel's success

Rating: 8/10 (21 May 2014)

Marvel first found success with Blade in 1998, but their really big breakthrough came when Bryan Singer directed the first x-men. That was the moment that started the renaissance of comic book films and lifted Marvel studios from obscurity. It wasn't by accident that x-men fueled the mania because this was a production that was taken very seriously. It was at once faithful to the comic book, a little darker than it, and portrayed the characters well without making them ridiculous. A good director can bring the most out of even the silliest concept. And Bryan Singer really is a good director. It was a courageous step to direct a comic book film after films like The Usual Suspect and Apt Pupil, but he did a marvelous job. It was critically and viewer acclaimed. The story opens in a concentration camp in Poland, 1944. Erik Lensherr is separated from his parents by the Nazis, which causes his powers to manifest. In the not too distant future, a world where both Mutants and Humans fear each other, Marie, better known as Rogue, runs away from home and hitches a ride with another mutant, known as Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine. Charles Xavier, who owns a school for young mutants, sends Storm and Cyclops to bring them back before it is too late. Magneto, who believes a war is approaching, has an evil plan in mind, and needs young Rogue to help him. X-men is a unique film, even in that it's very first scene is a Nazi death camp. Even after the many years since it's release I get goose bumps during the first scene. The film is deep and layered with meaning. It shows us how sick the human race still is how intolerant we are with each other by showing us how the mutants are treated. Luckily Singer paid attention to the personality of the characters giving them depth and layers, the films three most developed characters are Professor X, Magneto and Wolverine, the actors playing the three of them take the cake. The script is good, making sure that the film is never outrageous but rather dark and serious. The most unforgettable scenes are the conversations of the two veterans at the beginning and the end. The special effects are good, but you can tell that it was made in 2000, but it's okay, because there aren't too many action scenes in the film. It only has a few mistakes that are things that the die hard fans may not like, for instance Wolverine being the main character which he isn't in the comics but what can I say Hugh Jackman Australia's gift to woman everywhere kind of steals the show. or he would if the whole thing wasn't the great Mr. McKellen's one man production. Singer got it right, and could bring out the most he could from the film. The first part may not have exploded, but it was the perfect lead in. Singer bit off as much as was chewable, doing a perfect job. Now 14 years after the release date we can say xmen was perfectly placed into his hands 'cause if he wasn't around Marvel most probably wouldn't be where it is today. 8/10. Max - https://www.youtube.com/user/silverscreenreviews1