Hope there's a sequel.. cause they got some X-plaining to do

Rating: 7/10 (23 August 2000)

"X-Men" was one of the films I was excited to see this summer. After having been assaulted by the previews and promotion, I went to see this adaptation of the Marvel Comics classic. As the titles came up, my heart beat rose with fevered anticipation. At the end, all I could say to myself was "Man! That was totally non-climactic!" "X-Men" was such a disappointment. Something was severely lacking... a plot!!! The film relied too heavily on explaining the superpowers of the X-Men. Dull!!! I mean, sure, we have to understand such things to get the complete picture, but couldn't they have done it in a more interesting manner? The action sequences in this film were average at best. The big finale at the Statue of Liberty was, well, not that great. Bryan Singer is not an action director and it shows. I wish he'd go back to making great films like "The Usual Suspects". Still, I have to say Hugh Jackman was the perfect Wolverine (although X-Men purists complain he is too tall... get over it). I wish that they had worked as hard on establishing the other characters as they did with Wolverine. All in all, X-Men was o.k. I hope they make a sequel to explain everything that was left unanswered. It's so obvious the studio planned for a sequel, which is why the ending of this film ends as a first chapter rather than as complete movie. I'll probably go and see the sequel when it comes out, but I pray they make a film that stands on its own.