Well done...

Rating: Null/10 (17 July 2000)

Having read the X-Men since childhood I was prepared and eager for a major motion picture to be made for over twenty years. Given the lack of technology, inspiration and motivation by Marvel comics when they were still a strong company, it has taken these many years.
With the initial facts of casting, location and rumors of possible story ideas I was sick with what Hollywood was trying to do with this enjoyable, mind provoking story. Then I saw the first Internet teaser. Hmm... maybe I wasn't giving this movie enough credit. Then, the first full length theatrical trailer, and the second and the third. I wanted to see more and more as the days went on, leading to July 14th. I reverted from a complete adult loyalist and fanatic to a kid bursting with anticipation to see his heroes on film.
Singer does a fine job of translating a chapter from 40 years of X-Men history to film. Where I hated the casting choices before the movie, and still uncertain about some even after, I have to say my biggest doubts were overcome in Wolverine. Hugh Jackman, a virtual unknown from Australia, lists in his profile that he is 6'2" and weighed 160 pounds before filming. Can you say, beanpole? For the readers of the comics we know that Wolverine is so likeable because he is short, mean, sarcastic and "...the best there is at what he does." Upon hearing Jackman's casting as the little, ferocious furball I was ill.
As it turns out, Jackman, with the addition of 15 pounds of muscle, delivers the best performance from the ensemble cast. Of course the two heavy weights, McKellan and Stewart, were good as usual. Though there was no back story and extremely little detail of the other characters, aside from names and powers, it was fun to see them all transformed on film. The biggest problem this movie had was the complete alteration of an already complex, mind blowing story. I guess Hollywood has to do what it's got to do. The plot was extremely weak as well. With that 40 years of history they could have come up with much better, but then I guess that's why they went through 9 writers before they finalized this current script.
All in all it's a great ride and just the right amount of time. In this day of 2.5 to 3.5 hour long epics, X-Men comes in at a wonderfully short 1.5 hours. Tell the story, get to the action and move on to the sequel. Singer has done just that for this first installment of what is sure to be the rival superhero franchise in films between Marvel and DC.