From such humble beginnings

Rating: 7/10 (24 April 2015)

The X-Men movies have become so big and the characters varied that it's actually kind of a surprise just how effective the first movie is. "X-Men" does its job pretty well; it establishes the origins, sets up the world and makes it palatable to the mainstream. It's got a killer opening with Wolverine up North and Senator Kelly's Mutant Registration Act as McCarthy witch hunt. The rest of the movie isn't dull, but it's hard to top that.
It's certainly not without its quirks. The blinding error of casting the oddly sedate Halle Berry (who bears none of Storm's regal presence) is only offset by the spot-on choice of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. And there are a few spotty effects due to the low(er) budget, but that's nothing. Although, whoever wrote the "Do you know what happens to a toad when it's struck by lightning?" line should be ashamed of themselves.
But really, when all is said and done, it makes for both a good comic book movie and solid Summer entertainment.
7/10