Great comic book to big screen translation

Rating: Null/10 (16 July 2000)

Finally the blockbuster of the summer has arrived. Want to take a action-packed thrill ride loaded with some of the best visual effects, terrific acting jobs and some of the best one-liner humor in recent films? If so, then you owe it to yourself to see "X-Men". And soon.
Plotline revolves around the plot of an evil mutant who is out to wage war against humanity, and his old friend and now arch rival, who believes that humans and mutants can co-exist.
This is such a star studded cast that I'm going to tone down my usual critique of the actors to insure I cover everybody. I'm going to start with Charles Xavior, better known as Professor X. Smartly played by Patrick Stewart, the cult status this role will provide him may even eclipse that of Jean-Luc Picard, and with good reason.
Halle Berry plays Ororo Munroe, who goes by the name of Storm. Nicely played, nothing spectacular, but she fits in well and never detracts from the story. James Marsden chimes in as Scott Summers, the man they call Cyclops. Leader of the X-Men, this is also a well played role, if not a little thin. Not a lot of meat in the script for any of the X-Men, but I'll explain that in a bit.
Famke Janssen plays Dr. Jean Grey, a telepathic/telekinetic mutant who is Professor X's right hand. She runs afowl of Senator Robert Kelly (maddeningly played by Bruce Davison), only to be searched out by him when needed.
Tyler Mane plays Wolverine's nemesis, Sabretooth, Ray Park follows up Darth Maul with a kinetically furious turn as Toad. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos gives a stellar turn as Mystique, a shape shifting mutant. Not much in the way of dialog from her, but she plays smartly, and figures in the ending of this one. Sir Ian McKellan plays the lead evil mutant Magneto. Seeing his parents drug away in Nazi occupied Poland simply because they were Jewish is the impetus for his never wanting to be "labeled" again. He will control his own destiny. If normals force registration and identification as mutants then he will.........
Now, on to the real primary characters in this one....Hugh Jackman plays Logan. We all know him better as Wolverine. Living as a loner, unable to remember his past, Logan moves from town to town, engaging in local toughman contests to provide a living. This is so well done that I simply have to thank John Woo and the entire "M:I2" cast for hanging on to Dougray Scott. Jackman oozes Wolverine, and delivers the best characterization in the movie. One day Logan runs across a stowaway in his truck, her name? Marie. Now calling herself Rogue, Marie has the ability to draw out the life force of any normal human. Well played by Anna Pacquin, breathing new life into the voluptious southern belle. I have to admit I didn't think she'd do well in the role, but she proved me and every other nay-sayer wrong.
The special effects are top notch, the story is excellent. Acting, not a flaw or bad word to say about the entire bunch. Bryan Singer has done an outstanding job bringing this to the big screen. You don't have to be a fan of the comic series to enjoy this movie, and if you are then the slight differences between the movie heroes and the drawn ones is inconsequential.
"X-Men" is classic summer "popcorn" fare, and should provide Fox Studios with just the franchise it needs. Three cheers for a sequel and 4 1/2 stars for this film.
4 1/2 out of 5