X-Two

Rating: 8/10 (29 April 2003)

X-Men 2, the sequel to the highly successful and solid original comes to the screen with much greater hype, expectations and budget than the first and for the most part, lives up to them and raises the standard for Comic Book Films even higher.
As with the first, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine carries the film. Jackman has the best lines, action scenes and screen presence - mainly due to limited screen time for the always excellent Ian McKellan. The film starts off strongly with a great scene in the White House and carries this momentum to a terrific battle for the Mansion, with Wolverine really cutting loose. However, the finale and slightly hammy ending not being able to keep up with initial pace is somewhat of a letdown. Character-wise, Iceman, Pyro are coming along nicely and Nightcrawler is a welcome addition to the family. But why does Mystique, a supporting villain at best, get far more screen time than Magneto? With so many characters and so little screen time (135 minutes goes by VERY fast)someone has to miss out, with Cyclops once again drawing the short straw.
Still, there are plenty of treats for fans; with 'Dr. Hank McCoy' making a guest appearance and a great cameo by Colossus (steel skin), while 'Jamie Madrox' (Mulitple Man) and 'Remy LeBeau' (Gambit) on the computer screen showing intricate attention to detail.
Overall, a real treat for fans, a top-notch action/sci-fi film for everyone else and more enjoyable than the original.
Best Bit: Wolverine's berserker rage in the mansion made my hair stand on end!
Worst bit: The ending lacked the emotional impact that the filmmakers were aiming for. And the prospect of having to wait another 3 years for part 3 - how can I survive?