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Rating: Null/10 (7 May 2003)

X2: X-Men United
It's that time of year that the movie industry and the public look forward to with equal amounts of trepidation and glee. It's that time of year when the birds are singing, the sun is shining, grass is growing, and all things old are new again. Yes, you got it, it's the time for sequels to hit the theater. X2 leads the pack with it's recent release. The only question is can it surpass the original or does it fall victim to the dreaded, sequelitis? Let it be known...it is GOOD!
(possible spoilers)
Logan has returned from his journeys in search of his past. Nothing is really any more clear than when he left Xavier's school at the end of the original movie. Unfortunately the team is moving quickly in different directions. Storm and Jean Grey have headed to Boston tracking a possible evil mutant and the Professor and Cyclops have headed to visit their old enemy Magneto, still residing in the plastic prison he was encased in when last we saw him. Logan reluctantly agrees to stay and watch the students as the rest leave on their missions.
As Storm and Jean Grey discover the mutant in Boston known as Nightcrawler, the mansion comes under a military led attack. Some of the students are captured however the majority are able to escape due to the efforts of Logan and some of the older students. Fortunately Logan, Rogue, Bobby Drake (Iceman), and the student known as Pyro are able to meet back up with Storm and her compatriots. Unfortunately the Professor and Cyclops seem to have totally disappeared. Even more unfortunate for them, Magneto has been able to escape from his prison with the aid of Mystique and has now offered to align with the team. It seems he knows where their mutual enemy is and why he has captured the Professor. If our heros and villains are not able to work together as one team, then all of mutant kind may soon be at risk.
As a longtime fan of Marvel Comics I admit that for years I was disappointed with the attempts at translating the characters to the big screen. I approached the original X movie with some fear and was happily surprised. I didn't think the story was that great since the majority of it was taken up explaining the characters but I was happy. This movie doesn't have that problem. It has a good, thought-out plot and it moves with a quick pace that doesn't cause one to wonder how long they have been in the theater.
The biggest success I can see for this movie comes from the totally reuniting of the original cast and director. Bryan Singer returns as director and he understands the pacing which is needed. He knows the amount of exposition to deliver and when the action needs to be kicked up a notch, and when he kicks the action up a notch it is spectacular. I don't believe we ever really got to see Logan cut loose in the first movie but here, oh my goodness! I realize that their are other members of the team but this one focuses much on the arguably most popular character and it succeeds. Saying that though, we do have the introduction of many characters and hints at even others further to come. The mansion sequence was a treat for knowledgeable fans as you spent the time remembering who the students were simply from the use of their powers.
All of the actors are superb in their roles. Patrick Stewart has long been the dream of many as Professor X and he succeeds admirably. Brian Cox (the original Hannibal) plays the "main" villain, Commander Stryker, with complete self-rightous evil. The standouts are of course Hugh Jackman, Logan/Wolverine, and Ian McKellen, Magneto. The two of them have mega-charisma and the story always moves up to another level when they are on the screen.
As you can guess, I highly liked this and strongly recommend it for fans and non-fans alike. I will give this a split rating because I believe non-fans will find it good but not understand as well the attention to detail that has been given. Sure, a few things have been changed to fit the content of the screen but overall this adaptation was incredibly well done and it will most definitely be a part of the collection. 3/4 for non-fans and 4/4 for fans.