SNIKT!

Rating: Null/10 (22 September 2003)

The X-men are back, many of them with better hair!
"X2: X-Men United" possesses many of the qualities that made the original "X-men" notable.
For one, Hugh Jackman is again superb as the all-important Wolverine. Newcomer Alan Cumming is also excellent as Nightcrawler, and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos is better than ever as the shape-shifting Mystique.

"X2" also has a sense of humor about itself without descending into the campiness that made the "Batman" franchise crumble. Admittedly, "X2" does have a lighter touch than the first "X-Men", focusing more strongly on whiz-bang thrills than its character's inner conflicts. Thankfully, the whiz-bang thrills actually work. The opening sequence (set in the White House) is dazzling, and Wolverine has an intense bout of berserker rage as well as a great showdown with his femme equal, Deathstrike.
"X2" seems proud to be a summer movie thrill ride - and you'll want to take this ride again and again.