Another fantastic comic-book adaptation

Rating: 10/10 (5 May 2003)

"X-Men", one of Marvel Comic's most popular titles, contains 40 years of plot lines and a dizzying array of characters. For a director to take on a legacy so vast was a challenge, and Bryan Singer delivered a solid adaptation in 2000's "X-Men." Much like the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher "Batman" franchise, Singer's "X-Men" universe divorced itself from the comics' plot and structure while remaining true to the essence of the material. Characters' relationships and origins were changed or adapted, but in the end, their personalities and interactions remained intact. I'm glad to say that more of the same love Singer has shown in the past, without giving in to fanboy adherence, has yielded another fine comic book film in "X2: X-Men United."
The film begins with a blue-skinned, devilish-looking mutant named Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) teleporting into the Oval Office, attempting to assassinate the President of the United States. He fails and vanishes, leaving behind a knife with the message "Mutant Freedom Now." Xenophobic and opportunistic military general William Stryker (Brian Cox) uses the attack to propel his mission forward: the eradication of all mutants. Aided by his enigmatic assistant Deathstrike (Kelly Hu), Stryker raids the Xavier School for the Gifted, rounding up as many mutants as he can. The attack forces the X-Men -- including Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry), and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) -- to team up with their enemy Magneto (Sir Ian McKellen) and his shape-shifting partner Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) to fight Stryker's plot.
The action and special effects of "X2" are above it's predecessor in every way. They are more seamlessly integrated into the film while maintaining their visual flare. That's a good thing, since virtually all of the characters in the film possess some mutant power that facilitates a special effect. This reliance on effects sometimes comes at a cost to script and story, but even this is still very well-done, true to the film's origins, and superior to the vast majority of recent comic book films ("Bulletproof Monk", "Batman & Robin", "Daredevil").
The film has a fantastic ensemble of actors, many of whom have seen their roles from the first film increased significantly. While this is a great chance for Janssen to become more than a pretty doctor and allows Romijn-Stamos to slink and slide as the sexiest femme fatale in recent memory, Halle Berry wastes her role as Storm with too many weak line readings. Although it is to her credit that she wisely decided not to try an accent this time around, she lacks the gravity and authority that comes with the character. Among the other new faces, Cumming is wonderful, and Hu is a marvel to behold when Deathstrike is given reign to let loose. Cox proves again why he was the original Hannibal Lecter (in "Manhunter") in a fantastic performance that does not easily slip into melodrama or caricature.
Perhaps the most striking part of the film is the ending, which I will not give away here. "X2" ends with a moment that will have fans familiar with the comics' history nervous with anticipation for the next film...and gives them the job of explaining it to those who are not.
All in all, I can't think of a better way to begin the 2003 summer season of films. "X2" is a thrilling, dark, action-filled spectacle with moments of genuine emotion and depth. A must for any comic fan or fan of fantastic cinema. 9 out of 10.