definitely worth your money...

Rating: 9/10 (21 May 2003)

There are an awful lot of characters in the X-Men comic book series (and the movies too, as a result). Therefore, character development becomes a time-management issue for filmmakers. How much time can you spend developing the characters and still have time left to tell a story? In the first movie, this problem was apparent. Although it developed the characters in a way the audience could relate to and it contained a good plot, it somehow fell short of capturing the true "essence" of the X-Men comic book series. Viewers who were unfamiliar with the comic books series were not really given insight into the deeper issues associated with the human condition that the comic books addresses so well.
X2 addresses this criticism and goes well beyond what was needed to address it. Through X2, viewers unfamiliar with the comic book series are provided a much deeper and more complex view of the "mutant issue" that goes beyond special effects and the mechanics of filmmaking. There is real substance here. But the movie is not boring, it is fast-paced and action-packed.
Hugh Jackman reprises his role as Wolverine, and brings additional depth to the character. Patrick Stewart is as distinguished as ever. But it is Alan Cumming who steals the show. He is truly awesome as Nightcrawler. He places a human face on the mutants in subtle ways the other actors strive to achieve, but he does it with his own unique style and in a much more evident fashion.
Go see this movie!