Better than the first?

Rating: 9/10 (3 November 2005)

This next instalment of the marvel comics that set of the comic book superhero films has certainly lived up to my expectations. The film offers the same as the first film and more. Once again we get to see our favourite action hero's save the world from a growing threat, this time with the x-men and brotherhood working together. Xavier (Stewart) has been captured by a mutant hating military scientist, William Stryker (played by Brian Cox) and its up to the mutants to save him before he is tricked into using his powers to kill all the mutants in the world. As we see a return of the mutants from the first film as well as some new ones, we get to see more action and powers. We see Storm (Halle Berry) expand her powers to create powerful tornadoes, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Jean (Famke Jansen) struggle to keep their feelings under control and we also see Jean go through a power struggle and a personal sacrifice to save the ones she loves. This film has a lot to offer with action, sci-fi, comedy and romance. However, I felt that it could have been cut down by 20 minutes to get rid some unnecessary scenes and I was disappointed at how little of Cyclops we got to see. Overall I enjoyed the second film version of my favourite superheros and can't wait to see the next film currently under production.