X2 review

Rating: 10/10 (18 April 2003)

I was lucky enough to manage to get a ticket for a screening of X2 at London's Odeon Leicester Square at 10:00 am this morning. I enjoyed the first film immensely but agreed that there were some flaws in it. This film however totally blew me away.
I was wondering how they would top the opening of the last film with its clever and dramatic retelling of the Magneto origin but I am pleased to say that they managed to provide a stunning and heart stopping sequence to open the film that will have fans and non fans gasping in delight.
The film is superior in almost every aspect to the first. All of the characters get extended screen time and seem more settled in their roles. Halle Berry has thankfully dropped the dodgy accent and left us with just a slight twang that works far better than her attempt in the first film. We see a much more complex side to Storm than before and it works well. Hugh Jackman continues to develop what must be a very challenging role and manages to pull it off with a charm and flair that IS Wolverine. He, as ever, gets pretty much the most screen time and we get to delve a little deeper into his past. Alan Cumming's nightcrawker was something I had reservations of before I saw the film, but I can honestly say that he is fantastic. Every scene he is in he steals and I nearly died of excitement the first time I heard a 'BAMF'.
Famke Janssen is excellent in the film, her character Jean Grey is used very well indeed and fans will be pleased to see how Jean develops in this movie.
The effects are superlative. No dodgy glowing white balls of energy this time. All powers are rendered superbly and are used very well indeed. The set pieces are mind-blowing and received rounds of applause in the cinema, something I am not used to seeing over here in Britain. I can't wait to see this film again and it is a definite must for my DVD collection. Now I only have to wait for the third instalment.