X-men 2 is X-cellent

Rating: Null/10 (10 June 2003)

Are you an X-men fan? To tell you the truth it really doesn't matter. This is the best action film of the year so far. I will be surprised if even the much hyped 'The Hulk' can better this comic book conversion. This might, and I stress the word MIGHT better Terminator 3: Rise of the machines in the box office.
After watching Bryan Singer first conversion, X-Men, you couldn't help but feel it left a lot to be desired and that it wasn't fully for filling the great expectations of the legend of the comics or even the cartoons. However, upon watching the second installment it will leave you wishing for the third film in the series.
The film starts on a great level of excitement that is upkeep through out the film. The opening scene is with the soon to be new addition to the X-Men team, Nightcrawler. He is rampaging through the white house getting attacked by dozens of men from the secret service and dodging them using his brilliant mutant skill to teleport. It was the sort of scene that leaves you yelling up to the projectionist 'REWIND THE REEL AND SHOW IT AGAIN'. This attack is what starts the much highlighted war, in the comics, between the mutants and humans which is what lacked in the first film and comes out in abundances in X2. X-Men 2 mainly revolves around the mutant verses humans war and goes in to deep character development with everyone's favorite character, Wolverine.
Allot of people complained that in the first film there was too much character development than made it a little boring at times. However, it has to understood that not everyone are big fans of the X-Men, so it's necessary for them to show the not so familiar audience what X-men is all about. As director of X-Men 2, Bryan Singer has done a terrific job of having just the right amount of Action, Romance and Character Development.

All characters in this film did a great job, but the best actor award has to go to Hugh Jackman for his absolutely performance as one of the most loved X-Men, Wolverine. And unlike the cartoons or magazines, you get to see what Wolverine's adamintium claws can really do when applied to human flesh. Also credit has to go to Patrick Stewart for performing to a level we have come to expect from him as Professor Charles Xavier. Ian McKellen also did a great job of acting out the role of Professor X's good friend, Magneto. It took the make-up crew 2 hours to turn Alan Cumming in to the night crawler, but it was well worth it. And he gave a performance as if he owed them something for their hard work. The question is who had the best make up, Nightcrawler or Mystic? You really won't be able to chose between them, except any man would have loved to have been Rebecca Romijn-Stamos' make-up aid.
My Rating 9/10 'You have to go and watch this film whether you are an X-Men fan or not, I promise it's a stunner from the begging till the end'
Final Comments A great film! The first film was good but nothing compared to this. It really is a must. Even if it is just for the opening scene and to see how great Nightcrawler is, you will get your moneys worth within the first 10 min's. When the film is over you will get be left wanting more. All I can say is roll on X-3. The next film I am looking forward to seeing is Sean Conerys latest chart smashing block busted 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen'