Best superhero movie ever?

Rating: 10/10 (9 May 2003)

The main problem with any comic-book or superhero movie is that the portion of the audience that is unfamiliar with the characters and situations (usually a VAST majority) needs to be brought up to speed. If the writers drop you into the middle of, for example, the "X"-universe without explaining what mutants are, what they can do, and why "normal" humans are so afraid of them.
The first "X-Men" movie did an incredible job of giving the background of Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his team of mutant superheros, the X-Men. However, director Bryan Singer was a bit limited by the fact that he couldn't jump right in headfirst to his story.
He faced no such problem with "X2: X-Men United," and has in the process created the greatest superhero film ever made. And, yes, I'm counting the original "Batman" and "Superman" films, as well as the more contemporary "Spider-Man" and all of the mediocre ("Daredevil") and just plain awful ("Masters of the Universe") films to be made in the meantime.
I saw "X2" opening night, and now, one week later, I literally keep replaying the movie in my head. From the opening sequence where crowd favorite Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) tears up the White House through to the heart-wrenching conclusion, Singer hits all the right notes.
I'll be honest. I haven't read the comics in about seven or eight years. I don't know any of the contemporary stories, but from what I can remember, "X2" portrayed every character as accurately as it could (keeping in mind the fact that audiences would not buy any of the trademark X-Men storylines that involve time travel or outer space). Nightcrawler, the "furry blue elf" who looks like a demon, had the right mannerisms. Colossus (Daniel Cudmore in an incredible cameo) was just the right mix of gentle giant and imposing freak. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) was written perfectly for what happened to her character (no spoilers here, folks. See it for yourself).
I can't stop thinking about this movie, and as someone who sees a lot of films, that's really something. Lines of dialogue, memorable visuals, and even the bit of Mozart's "Requiem" that plays throughout the opening sequence chase each other around my head as I write this, and this would be a long review if I put every word of it down on paper.
In short, see...this...movie. It is a truly mind-blowing experience, the likes of which I haven't seen in a theater since "Adaptation" (though that was mind-blowing in an entirely different way).
Before I leave, here are some of my favorite moments from the movie (I know I'll leave some out, forgive me):
~ Nightcrawler's romp in the White House. ~ Professor Xavier's first "143"-induced hallucination. ~ Siryn! ~ Iceman and the Dr. Pepper bottle. ~ The kid playing with the sabretoothed tiger skeleton in the museum. ~ Pyro's outburst at the Drake house. ~ Wolverine vs. Deathstrike ~ Any scene with Bryan Cox ~ The way Mystique still doesn't quite have the "Kelly walk" right. ~ The dogfight ~ The Angel x-ray in Stryker's office ~ "Shoot anyone that approaches. Even if it's me." ~ Magneto, his prison, and iron. ~ "We love what you've done with your hair." ~ Jean giving the Professor's monologue from the beginning of "X-Men"