An Amazing Step in the Saga

Rating: 9/10 (10 May 2003)

It is rare that a sequel is better than the first, but that's the case for "X2." Seeing it for the first time is exhilarating--and a bit creepy, since things keep going wrong (comparisons between "X2" and "The Empire Strikes Back" are right-on in this matter). The film isn't just a visual delight and action extravaganza, it's also has aspects of a thoughtful examination of bias, minority, and government power. I've heard it said that a director's first job is in casting, and once again, Singer delivers by not only bringing back the core cast, but also in the addition of Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler) and especially Shawn Ashmore (Iceman). Singer uses each actor perfectly (why not have Oscar winner Anna Paquin carry much of the non-action drama?), but his greatest feat is that he has made "X2" better than its predecessor. Kudos to him for that, and I can't wait to see what he has in store for "X3."