This sequel is long and dull --- wait for it to come out on video and save your $8 !

Rating: 7/10 (13 May 2003)

***** MILD SPOILERS AHEAD *****
"X2" reunites a great cast in the sequel to the first X-Men movie based on a comic book series. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Storm (Halle Berry) along with the other mutants do battle against William Cox (played by Brian Cox) who wants to destroy them (his son happens to be a mutant,too!). There ends up being a showdown between William Cox and the mutants at a remote alkalai dam, and somehow things get turned around and all of the humans are in danger in place of the mutants. The question is whether Cox will be able to execute his evil schemes or whether the X-Men will be able to thwart him and avert catastrophe and the death of either all of the mutants or all of the humans.
Hugh Jackman is likeable as Wolverine. Rebecca Romjin-Stamos is fascinating (in more ways than one!) as Mystique. Alan Cumming is intense and creative as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler who is hands down the most intersting character in this movie. The rest of the great cast (Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Halle Berry, Famke Jansen, James Marsden, Brian Cox, Bruce Davison and Anna Paquin) are basically wasted in idiotic cardboard thin roles which they phoned in. The film does utilize some terrific special effects and visuals, but even they get boring before this two hour movie is over.
However, that is about the extent of my compliments for this movie. "X-2" is just plain 'dull', in a word. The story gets moving very slowly. The action is routine. The dialogue is corny. The movie is too long. Most of the characters are bland (with the exception of Nightcrawler). "X-2" is a great disappointment after the first X-Men movie which I genuinely liked. The first one was quaint and imaginative as well as exciting. My advice to you is save your eight bucks and wait for the DVD rental. I give this movie a 69/100.