X-Men Review

Director: Bryan Singer

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen

Original Release Date: July 13^th, 2000

Based on the characters created by: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby

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EDITED NOTE: MAY 26TH 2014

In the review I mentioned that the first Marvel Comic films were X-Men and Spider-Man. However I was wrong on that, I forgot to mention the first Blade movie, which is really the very first Marvel comics film that succeeded past the 90's Captain America film. Sorry about that!
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This Friday the most anticipated superhero movie of the year hits theatres. I never thought I would see the day when a Marvel property not released by Disney would take the spot light for most anticipated comic film of the year. You can’t blame fans though; the X-Men franchise has remained strong, and currently is the longest running Marvel property on film. With seven films (DOFP included) and with two more films in development, it looks like the X-Men franchise is here to stay.  There’s been ups and downs, and a very confusing and convoluted timeline, but have no fear, Days of Future Past is here to set things right (hopefully).  Before we can even get to the X-Men mega-crossover we have to step back in time like Wolverine and take a look at the earlier films in the series, starting with the one that started it all, the very first X-Men movie.

It’s hard to believe that at the time X-Men first came out that DC was the king of comic book movies. Regardless if Batman and Robin did horribly, DC already had two successful franchises (frankly it’s still the only two) in Batman and Superman.  Marvel-at the time known as the Marvel Entertainment Group- decided that they wanted in on the gold mine that was the film industry. Unfortunately all of their attempts were horrible failures. The first Captain America movie (yep, there was one before the First Avenger) was considered to be a terrible film and was panned by almost everyone who saw it.  The first Fantastic Four movie never even got to see the light of day, but I am sure if you dig around on the internet hard enough you can find it. So deficit to say, Marvel was not the mega film corporation that it is today, in fact you could consider their position in the early 90’s to be the same as DC’s currently. In the later years of the 90’s Marvel had found a very successful niche for their properties, cartoons. The 90’s became Marvel’s era for cartoons, the Spider-Man show was huge success but nowhere near the popularity of the original X-Men series, even now the theme song alone can give any 90’s child a sweet trip into nostalgia. So it became apparent that Marvel would try to adapt these two popular series into films, the first was X-men.

Many people consider the first Spider-Man movie to be the film that propelled the comic book genre into what it is today, but I will tell you right now that if it wasn’t for the very first X-Men movie, we wouldn’t even have the Marvel Studios that’s in power today. In fact Disney and Marvel owe a lot to 20^th Century Fox and the X-Men franchise. X-Men was the first major success for Marvel and helped them to get the Spider-Man film franchise off the ground. Tons of audiences might sham Fox’s interpretation of the fight for Mutant freedom, but we do forget all the great things that have come as a by-product from this first film and series as a whole.

X-Men takes place in the not too distant future, in a world where Humans share the world with a second primary species, Mutants. Mutants are Humans who have taken the next step in their evolutionary progress and as a result have been gifted with extraordinary powers. Some look like Humans, others look extremely outlandish, but of course as history (and the first ten minutes of the film) has shown us, Humans are not comfortable when it comes to anyone, or anything, that’s different.

With the growing threat of a Mutants Registration bill passing two unlikely Mutant misfits named Logan/ Wolverine (Jackman), and Rogue (Anna Paquin) are thrown into a battle between two warring Mutant factions. The heroic group known as the X-Men, lead by Charles Xavier/ Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and the Mutant Extremist organization known as, the Brotherhood of Mutants led by Erik Lensherr/Magneto (Ian McKellen). When the X-Men discover that both Wolverine and Rogue are key components to a terrorist plot by Magneto, they rush in to save the very people that have come to hate them.

I think it’s obvious to say that this is a pretty darn good movie. Out of all the X-Men movies I think I’ve seen this one the most, and it isn’t even my favourite. Bryan Singer was able to do something that some directors had failed to do, create a good compelling Marvel super hero film. Of course with a little help from Solid Snake……I mean, David Hayter (who wrote the film), X-Men was able to become something more than a campy super hero flick, and I think that is because the film came out at precisely the right time. Many issues revolving around race and sexuality are prime examples on why the X-Men series has stranded so strong, even Ian McKellen was compelled to take the role due to his experience dealing with his own sexuality. The world is a cruel place, regardless if you put a camera in front of it and have people running around in tight leather costumes. Times are still difficult now, even with the changes in laws around the world. X-Men has a strong political undertone throughout the film, regarding the acceptance of Mutant kind, it’s a theme that is present throughout the comics, even today.

But what makes X-Men truly great are the characters that inhabit this extraordinary world, there is no black and white, there are only people who are forced to deal with the current given circumstances in their own ways.  The entire cast of this movie is fantastic, Ian McKellen does such a fantastic job as Magneto, I remember as a kid always seeing him as just the bad guy, the guy who wanted to kill Humans for Mutant superiority who wore the funny helmet. Of course there is a far more interesting and deeper layer to the character than that. Magneto survived World War II; he has seen first hand how people react to others whom they deem different, he lost his parents and was forced to live alone for so long that he has developed a strong hatred for Humanity. Magneto isn’t really evil at all, and it took this movie for me the realize that. He is a man who just wants what’s best for his people, sure his views are horribly skewed, and he has become lost in his own ideals, but Magneto is such a compelling character who I think is more sympathetic than other Marvel villains like Loki.

Patrick Stewart is masterly casted as Professor X, it’s one of those rare time where it’s almost impossible to think of anyone else in the role. The casting choice in itself was brilliant; Stewart brings the sophistication he brings to any movie or series. Of course he will always be remembers as Captain Picard, but my god is he a fantastic Xavier. Every scene that he shares with his co-stars always shines; he shows the struggles of a man who has tries desperately to gain Mutant freedom the peaceful way. Unfortunately he is now on a collision course with his best friend Erik, which will ultimately lead to the Mutant war that he has feared his entire life. Xavier is the heart of the movie, he’s the guiding light for the X-Men, even when they see the worst of the world he is the one that reminds them that regardless of the horrors that are out there, there are so many kind people willing to give their lives for what’s right. Like Dumbledore and Gandalf, Xavier is the father figure we always wanted, not only does he show the best in Mutant kind but in Humans as well.

Of course I saved the breakout star of the film for last. Although many are getting tired of the films current theme of having him be the star of the X-Men movies, it goes without saying that Hugh Jackman is a phenomenal Wolverine. Hugh Jackman is on the same level as Robert Downy Jr., it’s almost impossible to imagine someone else in this role; it’s so interesting watching this movie knowing the career that Hugh Jackman has had. This movie is what started his career, back in Australia, Jackman was a stage actor but his incredible turn as everyone’s favourite adamantium infused Mutant made him an overnight star. Sure Wolverine is smaller than how he’s depicted on screen, but I don’t think we’ll ever get an actor who will take the dedication and time to immerse himself in this role. I know Jackman’s days are numbered, he even said that the next standalone Wolverine film might be his last, but he is able to switch into the primal anger that’s become a staple of the character then switching back to a caring individual who starts to care about the fight for mutant kind.

Of course there are many more actors riddled throughout this film other than the three main stars. Pre-True Blood Anna Paquin plays Rogue. I always found it interesting how fans complain about Wolverine but never have I seen a complaint about Rogue. Film Rogue is nothing like her comic counterpart, but I think that is for the better. Paquin is able to pull out this very vulnerable and sympathetic character that is really the eyes of the audience as we embark on this journey into the world of the X-Men. Her ability makes her one of the few characters whose life is ultimately destroyed because of her awakened abilities.

The Other X-Men we have is Scott Summers/ Cyclops played by James Marsden, Jean Grey played by Famke Janssen, Ororo Munroe/Storm who’s played by Halle Berry, whose career also took off after the film. Each actor falls into the shoes of their characters perfectly, however they are not given much to work with in this movie. It’s unfortunate because a character like Cyclops who is the leader of the X-men is reduced to a side character. I have never been a fan of the character personally, but I do know his importance to the X-Men team. The rest of the X-Men are mostly side ornaments for Wolverine, Rogue and Prof X.

The Brotherhood of Mutants also has their own cadre of Mutants for the X-Men to face against. There’s the face changing Raven/Mystique who is played by Rebecca Romijin, a memorable character who only has about three lines of dialogue in the entire movie. We also have the fierce Victor Creed/ Sabertooth played by Tyler Mane, and Darth Maul himself Ray Park as Toad.  These are all very interesting characters but they really don’t get enough to do in this film. All for the exception of Magneto do we even get a shred of character development from the Brotherhood, in fact I think the Human villain Senator Kelly (Bruce Davidson), has more development than all of the Brotherhood Mutants combined.

The special effects however are dated, but that is to be expected, the movie came out fourteen years ago. The physical effects and choreography however is extremely realized. Each fight that takes place in this film has its own special flare to it; each character has a very unique ability so not one fight is the same. The X-Men can’t only rely on their powers when fighting their own kind.  Characters like Magneto force X-Men like Wovlerine  to a standstill, while Jean Grey can use her mind to confuse her opponents. Before X-Men most superhero films were centred on one central hero, however with X-Men we got out first ensemble superhero film, each character with a colourful personality and more vibrant power to go along with it.

The makers of the film really are fans of the source material. Sure the X-Men might not sport their iconic costumes, but you have to think of this from a film-makers standpoint. As great as the costumes look on the page they would look absolutely ridiculous on screen. The costume changes are understandable and have become just as recognizable as the comic counterparts.  Also if you listen closely to certain segments of the film you’ll be able to hear the iconic 90’s cartoon theme throughout the course of the movie. This was just a nice little nod that made me smile and helped me to appreciate the work that went into this film.

X-Men is a really good movie, sure it’s not perfect, the plot is fairly strait forward and bland, and characters get hardly any screen time or development other than Wolverine (a running theme with this series). Looking past this however X-Men is still an enjoyable ride that I always enjoy revisiting and is a great first chapter in the X-Men cinematic Universe.

I give the first X-Men film a

7/10

The movie sets up for a sequel perfectly which in my opinion out of the original X-Men trilogy is the best of the bunch. Let’s leave that though for another time.