X2 (X-Men 2)

Just as in the original X-Men film, this storyline continues the conflict between mutants who want to help mankind and non-mutants who want to get rid of the mutants. Its a little more complicated than that, but that is the basis for the stereotyping and prejudice that is dramatized in this comic book genre film. The same six superheroes appear: Wolverine, Storm, Dr. Jean Grey, Cyclops, Rogue and Mystique. Sabertooth and Toad from the original film are gone, replaced by two new characters, Nightcrawler and Pyro.

Unlike the other comic book conversions like Spiderman, Batman, etc. the number of X-Men superheroes diminishes any kind of detailed character development. The focus is much more on individual special powers and action and there are lots of special effects. Its fun to watch Mystique morph into different people.

The result of this approach is a superficial story that is so completely a fantasy, that the violence has no relation to real violence. In my opinion, this may be all right for an audience that can put this in perspective, but it would be the wrong for very young children. This comic book was apparently created circa 1963 when more graphic violence had crept into the comics.

The plot is overused and actually not very interesting. Mastermind #1 trying to prevent mastermind #2 from destroying mankind, good mutants fight with bad mutants and the clash creates a natural disaster. Ho-hum! But thats not why you watch this genre. You already know the plots silly. You watch to identify with a hero (and you get to chose among seven) and to see the action scenes with the neat special effects. This is not a film with any emotional depth and this is on purpose of course.

Patrick Stewart plays Professor Charles Xavier, the good mastermind. Ian McKellen plays Magneto, the evil mastermind. He is not caught, so I suspect there will be an X3. Hugh Jackman plays Woverine again, Halle Berry is Storm again, and so on.

For comic book aficionados, there is a second DVD in the set with a history of the X-Men.

Reviewed December 18, 2003