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movie review - X-Men

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

This is the movie based on the long-running comic book series by the same name. It is set in the near future, when human mutants have developed (supposedly as the next step in human evolution). The mutants tend to posess unusual abilities and even superhuman powers. They are therefore hated by the bulk of humanity, and that friction sets the backdrop for the action in this flick.

Having grown up in the 80's, I read a good deal of the X-Men series, and was familiar with all but one of the characters in the movie. I was dreading the casting choices, especially when I heard that they cast an Aussie for Wolverine, a good Canadian boy. But the casting (along with the reasonably intelligent plot, and excellent integration of sets, customes, and special effects) was one of the standouts in this flick. Casting McKellen as Magneto was a stroke of genius. Patrick Stewart played the dull but determined Professor Xavier with incredible faithfullness. And Hugh Jackman, who played Wolverine was incredibly well chosen. It was also interesting to see Ray Park's face for the first time, after heavy makeup in Episode I and Sleepy Hollow obscured it.

This movie - as with any good comic - revolves tightly around its characters. This is why casting was vital, but the story really shines at this point. Introducing a world as vivid as the X-Men universe and its many bizarre, complex characters in two movies (and telling a story at the same time) would seem a tall order. But they've pulled it off here. The characters are much more than one-dimensional crud as found in the Superman nd especially the excreble Batman series.

This flick was a happy surprise. See it in the theatre!

Recommended.