X2: Frank's Thoughts
01/06/2003 . Source: Frank Ochieng 

Is everybody ready for a second helping of a particular mutant recipe known as the X-Men? Apparently so since the first taste of this action-packed delicacy mustered up an incredible $157 million at the U.S. box office.

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X2: X-Men United: Film review by Frank Ochieng
X2: X-Men United (2003) 20th Century Fox

1 hr. 51 mins.

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Bruce Davidson, Anna Paquin, Kelly Hu, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Katie Stuart, Cotter Smith

Directed by: Bryan Singer

Rating: *** stars (out of 4 stars)

Is everybody ready for a second helping of a particular mutant recipe known as the X-Men? Apparently so since the first taste of this action-packed delicacy mustered up an incredible $157 million at the box office domestically.

Well, the crew is back for some more kick butt action in the robust sci-fi action-adventure sequel X2: X-Men United. Director Bryan Singer developed what was a pretty decent-looking comic hero movie in his first go-around with the celebrated blockbuster that really packed some colorful imagination in its excitable presentation.

Now X2 promises to be more spectacular in that it has doubled its efforts in bringing the audience a juicer production that boasts healthier action sequences, special effects and most importantly—a sturdy showcase of meaningful character development.

With a bigger budget to work with and a rowdy anticipation of the moviegoers looking to embrace the young spring/summer movie season with reckless abandonment, X2: X-Men United is sure to appeal to the masses on a super-charged visceral level.

It’s no fluke that when executing the compelling happenings of superheroes on the big screen, film fans automatically gravitate toward this exuberant form of escapist entertainment. And the question remains: why not? After all, there’s a reasonable belief that the old fashion premise of good challenging evil always makes for the ultimate showdown in the middle of a dominating albeit sometimes stagnating movie summer.

If anything, the X-Men represent this forethought more convincingly because they’re coming from a totally different perspective. Sure, Singer’s odd group of crime fighters is an unconventional kind of action hero. They’re strange-looking. They’re eccentric.

They’re outcasts to an indifferent society that shuns them and feeds into their potent alienation. When you think about it, the captivating element about the X-Men is extremely relevant beyond the notion of its existence as a durable sci-fi fantasy.

In fact, Singer’s narrative is a crafty commentary on the importance of toleration and accepting the differences of all living souls that have a right to exist in the skin and sensibilities that are attached to their very distinctive being. With that said, the X-Men and their rollicking confrontations may be more cerebral than what this shrewd and overactive movie set out to be originally.

X2: X-Men United and its cinematic predecessor are based on the popular power-packed protagonists from the fun-filled realm of Marvel comics. The X-Men are mutant human beings and possess unusual genetic-enhanced powers that can be deadly when misused and delightfully orchestrated when being utilized to fight the forces of evil. Despite their status as ostracized outsiders, they try to go about their business despite the harsh treatment of their fellow citizens that aren’t too crazy about their presence.

The cast of characters is back for some more stimulated mayhem of sorts: Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his devotion to his treasured Xavier School for the Gifted; imprisoned bad boy Erik "Magneto" Lehnsherr (Ian McKellen); shapely blue siren Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) who’s looking to free her leader Magneto; charismatic cigar-chomping Logan/Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) looking to make some sense out of his cloudy beginnings; Dr. Jean Grey (Framke Janssen), Cyclops (James Marsden), and the school-bound "youngsters" of the brood in the form of Storm and Rogue (played respectively by Oscar-winning actresses Halle Berry and Anna Paquin).

There are also additions to the X-Men in this rousing edition that figure in the mix of things: Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) is a German-accented blue-skinned rogue with yellow piercing eyes who’s surprisingly introspective and the fire-breathing antics of Pyro (Aaron Stanford) as a new student on the scene.

Lady Deathstrike/Yuriko (Kelly Hu) is the vivacious yet vicious vixen whose main misguided focus is heaped upon the hairy studmuffin Wolverine.

What can we say but "let the games begin!"

The level-head patience of Xavier believes in the philosophy that his oppressed X-men should learn to live with the rest of humanity even though there is blatant hostility pointed their way. On the contrary, Magneto can care less what the judgmental humans think and as powerful mutants capable of setting things straight he wants the X-Men to rule the planet with no questions asked whatsoever.

But all hell breaks loose as the X-Men are forced to put their differences aside and unite to fend against meddlesome government operative William Stryker (Brian Cox). Gen. Stryker is a bitter military man who strangely shares Magneto’s views in that humans and mutants cannot co-exist in harmony on the same planet.

The hatred of mutants rings too close to home in that Stryker’s own son shares their very same genes. Hence, the miserable federal fuss bucket can no longer stomach the sight of his "despicable" offspring.

Stryker is handed an antagonistic gift on a silver platter in his bid to attack the X-Men with legitimate force once and for all. When the heavily guarded president of the United States is threatened by an opportunistic mutant in the Oval Office this is the last straw.

Stryker uses this isolated incident as motivational tool to whip up some fear in the psyches of clueless humans sympathetic to his hearty disdain for their ilk. As a result, this gives the gung ho grouch the leverage he needs to try and shut down Xavier and his "weird operation" of freaks.

Playing on the president’s recent scare regarding his encounter with a riff raffish mutant, he calls for the reinstatement of the Mutant Registration Act. Also, Stryker convinces the Commander-in-Chief that Xavier’s schooling for his talented mutants-in-training is nothing more than a potential breeding ground for the trickery-wielding troublemakers to scheme in taking over the entire world.

Thus, this creates more tension as Stryker’s tactics are laid out in plain view—he wants the destruction of the X-Men and he’ll stop it nothing in achieving his elusive dream.

"X" certainly marks the spot for filmmaker Singer and company. There’s no doubt that X2: X-Men United is an ambitious undertaking and it runs rings around its original film. The highly entertaining vibe behind this spry offering is uniquely realized thanks to the vibrant aesthetics of the film that compliments its timely message about contrasting species getting along in both the successes and struggles of everyday life.

The script is somewhat confusing if not profoundly intelligent, sharply witty, excessively giddy and flowing with penetrating purpose. It’s refreshing to see that Singer and his moviemakers incorporate a cunning dosage of emotional intrigue that drives these anti-heroes to realize their three-dimensional definition.

The characters are loathed for their abnormal appearances and probably envied for their magical abilities as well. Yet we feel sympathetic and awed by their tenacious roles as strangers in a universe that would assume wipe them up with one stroke of inexplicable vengeance.

After the first incredible cinematic ride in 2000, no doubt there was an instant itch to parlay the frothy sequel to feature the randy exploits of the X-Men in grand fashion. And the payoff is abundantly palatable as the actors involved rise to the occasion and wallow in the mind-blowing experience that will rescue casual and sci-fi film fans from the vacuous dreck that continuously poses as acceptable adrenaline-fueled cinema.

The cast, led by the superb angst and memorable exaggerations by Stewart’s sophisticated Xavier, Jackman’s showy Wolverine and McKellan’s militant Magneto, absolutely shines and brings this priceless popcorn proceeding to its flexible knees.

With such an elaborate ensemble of players to juggle around in order to make this animated story work effectively, Singer does a stand up job trying to distribute the characterizations accordingly. Yes, there are some that take a demotion in screen time as compared to their first outing (read: Berry’s Storm, Marsden’s Cyclops and Paquin’s Rogue) but the concentration on the newer characters such as Cumming’s Nightcrawler and Hu’s menacing Lady Deathstrike adds some punch to the feisty festivities.

True, this X-Men sequel does have its notable flaws to consider. At times, you can’t help but be subjected to the convoluted congestion of the plotline that struggles to accommodate a massive cast trying to make a substantial push for their characterizations to hit their stride amid the film’s pulsating rush.

Plus, the movie did succumb to some questionable lapses as it started out flat in selective areas only to pick up momentum where the action finally rescued it. And there are a few distracting mini-conflicts floating about that are either romantically triggered or a case of forced dissention thrown in that occasionally interfere with the main vendettas involving Xavier vs. Stryker or Magneto vs. Xavier, etc.

Still, one has to give kudos to the thought-provoking dilemma of having this band of erratic heroes that "don’t fit in" try to conquer the stronghold of resistance looking to take them out in a cold-hearted and bold maneuvering. Overall, this favorable farfetched fable diligently spins a web of pure inventive flashiness even though there are slight parts of this gamy exposition that may have been left on the sidelines in its full throttle.

There’s no denying that X2: X-Men United is a bountiful comic book movie that transports the mindset of the moviegoer into the heart of its explosiveness and infectiously braggart convictions. This is one awesome superhero saga that doesn’t mind asking its adventurous audience to think as it expresses the timely message about adjusting to the adversity of ignorance that permeates in the real world.

Here’s hoping that the third installment (should it get the green light to go on as expected) stays true to its sprawling overload of conveying itself as a soulful and spirited subtext of supernatural alienation and frustration among the overly suspicious living elements.

Frank rates this film: *** stars (out of 4 stars)