X-Men 2
01/12/2003 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 

pub: video: 20th Century Fox 24224S. 128 minutes. Price: £11.99 (UK) although shop around for the best deal. stars: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Alan Cumming, Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Aaron Stanford and Kelly Hu.

check out website: www.fox.co.uk

Indeed, one could also argue that all the cast are far more relaxed in the roles they're playing. No doubt helped by the fact there's a lot more dialogue this time, the only real weakness of the first film.

This film is a real franchise movement as it's a continuation and development from the first X-Men film.

The awareness of the mutant menace is heightened when a teleporting demon-looking mutant shows how poor the White House security is against a single individual determined to meet the President and leave a calling card for freedom for mutants.

It is all in the matter of covert manoeuvring to imprison all mutants along with the captive Magneto, still locked in his plastic cell, and being interrogated by William Stryker about a particular school for gifted youngsters.

Wolverine returns in time to be told to look after the school's youngster while two teams go out. One team, Jean Grey and Storm, to locate and investigate the demon-looking mutant while Xavier and Cyclops in civvies visit Magneto.

While this distraction takes place, the school is invaded and despite making capital against the odds, Wolverine is forced to flee taking Iceman, Rogue and Pyro with him while a brief appearance of Colossus is enough to indicate that he's taking the other young mutants to safety. Mystique, meanwhile, is also arranging for Magneto's release her own way. Be wary of being chatted up by pretty blondes when you're not God's gift to women!

Ultimately, there is a unification of the various groups, some background about Wolverine's origin and a stern warning to the President not to make war with the mutants which will undoubtedly lead to film 3.

OK. It's a great film and should be on you must see list this time of year. Can I be critical? Sure. Halle (Storm) Berry's Oscar doesn't change my mind that she was sorely miscast in this film and really could have been played with a more African than American outlook.

Like the comicbook on occasions, Xavier is still too powerful and much of the time is spent in reducing his power level so he doesn't dominate business. It would be interesting to see the action would be affected if Xavier's role was deliberately down-played to remove the safety net the rest of the X-Men have from him. Being the most powerful telepath in the world is nothing when there isn't anyone there to show how far down the level you have to be to be second place.

Jean Grey, apart from having a shorter haircut, also has a sudden increase in power levels without really much of a rationale as to why other than a repercussion from the first film. This was treated far too much as a side issue to the main story when there was no real indication of a wild fluctuation towards the end or what really caused it.

Saying all of the above, one can't fault much of this film. Kudos for an interesting performance by Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler.

I might not like the tattoos used for texture or the teeth instead of fangs but a fun albeit morose part. Director Brian Singer plays decent lip service with references to Muir Island and Project: Wideawake - if you're reading this, Brian, don't forget that giant Sentinels were around while all the Japanese had at the time was 'Gigantor' - and a brief cameo by Hank McCoy and shame we didn't see more of Shadowcat and Syrn.

With a three back-up features on film production at the end of the film it might not compete with the extra DVD but video buyers aren't totally forgotten either.

Can't wait for the third film.

GF Willmetts