Rebecca Romijn Movie:

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		Used Price: $19.95
		MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
In a time when race and religion don't separate people, but extra powers and mutated characteristics do, two longtime friends, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) part ways, only to become rivals over the issue of how much patience they should have with "normal" people. Living lives that scare most humans lacking the "X-factor" (a special power such as telekinesis), they fight over changing the general population into mutants. Xavier decides to help mutants in a special school while waiting for humanity to be more accepting, while Magneto opts to change all "normal" people into mutants in order to create a mutant-only world. Leading a group of four powerful X-Men (and women) to rescue one lost girl (the mutant Rogue, played by Anna Paquin)--and the entire population of New York--Xavier recruits a new member to their group: Logan (Hugh Jackman), better known as Wolverine, joins the team with much reluctance, only to prove very valuable to the rescue effort.

Each member of the X-Men has mastered their special gift--the ability to create a storm (Storm, played by Halle Berry), telekinesis (Dr. Jean Grey, played by Famke Janssen), eyesight carrying laserlike destructive power (Cyclops, played by James Marsden), the ability to heal nearly any wound he sustains (Wolverine, played by Hugh Jackman). The chemistry among these four sets the stage for some expert teamwork--and some hidden romance. The mutants' ensemble work drives the action sequences, such as in a train station battle with Magneto's crew--including Sabertooth (Tyler Mane), Toad (Ray Park), and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)--that unleashes a lot of destruction, thanks to the striking special effects.

You don't have to be a fan of the hugely popular X-Men comic books to enjoy Bryan Singer's film, which is loaded with creativity, cool effects, and characters complex enough to lift it above run-of-the-mill action films. And Singer sets the stage admirably for the sequels that could turn X-Men into the strongest comic-book franchise since Batman. --Sandra Levin

X-Men [Region 2] Reviews:
The start of a great movie series
2008-07-31 - Looking back on this movie now, after having watched a plethora of super hero movies, I can honestly say this is a decent movie, but not a GREAT one.

This movie was actually one of my first introductions to the world of super heroes (I'd only previously seen the first two Spider-Man movies before watching this and hadn't ever picked up a comic book) so I look back on it with a sense of nostalgia if nothing else. The plot is essentially the essence of the X-Men comics: people who were born different vying for acceptance in a world that fears and hates them, while attempting to stop the "villain" from carrying out his evil plot. (I say "villain" because I'm not really sure if Magneto counts as a villain, if you get right down to it. He and Professor Xavier are basically two sides of the same coin. But, I digress.) It has generally good acting, with one or two exceptionally excellent or horrid performances, and the script...well, it works, usually. What this movie is, more than anything, is a setup for X2, which is by far the best of the series and (in my opinion) one of the better super hero movies in existence. But this first X-Men movie is a solid effort, and a fun watch, if only because Ian McKellen or Patrick Stewart are in it (for the movie buffs) or because there are explosions (for the action fan). And even I, who is generally underwhelmed by the character of Wolverine, have to admit that Hugh Jackman played him perfectly. The only other part I've seen so well-cast is Aragorn of The Lord of the Rings.

Hollywood finally gets the "superhero" thing right.
2008-06-30 - I didn't grow up with the X Men, I grew up with superfriends lol.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I rented this one, I knew who wolverine was but none of the other characters.
I liked it.
I'm so glad Hollywood decided to get actors who can actually act.
They definitely give the characters depth and personality.
The story is very good, how can you not love Magneto???
The direction is ok, but not phenomenal.
The fx are great but kinda gross in a few parts, like the part when the Senator "melts". Yuck.
All in all, a fantastic movie and a great introduction to the X Men.
Recommended.


A good movie in a good set of movies
2008-05-12 - My son is a superhero fan and had seen X-Men 2 and 3. We really wanted to see how it all started so we hunted down X-Men 1 and were glad we did. It is well done with good character development. If you like superheros, you will really like all the movies of the X-Men

A Blast
2008-04-28 - Not many words needed to describe this wild and exciting ride with these unusual but intersting charaters.

Pretty bad -- really.
2008-02-19 - Even for a movie based on a comic book, this one is pretty unwatchable, partly because it tries to take itself way too seriously. I saw "X-Men" shortly after seeing "Fantastic Four," and it suffers greatly by comparison. The only non-cardboard characters are Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin), and even then Wolverine was too much the nice guy instead of an antihero. This also may be Patrick Stewart's worst movie yet, and Ian McKellen doesn't come out much better. The other actors simply chew the scenery. And -- again, even for a comic book -- the plot holes are enormous. E.g., where did the billions of dollars come from to construct the underground complex at Xavier's private school? (I hate to think what the tuition bills are like. . . .) The original Superman and Batman flicks are proof that a good film of this type is possible.