X-Men United


Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Alan Cumming, Kelly Hu, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford. Directed by Brian Singer.

Mutants are being threatened the humans again. This time it's a right-wing General Stryker (Cox) in the American White House who is plotting to create a pretext to exterminate mutants. Magneto (McKellan) and Mystique (Romijn-Stamos) join forces with the Professor (Stewart), not with Gilligan or Ginger, but with Storm (Berry), Jean (Janssen), Cyclops (Marsden), Rogue (Paquin), Iceman (Ashmore), a returning Wolverine (Jackman) and a new German mutant Nightcrawler (Cumming) to try to stop Stryker and his evil plan.

Sequels tend to follow a pattern. More characters, more explosions, less intelligence and a more convoluted plot. X-Men United follows this pattern. But, for me, it is an improvement over the original X-Men, which spent much of its time introducing characters and not much on story. This time there is not just more story and more action, but actually some humour. Unfortunately, there is also a manipulative, schlocky ending, ripped off from The Wrath Of Khan (and not near as well done), with horribe acting and tons of cliches ("you know, she really loved you more than me"). It doesn't take away from the solid story that preceded it, or some excellent performances from newcomers Brian Cox, a very menacing Republican clone, and Cumming, a sympathetic and believable mutant with strong faith and considerable quickness. The rest of the outstanding cast is quite good (save the ending), and each is given something to do, unlike several being wasted in the first film.

Overall, action fans should enjoy X-Men United, but for me it serves as a warm-up for the upcoming Matrix: Reloaded.




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