‘X-Men 2’

Mutants battle over the fate of puny humans in yet another film installment of the comic book series.   [PG-13]

By: Jim Boyle
   With a box-office gross totaling more than $150 million, a sequel to the 1999 blockbuster hit X-Men was inevitable. What wasn’t so certain is whether the next chapter would be as good. Rest assured, as X-Men 2 equals and even surpasses the original.
   The comic book genre is still running at full steam, and the X-Men franchise continues to raise the bar. So far, only Spider-Man has been able to meet the standard set by director Bryan Singer. This year, Daredevil swung and missed, but The Hulk and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are still on-deck.
   Singer and most of the cast return for the bigger-budget sequel. The dialogue is crisper and the jokes are funnier, although the plot drags at some points. There’s a better sense of chemistry all around, as the actors take what could be silly roles and run with them.

"Alan
"Hugh Above: Alan Cumming, plays the teleporting Nightcrawler in X-Men 2.
Left: Hugh Jackman, plays Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine, with all the humor, charisma, ferocity and unrequited love that the character demands.

   The film opens with a "bamf" as the White House is infiltrated by the blue-skinned newcomer Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming). His acrobatic moves and ability to teleport — meaning he vanishes in a puff of smoke and instantly reappears a short distance away — help him make short work of the Secret Service. After threatening the President, he once again disappears, leaving a terrified aftermath.
   With national security compromised, Gen. William Stryker (Brian Cox) seizes the opportunity to begin a manhunt for all mutants. His first target: Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester, N.Y.
   Everything is as we left it in the last film. Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), has just returned from checking out a deserted military base, searching for answers about his unknown origins. Scott Summers/Cyclops (James Marsden) and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) are still very much in love — much to Logan’s chagrin. Meanwhile Rogue (Anna Paquin) and Bobby Drake/Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) are exploring their own relationship, not an easy thing when the girl can drain the life out of you with a kiss. Oh, and Storm won an Oscar. OK, it was actually Halle Berry, but don’t think the Academy Award didn’t help increase her screen time.
   Before you can say "happy family," the X-Men’s world is shattered by Gen. Stryker and his troops as they invade the mansion, rounding up whatever mutants they can. By this time, most of the adults have split up. Storm and Jean set out to find Nightcrawler, while Cyclops and Professor X (Patrick Stewart) get themselves kidnapped, leaving Logan to protect the kids. And boy, does he ever.
   After holding back much of his anger in the first film, Wolverine finally lets loose, literally ripping into at least 15 or 20 bad guys. It’s the first fist-pumping, hand-clapping scene of the film, and proves that despite the first-rate ensemble cast, Hugh Jackman is the star. He has all the humor, charisma, ferocity and unrequited love that the character demands. It’s no surprise that a possible spin-off solo film is currently being discussed.
   With the lives of all mutantkind at risk, the X-Men have no other choice but to join forces with the villainous Magneto (Ian McKellen), who made a spectacular escape from his plastic prison with the help of Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos). The unlikely alliance is a vital one, but Magneto still maintains his personal agenda of mutant domination and even tries to entice a few candidates to the dark side. McKellan and Jackman seem to be the only ones who truly enjoy their characters. Together, the new team tries to prevent Gen. Stryker’s ultimate goal of mutant extermination.
   The special effects are pumped up, looking absolutely seamless. Really, kudos to Mike Vezina and his crew. Not once does the viewer feel removed from the story, reminded that they’re watching a movie. The makers have smartly gone the same route as The Matrix, using wires and careful camera angles for the fight scenes. Replacing real actors with digitized brawlers hindered Spider-Man and Blade 2. Daredevil was simply cursed by bad editing.
   Most of the problems with the first film are fixed here, but a couple of new ones are created. The running time is stretched to two hours, allowing for more plot development. The script, written by Michael Dougherty and Daniel P. Harris, benefits from not having to go through the origin, instead concentrating on the actual story. The themes of fear and intolerance remain intact but serve as background noise to the heavier idea of war between two different species, mutants and humans.
   As mentioned before, Halle Berry gets a little more exposure. Famke Janssen, whose character’s abilities were underestimated in the original, gets to show what she can really do. Unfortunately, with Storm and Jean Grey upping their time, someone has to get the shaft. This time, it’s James Marsden. He basically disappears within the first half hour and doesn’t show up again until the final battle.
   Some nice additions are made to the mutant roster. Alan Cumming, a star in the live-theater circuit, seemed like a strange choice for Nightcrawler but plays the role surprisingly well. Kelly Hu picks up the part of the evil Lady Deathstrike. Her long, razor-sharp claws and a super-fast healing factor makes for a pretty viscious showdown with Wolverine. Cameos by the metal-skinned Colossus, the wall-walking Kitty Pryde and Siryn, with her eardrum-shattering scream, provide quick thrills for comic book fans.
   Despite the smattering of inside jokes, X-Men 2 is accessible to everyone. The first installment would serve as a good primer to the uninitiated, but it’s not necessary. With the improvements made and the eluded possibilities for the next chapter, the wait for X-Men 3 is going to be excruciating.
Rated PG-13. Contains sci-fi violence, some sexuality and brief profanity.