X Men 2 [DVD] [2003]

X-men 2 in a sense is more of the same except it builds on what X-men starts. It deepens relationships, especially in a love triangle between 3 of the x-men, and portrays the younger generation coming through and growing up and making their own choices about their lives. There are also a few genuine powerful emotional moments which changes the pace of the film now and again effectively and gives you a chance to catch your breath.
Both are well worth seeing as the films that set the present trend of super heroes films with more humanity and depth than spandex.

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The characters are set, so this film gives the chance to explore them a little deeper. Glad to say the whole cast is back. Super fun to see Gandolf being a bad guy! Ian McKellan is back as Magneto the mutant who sees the destruction of mankind as the only way for the mutants to survive. Patrick Stewart is Professor Charles Xavier, the kindly mentor who has a safe haven for mutants and works for their betterment for all. Back also are Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine; Halle Berry magnificent as Storm; Famke Janssen as Jean Grey and Bruce Davison as Senator Kelly . Also, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Mystique, Magneto's new sidekick, Brian Cox (the first Hannibal Lector) as Striker, his mutant killer Yuriko Oyama is played well by Kelly Hu and super addition is Alan Cumming as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler. The whole cast does a wonderful job.

When we last saw Magneto, he'd been imprisoned within a plastic jail, since any metal can be reformed and used by him. Everyone was happy at the school run by Xavier, while Logan was off trying to figure out his past. The Senator was now a mutant.

After the Nightcrawler attacks the president in a protest for Mutant's rights, Striker is able to pressure the president into a campaign against Xavier's School, playing right into Magneto's plans. Short order, Mystique has Magneto free, but Xavier has been taken by Strike who is trying to manipulate him into killing all the mutants. Thus in a switch, the good mutants must work with Magneto to free Xavier.

It's lightning pace, wonderful effects, great fight scenes and stronger character development. It's just an outstanding action flick that leaves you hungry for X 3!!

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What can i say? The tone is even darker for x-men 2, which is great - it is this apocolyptic mood which makes the x-men one of marvel's greatest creations. I like also how the film works as a kind of analogy to the civil rights movement in the US during the 1950s and 60s: Professor Xavier is akin to martin luther king, preaching unity and tolerance between humans and mutants, while Magneto adopts Malcolm x's separatist, confrontational attitude.
As expected, the special effects are spectacular, but for me it is the plot, characters and cast which really propel things along. Ian Mckellen, a giant in the world of acting, is really fantastic as the cynical Magneto. Hugh Jackman has made the wolverine role his own, while Patrick Stewart seems to have finally shaken off the Captain picard persona in his portrayal of Professor Xavier.

Finally, Mystique must rate as the sexiest female blue mutant in cinema history.

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