Movie Review: X2 X-Men United (2003)

X-Men series

This is a movie with lots of excitement.  The part about Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) looking for his roots, and finding everything abandoned and destroyed at Lake Alkali was sort of not congruent with the action and was a bit lost.  But he comes back just in time to protect the children at the school from a governmental incursion by our evil enemy, William Stryker (Brian Cox) (who wants all mutants dead) and is actually the creator of Wolverine.  This movie makes good use of Magneto (Ian McKellan) and his side kick shape shifter Mystique (Rebecca Romijn).  Mystique helps Magneto escape by giving one of his guards an injection of iron; which Magneto uses to make bullets and a metal platform on which he can float. It also tells us more about the powers of Dr. Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his machine Cerebro.  However, in the wrong hands, and with the wrong manipulation this machine can become one of great power, capable of killing.  The school is attacked by Stryker's government men, and most of the students escape, but six are taken hostage.  Cyclops (James Marsden) is taken captive with Dr. Xavier.  Stryker has a drug with which he uses to manipulate people.  He used it on Magneto to get information about the school and Cerebro.  He also uses this on Cyclops to make him an enemy to the X-men.  This movie is about team work, and some members sacrificing and protecting others. Wolverine ends up leading the escapees with Storm (Halle Berry) and Jean (Famke Janssen).  They not only have to keep the children safe, but also rescue Cyclops and Dr. Xavier.  This takes teaming up with Magneto and Mystique.

Movie Review: ****X-Men (2000)

X-Men  series

 This movie introduces us to several interesting characters.  It is based on the Marvel Universe.  The reason for all these characters is that some have an advanced genetics as humanity goes through a progression in their evolution.  I was not familiar with the comics when I first watched this, so all the characters were new.  There is Magneto (Ian McKellen), who is the leader of those who want to control everything, and Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart), on the opposite side who also runs a school for young mutants.  Two drifters are invited to the school, to keep them away from Magneto’s grasp; Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin).  Wolverine is almost indestructible, and has long claws, Rogue can take the powers of anyone she touches.  Other important characters are Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) who is a shape shifter and pretty wicked and Magneto’s assistant; Storm (Halle Berry), Cyclops (Scott Summers) and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) are in Professor Xavier’s inner circle. 

The story centers around how the government is wrestling with the idea of registering all mutants, who they are and what they can do.  Magnet is resistant to this, so he is planning a demonstration to prove his point.  He is going to turn many people into mutants, even though the process he has developed is unstable.  He kidnaps Rogue to carry this out, puts her in a machine which will kill her for sure.  The machine of Xavier is sabotaged by Mystique, and almost kills him.  The students have to fight on their own.  They take on the henchmen of Magneto, for the safety of many dignitaries that are discussing mutant issues.  It is a rough go, but they do prevail in the end, Wolverine saving Rogue, and letting her use his regenerative powers.  The first part of this story ends with Xavier’s men on top of sorts.  Magneto is captured, and in a plastic prison (he can manipulate anything of metal) and hopefully there is the possibility for good relations between human and mutant.

The theme of this movie is accepting those who are different than ourselves.  It is hard to do, but possible with patience and understading.