Hey folks, Harry here... You'll be getting much more "details" about X2 from these reviews than you did from Beaks and Moriarty... However, if you remember, both of them warned you about spoilers. I've clearly marked spoiler territory here, so if you follow and heed my guidelines you should be fine... HOWEVER... The last review on this page is pretty filled with spoilers, but it is also the most critical of the film, review I've seen, so I couldn't not include it... though ultimately... it was positive. READ THESE AT YOUR OWN RISK...
I was lucky enough to manage to get a ticket for a screening of X2 at LondonÃs Odeon Leicester Square at 10:00 am this morning. I enjoyed the first film immensely but agreed that there were some flaws in it. This film however totally blew me away.
I was wondering how they would top the opening of the last film with its clever and dramatic retelling of the Magneto origin but I am pleased to say that they managed to provide a stunning and heart stopping sequence to open the film that will have fans and non fans gasping in delight.
The film is superior in almost every aspect to the first. All of the characters get extended screen time and seem more settled in their roles. Halle Berry has thankfully dropped the dodgy accent and left us with just a slight twang that works far better than her attempt in the first film. We see a much more complex side to Storm than before and it works well. Hugh Jackman continues to develop what must be a very challenging role and manages to pull it off with a charm and flair that IS Wolverine. He, as ever, gets pretty much the most screen time and we get to delve a little deeper into his past. Alan Cumming's nightcrawker was something I had reservations of before I saw the film, but I can honestly say that he is fantastic. Every scene he is in he steals and I nearly died of excitement the first time I heard a "BAMF"!
The effects are superlative. No dodgy glowing white balls of energy this time. All powers are rendered superbly and are used very well indeed. The set pieces are mind-blowing and received rounds of applause in the cinema, something I am not used to seeing over here in Britain. I can't wait to see this film again and it is a definite must for my DVD collection. Now I only have to wait for the third installment.
(Feel free to include this or not at your discretion.)
NOW! SPOILER ZONE!!!!
Several times during the film, when Jean uses her powers, flames appear in her eyes and in a spectacular end sequence she is wreathed in flames and a certain bird-like image appears. There is no doubt left in fans minds what is going to appear in X3!!!!
All the "New Mutants" are used very well especially Kitty Pryde, Siryn and Colossus. The raid on the mansion is spectacular.
We get to see Deathstrike's facial markings, but not in the way you expect.
Magneto's escape from his plastic prison is incredibly gruesome.
Thanks from taking the time to read this review.
Magik
Next we have Benny Profane.... he does go in a spoiler direction, but not radically so
Yo Harry,
My name is Benny Profane, I write for a website called www.robotfist.com, and I've just seen a preview of X2 in London's Leicester Square.
What can I say, but X2 is very, very good. It's the best comic book movie since Spiderman, without a doubt. Its bigger, better, and louder than the first X-Men, and not just because of the increased budget, but because Bryan Singer has grown very confident with handling the material and the actors, and has rewarded the X-fans with a kick ass movie.
There are several sequences which were so cool, you could jaws dropping all around the cinema. Just to give you an idea, there's a bit where Nightcrawler attempts to assasinate the President (Not George W, unfortunately), where he goes "bampf" from room to room and wipes out these secret service stooges with blinding speed. There's another great bit where Stryker's men invade the X-mansion, ony to find Wolvie waiting for them, and then there's Magneto's escape from the plastic prison... I could go on, but I don't want to ruin it for you guys!
If I had a complaint, it's that some of the characters were chronically underused, but that's going to happen when you're working on such a broad canvas. With such a great cast, where everyone's grown into their characters, it's hard to give everyone the screentime they deserve. But the guys playing Wolverine, Magneto, Nightcrawler and Lady Deathstrike should be singled out for praise, definitely.
But by far the best thing about X2 is the introduction of the Phoenix! Yes, that's right, they've set the scene for X3 with the birth of the Phoenix, and if you liked Famke Jansen as Xenia Onatopp in Goldeneye, you can't help but drool at the prospect of her playing the Dark Phoenix in the next installment!
It's understandable why Fox are releasing this movie so soon, it's got stiff competition from the Hulk and the Matrix sequels, but if there's any justice in the world, X2 deserves to be a Titanic sized hit.
Seeya Harry, and check out my full review next week at www.robotfist.com,
Regards,
Benny Profane
Next we have NIGHTHAWK...
Harry:
Saw X-Men 2 this morning at the press show in London's fine Leicester Square. After reading Mr. Beak's thorough review (I think he's mostly spot on) here are my main points about the film:
1. X-2 as a Sequel: Unlike some comic book sequels (e.g Batman Returns) this actually felt a genuine progression from the first film - a necessary chapter in a bigger story. The final sequence also hints tantalisingly at another chapter (probably the best story in the comic books). Although the budget was bigger, the set pieces more lavish I still think the writers and director were wise to keep the focus on the characters and how they react to situations. As for the tone, the parallels to 'The Empire Strikes Back' are not far off the mark...
2. The Characters: The main strength of both films is definitely the interplay between the ensemble of mutants - not only is there the Logan, Jean Grey Cyclops love triangle carried on from the first film but here the teaming up of the X-Men and Magneto/Mystique was superb. The addition of Stryker as the main villain was effective and his past history with some of the mutants was a lot more interesting than the usual villain.
The new character who will get a lot of attention (and rightly so) will be Nightcrawler. I was unsure if he could be accurately portrayed on screen but I think the opening scene will convince the doubters and blow them away. Its not so much the teleporting effects (which are great - the 'BAMF!' sound is exactly right) but the grace and movement of the character that will get people excited. Alan Cumming captures exactly the right blend of sadness and mischief the role demands.
Wolverine is obviously the character who seems to be the 'star' of this film and Hugh Jackman again proves that he was just born to play the role. It's worth noting that the lighter moments such as the cat licking his claws, his soda getting frozen and his line about being a Professor are just as effective as all the growling, claw wielding action.
Magneto and Mystique are also ones to watch - Ian McKellen gets a couple of HILARIOUS lines and Mystique manages to surprise even though her powers are now very familiar. I was scratching my head before I went in as to how Magneto would break out of his plastic jail and I'm pleased to say the sequence is surprising and ingenious. With the new characters its easy to forget how cool the more familiar ones are.
Another scene to watch out for is when Iceman goes back to his parents house...
3. The Effects: Unlike 'Spider-Man' last year which I felt was a bit too reliant on CGI, this film manages to have all the effects and set pieces whilst using some lo-tech effects to great effect. Although its easy to take Wolverine's claws for granted, the fact that we do is a sign that we easily accept foot long retractable claws shooting out from someone's arms! Like the first film the effects complement the character and enhance the action but rarely do we look back and say "what a cool effect" - we just accept that its part of the world of the film.
4. Bryan Singer: I really think that the decision to hire Bryan Singer as director was a masterstroke - not only does he bring a less campy and more intelligent sensibility to these films, but he manages to do that rare thing and honour the source material by acknowledging its layers and meanings (there are also some surprising yet stunningly simple shots - the one from inside the fridge is especially worth looking out for). Many would have just strung together some action scenes and thrown in some wisecracks but Singer has managed to take the essence of the comic books, adapt them and actually bring something new and fresh to them. These films are grounded in a modern day reality that is both refreshing and surprising. Which brings me on to my last point...
5. The Modern Parallels: I know some will think I'm reading too much into this but I really felt that this film touched quite heavily on the post 9/11 mood. It's not just the talk of "War on mutants", the rolling news channels in the background reporting on "mutant attacks", but its the more sombre atmosphere of the film that struck a chord. Although X-Men initially commented on the struggle for civil rights in the 60's the message for tolerance and diversity has greater relevance today than perhaps it ever did. Who would have thought a comic book movie could say so much, when world leaders and political commentators say so little?
Signing off till the next time,
THE NIGHT HAWK
P.S. I saw the trailer for LXG - not as good as the first trailer even though Connery had a couple of great lines. It seemed to focus too much on the action and not enough on the characters, who do look very cool. I know this film has its doubters and but I think it could be something special. After X2 and The Matrix Reloaded it will have a lot to live up to...
Finally... this is Hicks and Hicks is BY FAR, the most critical of X2 I've seen. As a result, there is a great deal of SPOILERS that he goes into. Much of his complaints are... "It could've been cooler" type things regarding a better villian in the X-archive than Stryker... or how he wanted more Cyclops/Jean Grey... Or how he wanted Bobby Drake to ICEMAN out and use his powers on a larger scale... Those sorts of things, rather than... say... out and out sucky things, and he states that he'll be seeing the film multiple times for sure and that all his criticisms don't mean the movie isn't GREAT... SO... if ya wanted to know his problems, I basically summed them up for you. HOWEVER, he does talk heavy spoilers... so BEWARE... This also means that if you want to avoid spoilers, stay away from X2 talk backs from here on because there will be folks that don't care to warn you. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Hi Harry,
Hicks again, and while I'm sure you've received a deluge of emails on this, I just saw X2.
Firstly it is very good - but not the breath-taking step forward that Moriarty described. It isn't that it isn't bigger, longer, has more characters, better FX or great new characters. It has all of that. But bigging it up too much took the sheen off what is a great movie for me because I was expecting too much. And I had more fan-boy (hold those yawns! Bestill those rolling eyes...) issues with it than I did with X-Men.
Secondly, I liked it a lot, but this review will focus more on the negative because a)it's easier without a second viewing and b) I think part of my reaction was affected by the superlatives lavished by other reviews I have read already.
In many ways it was easier to like X-Men because we were all so pleased that it wasn't all screwed to hell, and what we get here is more of the same, humanised, slick, character-driven package. But The Matrix it ain't.
Good things -
A lot more plot, lovely hints of characters we know and love. Halle Berry has dropped her naff African accent... John Ottman's editing is more fluid and his score maintains the central leitmotif from Michael Kamen's score, then embellishes it. In fact, that is the best word for this film - it embellishes X1, but doesn't improve it. The Jet is embellished, made bigger, flashier but is essentially the same. The Special Effects have improved, less of the cod-Matrix stylings. There are at least half a dozen stand-up-and-clap moments, including Wolvie's bezerker rampage in the invaded mansion and Colossus leaving you BEGGING for more of him.
Singer maintains his tasteful, tight grip on the mythology and you feel respected as an audience member. The script feels a little perfunctory but is still head-and-shoulders above most commercial fare.
But the best moment belongs to Pyro. Just watch for it and you'll see. I wanted more along these lines...sooooo-
Bad things -
Stryker: boring! Give us Sinister, or Apocalypse, hell even Sentinels. Stryker is all too human and too pedestrian and the reason why we never see the team flex their group muscles. Plus, why can't we just see the X-Men being heroic and not just reacting to plot-sized threats?
Fuck Wolverine: why has Cyclops been relegated? He is soooooo key and here he is just a second-stringer. As a MASSIVE Superman buff I have never had a problem with Slim's straight-down-the-line kind of character, and he and Jean belong together. All those blunt, obvious signs pointing towards the Phoenix saga for X3 better bring Cyc forward or I may become disenfrancised...
Nightcrawler is a wee bit laughable: should say that Kurt was never my fav X-Man anyway and as a Brit Alan Cumming is perceived as bit of luvvie and a giggle. But all the religious mumblings just make him seem a little embarrassing. Having said that his -BAMF-ing is superbly done and his opening attack is terrific, plus he has a majestic mid-air saving teleport moment that had me up in my seat and clapping.
The Ending: I wanted to come out of this one satisfied. The worst element from X1 was leaving the theatre wanting more, feeling a little short-changed. This cliffhanger (which it isn't if you know Jean is going to become Phoenix - and she SOOO is because of the fiery motif her powers suddenly acquire in the movie)left me wanting more. Again.
The fights: enough with the wire-fu. Wolverine/Deathstrike is good but not exceptional and FAR overshadowed by Logan's rampage in the mansion attack (which is the best set-piece in the movie). I wanted more team-work, more POWERS based fighting. Not Storm making the room cold, not a scrap between a weak-assed, brainwashed Cyc and Jean.
Iceman: not used enough. The dam is going to break WATER is running through. Before it burst Bobby could so easily have stopped it. You could argue his character arc isn't ready, but I say bollocks - it would have been the coolest moment in the movie - they can do his FX well now, so they should. This combined with Rogue's continued crappy, flaccid contribution has me worried that we won't see some of the sights we want without the series running to something like 8 movies!
Professor X: He is the hub of the X-Men, not some easily drugged or brainwashed plot macguffin. Two movies, two ineffectual, non-heroic outings for Stewart. His rhetoric should be backed up by actions, akin to how they treat Magneto. A missed chance. And with LOTR showing what McKellen is truly capable of, here he is relegated to some smirking, some quips and a bit of drugged-up stuporisms. He has one spot-on moment when he rises from the ground in the mock Cerebro that could have been lifted straight out of the pages of the comic book. But that's all...
This is not to say that it isn't a great film. I will see it again, probably numerous times. Where does it place? I'm not 100% on this (cos Daredevil tanked on a second viewing), but I would say it is as good as X-Men (maybe a little better) but Spider-Man was much better and I suspect it won't hold a torch to the Matrix Reloaded when that opens. Again, it's not that there is anything really wrong with it, but I felt readied for literally 'X-Men Squared'. And that I didn't get. The longer is stays plateau-ed the more critical I became because it needed more progression, needed to be epic. Instead it simply felt bigger. My final thought leaving the cinema was...well I want to see X3, cos then they'll be getting dead right....
Hicks
