Tom Joad here with Flesh Gordon’s review of X-Men.
Before I turn him loose on you let me explain something quickly... Many times, I am not tempted to write a review for a film. I believe somewhere near ninety percent of the films I see are gauged good or bad by my mood at the time. Or the state of my day up until that point. So I like to make a firm opinion after seeing a film twice. Now I've only seen it once, but I liked X-men a lot.
That may sound lame to some of you, but I don't give a damn. I often buy into a film the first time I see it and don't tend to pick it apart until the second or third viewing. Example: THE PATRIOT. The first time I saw it, I liked it. I didn't love it, but I liked it. The daughter of Mel, when she had her scene, well the first time she got me. The second time it just fell flat. As did 90% of the rest of the film. All except where Mel first rescued his eldest son from the British. That STILL kicks so much ass!!!
I am an X-men fan but I do not consider myself an X-men fanatic (a fanatic’s review is below). I was awfully skeptical of this film, ya know? The first two trailers blew and I was depressed with the feeling that NO ONE was able to do a superhero film correctly anymore, when along comes Bryan Singer and knocks me flat on my ass for the third straight time. SUSPECTS and PUPIL both had me by the balls and X-MEN was no different. In short, I was overwhelmed by this movie.
To say that Bryan Singer captured the exact essence of the comic’s feel and look on film, is an understatement. He nailed it. Dead-on. And it is badass. Don’t get me wrong! There are some things that are a touch spotty, some things I wouldn’t have personally gone with, true, true. But GODDAMN this boy can deliver the goods! I am sooooo thankful that there is no hint of campiness about this flick (thank you!) and there are shots and sequences that are literally comic panels realized and put into motion, perfectly. Some of the scenes where Storm is wreaking havoc are simply badass as well as the Wolverine/Mystique battle.
This is, without a doubt the best SUMMER movie this summer. Yes, summer movie - the kind you buy a large popcorn and drink for and get ready for a ride. X-MEN starts with an intense vision and doesn’t stop until the last frame, exactly when you want the opening credits for it’s sequel to begin. It’s that good. So see it, or don’t see it - I don’t really give two shits, but if you have a reservation or three about it (like I did) give it a shot - you very well may like what you find.
And now onto Gordon's review, which is the opinion I've been most anxious to hear. His words are those of a fan who has been reading the X-Men comics for twenty years - his opinion to me, is that of the X-Men geekboy in all of us. I am not near as big a fan of the series as Gordon, and I had reservations about the film. I cannot imagine the amount of trepidation G. Gordon must've felt going in...
FLESH GORDON here, along with my two cents worth of comments about X-MEN.
First of all, as a life-long reader of the X-MEN comics, I was very impressed with what I saw the other night. I'm writing this positive review of X-MEN after having had some genuine reservations about this project. In fact, I thought that there was a good chance that X-MEN would reek. The first two X-MEN trailers left me less than awed, though I believe that the third showed signs of promise. I also had concerns when I was imagining how almost forty year's worth of comic book continuity would be edited and condensed down into a typical movie's running time. I was additionally skeptical about how these characters that I have known and enjoyed for years would be rendered on the big screen. Would Wolverine and the X-MEN be as bad-ass in a movie theater as they are on paper? How assessable would this depiction of one of the premier super-hero teams of the MARVEL UNIVERSE be to a new audience, who may have never even heard of them before (God forbid)?
After viewing X-MEN, most of the above doubts have now been laid to rest. The film has a few technical flaws and casting glitches, but absolutely nothing that annoyed me to the point of interfering with my watching of the film. Even Halle Berry's Storm was O.K., and I have to admit I was really concerned about her being cast.
Not only is X-MEN a really watchable movie, it's a great super-hero flick, one of the best that I have ever seen. Watching this flick is honestly the most fun I have had at the movies this summer. I also believe that story and players within the film will appeal to non-fans as well, though it's honestly hard for me to be completely objective about this, because I have been familiar with this comic book title for so long.
To Bryan Singer, I have to say thank you for capturing the essence of what these mutant characters are all about. In your film you demonstrate the X-MEN'S angst, pain, and heroism on screen. Your particular take on Wolverine, Rogue, and Professor Xavier are dead-on. Casting Hugh Jackman was a stroke of genius, he is Wolverine. What he lacks physically by being too tall and not muscular enough for the role, he more than makes up for in attitude and coolness (plus, those well-rendered claws don't hurt either). The interplay between Wolverine and Cyclops make up some of the best moments of the film. These are also moments that are true to the characters as they are portrayed in the comics. Magneto's on-screen origin during the Holocaust is poignant and powerful, and it quickly sets the stage for his motivations and actions as they are seen for the rest of the film.
Mr. Singer, I thank you the most for taking your subject seriously and treating it with the reverence and class it deserves. I thank you for the lack of campiness in X-MEN.
Yes, comic book films deserve respect, with X-MEN, they are finally getting some.
I am also pleased that there are some improvements made to the X-MEN mythos. The Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters is more of a "school" than it has ever been depicted in the comics, even during THE NEW MUTANTS tenure. I thought the changing of and the tinkering with the X-MEN continuity would bother me, but instead I had a blast as I watched the retelling of X-MEN history. The fans of the comic will get the references, while fresh viewers will get to enjoy some of the best story elements and characters from both the "original" and "new" teams. And as an added bonus, the X-MEN'S base of operations is actually cooler on the screen than it is in the comic (I can't believe that I'm writing that, but it's true).
Assuming that this film is financially successful, it not only opens the door to the ongoing X-MEN film series, but the entire MARVEL UNIVERSE of heroes as well. It is very easy to imagine the likes of the FANTASTIC FOUR, IRON MAN, and THE INCREDIBLE HULK existing in the reality created by X-MEN film. Go spend your money this weekend. Send the message to the producers in Hollywood that if they make serious comic book inspired films, they will be rewarded. I want to revisit this place and these characters again. After you see X-MEN, I hope that you will too.
