Theatrical Release – May 2, 2003

Review by Dan Deevy

Not being a hard core fan of the original comic book series, I know that my opinions of this movie are going to be different from those of you who can recount exactly what happened in issue number 167! But for all of you out there who don’t know everything there is to know about the comic, I think you’d agree with me that this was an amazing movie!

Bryan Singer has again done an excellent job of telling the story of these mutants, these outcasts from society, in a way that makes them accessible to any minority group in the world. Anyone who has ever felt different or set apart for any reason, will see themselves in these characters. And as you watch, you not only see yourself in these characters but through their brave actions, their determination to be accepted for exactly who and what they are, you actually being to feel proud about the things that make you different.

One of the best lines in the entire movie is uttered by the blue-clad Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as the shape shifting Mystique. Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), asks Mystique if you can make yourself look like everyone else, then why don’t you? “Because we shouldn’t have to,” she responds. And in that response, encapsulates the entire meaning of the film.

Now, of course this is a comic book action movie and it does stand on it’s own in that arena with some amazing action sequences, hand to hand battle scenes and special effects that will blow your mind! But in my opinion, what makes this movie great is the fact that it has all this excitement with a real message and real heart behind it.

The reunited cast once again delivers some great performances. The most notable new additions to the cast include two hot young actors who will no doubt be showing up all over the place very shortly after this film; Shawn Ashmore who plays Rogue’s love interest the Icey-Hot Bobby Drake, a.k.a. Ice-man and Aaron Stanford as the fire wielding Pyro. Both of whom more than maintain their ground when acting opposite seasoned veteran actors like Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen.

One of the obvious difficulties in making these movies is adding new cast members to the all ready top heavy cast of 8 returning characters. Singer does a much better job of balancing screen time in this film than in the first. This film does justice to just about every character with the exception of Cyclops.

Cyclops, who if I understand it right is supposed to be the leader