Harry's Blog

Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Brian Cox and Halle Berry
135 mins, Cert 12A

X-Men 2 is a confident movie. It opens with a swaggering piece of filmmaking as Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner takes on the entire White House security detail single-handed. It's a scene that wouldn't look out of place in The Matrix, yet X-Men 2 offers more depth than the Wachowski's video game writ-large could ever hope for.

X-Men 2 is about comic book heroes yet it shouldn't be considered merely a primary colour tale of good versus evil. The holocaust is never far away when discussion turns to concepts of humanity and sub-humanity, especially considering Magneto's (McKellen) childhood trauma at the hand's of the Nazi's.

Yet Singer's movie doesn't explain everything for the viewer, nor is it heavy handed with its themes. There is no scene setting, no re-introduction of the characters - the movie just assumes the audience isn't stupid and gets on with the plot. The plot concerns General William Stryker (Cox) and his crusade to rid the world of mutants. Woven into the story are threads of romances old and new, personal growth, discovery of the forgotten past and the conflict of differing ideologies.

This conflict of differing approaches to a violent external threat is certainly a very topical issue. Patrick Stewart as Doctor Xavier and Ian McKellen as Magneto are the figureheads of the two ideologies, one believing in peaceful co-existence with non-mutants, the other in their destruction. There's a telling moment when Magneto asks a disaffected youth his name. When the boy replies "John", Magneto says, "no, your real name." To which he receives the reply "Pyro."

It's moments such as that, or Nightcrawler's strong Catholic faith that show there is more on offer in X-Men 2 than fancy special effects and action. However the effects, particularly Nightcrawler's teleportation, are excellent.

The cast cannot be faulted. Hugh Jackman once again owns the screen as Wolverine, confused, bitter, and tough but not lacking a sense of humour. McKellen and Stewart's moments together on screen are very powerful as each actor gives full weight to their character. It's also pleasing to see such a strong selection of female roles within such a genre movie with Storm (Halle Berry) and Jean Grey (Famke Jannsen) often dominating proceedings.

X-Men 2 is everything a comic book movie should be and more. There are moments of sheer action, great special effects and excitement. But there are also moments of genuine depth and intelligence. It's Bryan Singer's ability to create a film with such depth, without being boring or lacking blockbuster action credentials that makes X-Men 2 so pleasing.