The X-Men Series
X-Men (April 28/09)
Though quite entertaining from start to finish, X-Men ultimately feels as though it exists primarily to lay the groundwork for its subsequent installments - as screenwriter David Hayter spends a far-from-insignificant amount of time establishing the various characters and the off-kilter universe in which they reside. And while this does ensure that the movie isn't entirely successful as a stand-alone endeavor, there's little doubt that Bryan Singer's unusually strong directorial choices and the uniformly compelling performances prove instrumental in elevating the material to a level above and beyond that of Hayter's exposition-heavy screenplay. The film primarily follows Hugh Jackman's Wolverine as his solitary existence is thrown for a loop after he learns about (and reluctantly joins) the X-Men, with the remainder of the proceedings detailing the title heroes' (including Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier, Famke Janssen's Jean Grey, and James Marsden's Cyclops) collective efforts at preventing arch-villain Magneto (Ian McKellen) from successfully executing a predictably diabolical plan. It's a relatively simple storyline that's been festooned with a whole host of subplots and periphery characters, which - despite Singer's best efforts at balancing the screenplay's various elements - results in a noticeably erratic structure that ultimately impedes the movie's efforts at consistently sustaining the viewer's interest (ie some interludes are far more engrossing than others). That being said, X-Men's myriad of positive attributes generally compensate for its less-than-enthralling stretches - with Jackman's stellar work as Wolverine, as well as solid turns from Stewart, Marsden, and McKellen, cementing the film's place as a solid (if uneven) introduction to the series.
out of
X2: X-Men United (May 2/03)
As far as summer entertainment goes, X2: X-Men United is about as good as it gets. Chock full of special effects and over-the-top stuntwork, the film also boasts characters worth caring about (played by better-than-expected actors) and a storyline that doesn't exist merely to kill time between action sequences. X2 - which follows the various X-Men as they're forced to battle a variety of nefarious villains - is directed by Bryan Singer, a talented filmmaker who knows exactly how to craft a big-budget extravaganza. The myriad of above-average action sequences ultimately play a substantial role in the movie's success, although there's little doubt that it's the actors that ultimately ensure that X2 remains a cut above its action-heavy brethren. Leading the stellar cast is, of course, Hugh Jackman. His Wolverine was the most intriguing character in the first film, and that's also true here. Obviously, it doesn't hurt that he receives the most screen time out of all the X-Men, but it's likely he's again received the lion's share of the script's attention because he's the most complex character. Jackman gives a performance that's completely captivating, and not just during the admittedly amazing action sequences (ie he's just as compelling during the film's quieter moments). Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are expectedly great in their respective roles of Charles Xavier and Magneto, but smaller characters like Iceman and Pyro have been filled by surprisingly effective actors. As Pyro, Aaron Stanford brings an appropriate amount of confusion and restlessness to his character - while Shawn Ashmore is just about perfect as Iceman. As the villainous Col. Stryker, Brian Cox proves that he's one of the most talented actors out there by turning what could have been a one-dimensional character into a complex and intriguing bad guy. But the film does suffer from the too-much-of-a-good-thing syndrome by going on much longer than it needs to. At a running time of around 130 minutes, X2 could've used some tightening. Still, it's hard to complain considering how entertaining and well-made X2 is. Let's hope that Singer is involved when X3 invariably goes into production...
out of
X-Men: The Last Stand (May 24/06)
There's been a lot of pre-release hubbub swirling around the hiring of Brett Ratner for X-Men: The Last Stand's directorial duties, something that's due in no small part to Bryan Singer's bang-up job with the first two installments in this ongoing series. Both X-Men and its sequel, X2: X-Men United, stand as superb examples of summer films done right, though neither really holds up all that well in any other context (they're fun, sure, but that's about the extent of it). X-Men: The Last Stand generally comes off as a natural extension of the world established by Singer, particularly in terms of the film's visuals; Ratner, infamous for his exceedingly bland sense of style, apes the look and feel of Singer's previous efforts within the series (it's entirely likely that certain viewers won't be aware of the change until the end credits). Ratner's inability to appropriately juggle the many, many characters and their respective plotlines results in a distinctly unfocused vibe, and it's that lack of cohesion that ultimately transforms X-Men: The Last Stand into an entertaining but thoroughly uneven piece of work. The story revolves around the conflict that arises following the introduction of a drug that evidently cures mutants of their respective "defects," as Magneto (Ian McKellen) begins formulating a plan to violently protest the very existence of the medication. It's up to the X-Men, including Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), Storm (Halle Berry), and Beast (Kelsey Grammer), to put a stop to Magneto's nefarious scheme. If nothing else, viewers should be thankful that Ratner and screenwriters Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn have resisted the impulse to pack X-Men: The Last Stand with one overblown action sequence after another - which is especially impressive when you consider that the three are collectively responsible for some of the noisiest movies in recent years (ie Mr. & Mrs. Smith, XXX: State of the Union, Rush Hour 2, etc, etc). The epic battle that occupies the majority of the film's third act is, likewise, surprisingly engaging and fairly easy to follow - though Ratner does occasionally go overboard with the shaky camerawork. But what sets X-Men: The Last Stand apart from its tedious summer brethren are the performances, which are almost uniformly excellent (Halle Berry is, as usual, the weakest link here). Returning actors such as Jackman, McKellen, and Aaron Stanford (as the fire-wielding Pyro) bring precisely the sort of depth that viewers have come to expect, while newcomers like Kelsey Grammer and Vinnie Jones infuse the film with sporadic bursts of energy and humor (something that's particularly true of Jones' scene-stealing turn as Juggernaut). Though lacking in character development and anything even resembling emotional resonance (despite the deaths of several series veterans), X-Men: The Last Stand is an acceptable - albeit mindless - sequel that should placate fans of the series.
out of
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 10/09)
After famously leaking onto the internet more than a month prior to its release, X-Men Origins: Wolverine - which details the origins of Hugh Jackman's titular character - was quickly caught up in a miasma of negative buzz as illicit downloaders almost unanimously panned the movie (which was, to be fair, missing a hefty chunk of footage and a whole host of special effects shots). It’s quite surprising to note, then, that the final product is actually a slight degree more effective than its immediate successor (yet it’s also a far cry from Bryan Singer’s effortlessly masterful X2: X-Men United), as the movie has been infused with the various elements that one has come to expect from this ongoing series – including over-the-top action sequences, memorable villains, and an almost Oscar-worthy turn from Jackman as the character that essentially made his career. And although the movie does suffer from the presence of a few unintentionally campy elements and a noticeably flabby midsection, X-Men Origins: Wolverine primarily comes off as a satisfying, sporadically enthralling bit of popcorn escapism that marks a fine start to the summer-movie season.
Director Gavin Hood, best known for dramas such as 2005’s Tsotsi and 2007’s Rendition, instantly establishes himself as a far more adept filmmaker than such purveyors of action as Michael Bay and Len Wiseman, as he thankfully eschews the shaky camerawork and rapid-fire editing tricks that have lamentably come to define most contemporary action movies. Dig a little deeper, however, and the viewer is presented with an unexpectedly compelling revenge thriller, with Wolverine’s efforts at avenging the death of a loved one ensuring that Jackman’s already-grizzled character reaches points of viciousness heretofore unseen within this series. Add to that a series of enjoyable tough-guy performances from a supporting cast that includes Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, and Taylor Kitsch, and you’ve got a recipe for an entertainingly testosterone-fueled installment within the X-Men franchise.
out of
