Casting debatable but pretty all the same. (X-Men (DVD))

Member Name: Calexico

Product:	X-Men (DVD)
Date:	24/11/02 (243 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Special effects, Easy on the eyes, Fantastic performances from some of the cast

Disadvantages: May disappoint original fans of the comic, A little too lighthearted for hardcore sci-fi/action fans expecting more from the potential provided by the comic

Ok so the movie didn't really relate much to the comic. Infact, most of the memorable parts of X-men as we know it, were missing. For a start, the original costumes got an complete overhaul, (the yellow spandex would've made good entertainment in itself), it lacked a lot of the original main characters, the casting itself was… debatable, but the biggest difference that first jumped out was Ms Paquin - little Anna, adorable 11 year old Flora won our hearts, (and an oscar) in the Piano as sexy, feisty Rogue? Rogue enters the scene as a young girl, who as discovered she possesses a mutant power. As if the alienation of her late discovery isn't enough, she cannot control this power to 'borrow' another mutant's powers, and so whenever she touches a mere human being, she literally drains the life out of them. A frightened and confused Rogue, flees her home, hitching rides with travellers.

As a film on it's own, though, disregrading the comic, I actually found it an entertaining watch, full of some cool special effects, (amazing scenes on the Statue of Liberty), a pretty cast, (Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn Stamos, need I continue?) and some pretty decent names in there too, (Ian Mackellan, Patrick Stewart), this film wasn’t hard on the eyes. And as far as scripts go, ignoring the odd warble from Storm, this wasn’t half bad! Paquin playing a much younger Rogue – a confused teenager having just developed her powers but with no control over them, actually created an interesting spin on the traditional story of the Mutants who constantly save a world that hates them.

Hugh Jackman is probably the character bearing the most similarities with his cartoon character, playing out the true tough, wry, gruffly masculine charisma displayed, very popularly, in Wolverine. On the same level, different side, (and several feet taller), is Sabertooth. (Tyler Mane). This bad ass doesnR
17;t really get much as far as lines go, but for asthetic appeal, he’s pretty convincing at something around 7ft, a nasty growl and a lot of hair!

The big guns – Patrick Steward as Professor Charles Xavier against archenemy Magento, played my Ian Mackellan. Both Steward and Mackellan are perfectly casted for their roles, and as the core characters, hold the entire movie together. They do a damn fine job of it too, if a little surprising, and notch the film up at least a couple stars.

At current, X-men are made up of:
Jean Grey - Famke Jansen plays the telepathic, telekinetic and also very sexy doctor. (Janssen also happens to be ex-bond girl and model. Some 'thoughtful' casting for the male viewers there)
Cyclops aka James Marsden, with laser beams emitted from both eyes, controlled through an selective eye mask is also an ex-model… You spotting a pattern here?
Storm - Halle Berry (notching up the 'babe' ratings') – Not one of her best performances the weather manipulating mutant, but hey, we’ve all seen Swordfish.

And the baddies:
Rebecca Romijn Stamos (her 'atire' consists of blue paint and not much else) plays shapeshifting Mystique, minus the dress.
Sabertooth who we met before - Tyler Mane – very scary wolf-type creature.
Toad - Ray Park - a bigger, more ‘human resembling’ version of the creature in his name. (Funny that).

Basic bent of the story - Magneto and co. have a plan which will involve the entire world, and one of the x-men which they are after, and you can bet it won't be good. Underneath all this excitment, there also lies a very strong question of social justice and the view on society's outcast, exploring it on a more extreme level. There is always the conflict of 'two sides' - The ones that fit, and the ones that don't. X-men touches on the subject lightly, but in such a way that the extrem
es and 'just off reality' setting of the story takes it lightheartedly so as to not taint the enjoyable entertainment of the movie itself.

You’ve got your necessary hodge-podge – action, suspense, totally cool but unbelievable gadgets that you’re allowed when you tackle sci-fi, very good chemistry between the characters, and the fact that it’s based on a Marvel Comic gives it that little edge, (meaning if all else fails, the fans will go see it). Despite a few bad critics, and some low expectations, this film exceeded itself, and most expectations of it - A light-hearted, entertaining and stimulating watch.

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