The cast and crew return for this sequel to X-Men, in this improved sequel that expands the narrative structure more so then before.
The movie takes where the previous movie left off. The mutants are all doing well in the Professor’s school, and Magneto, their arch nemesis, is locked away in prison. But a new enemy has arisen, General William Stryker, who needs the Professor and his machine, Cerebro, to beginning a worldwide genocide on all mutants. To combat this new threat, the good guys team up with Magneto, who escapes from prison. However, Stryker holds the key to Wolverine’s past.
Hugh Jackman’s performance as the real star of the show, Wolverine, has improved a little since previously. Ian McKellen, Patrick Stewart, Famke Janssen and Halle Berry all return as Magneto, the Professor, Dr. Jean Grey and Storm respectively. Brian Cox is added to the cast as Stryker, who has a hatred for mutants and especially the Professor.
In its entirety, I thought X2 was a cut above X-Men. X2 does suffer from a few holes. In one scene, when Stryker’s commando team launches an attack on the mutant school, Wolverine uses his claws to mercilessly kill every commando man that comes near him. The co-stars are also slightly ‘pushed aside’ to give way to the film’s more prominent characters: Wolverine, Magneto, the Professor and Stryker. I do wish the X-Men films would expand more to include all of its characters in equal balance; Wolverine remains the real star of the show and the hero.
X2 was a good superhero movie. Director Bryan Singer has put together a piece of worth-able entertainment.
In the end, we are almost fully expecting a sequel. Three years later, the climatic but disappointing X-Men, the Last Stand was released to a box-office blockbuster. The X-Men movies have increased in popularity as they went, inspiring prequels, sequels, spinoffs and such. So far, this one’s my favorite.
*** ½/5
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