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X-Men: ** ½ 

Release Date: 2000
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Bryan Singer
This is the movie that reinvented the superhero genre by proving that there was definitely a market for superhero films.  Second half of the film goes completely awry following the agreeable first half, being completely overwhelmed from cartoonish absurdity.

X2, X-Men United: ***

Release Date: 2003
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Bryan Singer
This improved sequel expands the narrative and digs further into it's characters.  Last action sequence arguably fails, but rest of the movie works better then it's predecessor.

X-Men, the Last Stand: **

Release Date: 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Brett Ratner
Humans go on all out war with each other.  The ending has Wolverine massacring the bad guys in masse.  Sequel loses all hope of good sense and instead focuses on action, which is why it was such a box-office smash.

X-Men Origins, Wolverine: **

Release Date: 2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Gavin Hod
More brutal and rough then any of it's predecessor's.  Provides an interesting back story on the most popular character, but also drags under a repetitive use of action scenes and stunts.