Patrick Stewart - Professor X
Hugh Jackman - Wolverine
Ian McKellen - Magneto
Halle Berry - Storm
Famke Janssen - Jean Grey
James Marsden - Cyclops
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos - Mystique
Ray Park - Toad
Tyler Mane - Sabertooth
Anna Paquin - Rogue
Based on the long-running Marvel comic book series, X-Men takes place in the near future, as certain humans are evolving into mutants with special powers. In the Canadian wilderness, a young runaway mutant named Rogue (Anna Paquin) and a bad-tempered, quick-healing mutant with retractable metal claws called Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) are suddenly attacked by Sabertooth, one of Magneto's (Ian McKellen) powerful lackeys. Fortunately, Cyclops (James Marsden) and Storm (Halle Berry), students of the compassionate Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), interfere and bring them back to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Here Wolverine and Rogue learn more about the conflict between Xavier and the militant Magneto, who wants to power a device that will genetically alter humans, with possibly deadly results. Only Xavier's students can stop Magneto's plans. Director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) displays his expertise with an ensemble cast, accomplishing a feat by making the first live-action film about an entire group of superheroes. Hugh Jackman's portrayal of the ill-tempered Wolverine is dead-on, while Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are ideally matched in their Martin Luther King, Jr.- and Malcolm X-like roles. Smart and well-paced, X-Men towers above most comic book movies.
Directed by Bryan Singer - Rated PG-13
Critic Review
Oh, baby, yes! I have waited for an X-Men movie for so long, and now, finally, it has come. And it came with everything I could have hoped for (except Gambit). I was extremly pleased with the way this film came out. There was action, suspense, comedy, drama, and special effects up the wazoo! I was impressed on how well the actors played their roles. Ray Park (gotta love the guy) did an excellent job playing the evil Toad. I sure hope he didn't die. He could be a real asset to the sequel. Hugh Jackman did very well, considering no one has ever heard of him. Janssen, Stewart, and Berry are as good as they can get. I was also very pleased with Paquin's role as Rogue. She truly brought out some of her earlier qualities. The one thing I found interesting was how they incorperated other X-Men into the movie as students (Iceman, Jubilee, Gambit, etc.). I hope to see more of them in the sequel. All around, this is one of the best films that I have ever waited this long for. It was definately worth the wait. "*****!" "Two thumbs way, way up!" "This film was uncanny!" "The X-Men brought the comic books to life!" "A triumph in filmakking!"
