SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1 Hour, 44 Min.
Responsible for Marvel’s initial big-budget live-action adaptation, 20th Century Fox produced Bryan Singer’s first X-Men film. The movie was released in 2000, both theatrically and then to widescreen DVD.
After glimpsing Magneto’s bleak World War II-era origin, the storyline segues to present-day U.S. Senator Robert Kelly (Davison), who controversially pushes the federal government’s investigation of mutant existence. Observing close by and from afar, Professor Charles Xavier (Stewart) and his covert X-Men sense ominous consequences as a result of Kelly’s public power play.
In Northern Canada, the enigmatic Logan’s (Jackman) rescue of young Rogue (Paquin) sets in motion a high-powered showdown between Xavier’s forces and Magneto’s deadly Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Having first abducted Kelly and then later Rogue, Magneto’s vengeful scheme against the world at large has one obstacle left: the X-Men. Attempting to free Rogue, Logan/Wolverine must trust his new allies, if there’s any chance of thwarting Xavier’s most formidable enemy.
Logan/Wolverine: Hugh Jackman
Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto: Ian McKellen
Professor Charles Xavier / Professor X: Patrick Stewart
Rogue: Anna Paquin
Professor Robert Kelly: Bruce Davison
Ororo Munroe / Storm: Halle Berry
Jean Grey: Famke Janssen
Scott Summers / Cyclops: James Marsden
Mystique: Rebecca Romijn
Sabretooth: Tyler Mane
Toad: Ray Park
Note: This title is also available in Blu-Ray, including as part of various combo packages, and as a digital purchase.
REVIEW:
Given its inadequate running time, director Singer opts to devote sufficient character depth only to McKellan’s Magneto, Jackman’s Wolverine, Paquin’s Rogue, and, to a lesser extent, Davison’s Kelly. As a result, Jackman’s instant star power alone makes him this movie’s undisputed MVP, in terms of pitching his character’s transition from roguish loner to the X-Men’s pivotal loose cannon.
The surplus of other relevant characters (including Stewart’s Professor X and Halle Berry’s under-utilized Storm), otherwise, struggle too often to rise above talking cardboard. Still, there’s consistently excellent CGI and stunt work (i.e. the high-caliber Statue of Liberty showdown), along with sufficient plotting, to make up just enough of the storytelling difference for viewers.
This rudimentary first X-Men film, if anything, lays out the franchise’s bare-bones blueprint all the way up through 2016-2017’s X-Men Apocalypse and Logan. More aptly, its legacy is concocting a watchable (and unconvoluted) prelude to 2003’s far superior X2: X-Men United.
BONUS FEATURES:
Languages are available in English 5.1 Surround Sound; English Dolby Surround; and French Dolby Surround, with English and Spanish subtitles. An insert booklet provides a list of scenes. Extras include: interview(s) with Bryan Singer; a Hugh Jackman screen test; a still gallery; animatics, and obligatory trailers. Ten minutes of previously-unreleased footage is provided to enhance the film’s theatrical version.
PACKAGING:
Remarkably elaborate in mirrored silver, the case slides from the protective box seen below. The disc is well-protected on its casing. The contents listed on the box’s reverse side are accurately advertised.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
