X2 (2003) - Review

"Mutants. Since the discovery of their existence, they have been regarded with fear, suspicion, often hatred. Across the planet, debate rages. Are mutants the next link in the evolutionary chain or simply a new species of humanity fighting for their share of the world? Either way, it is a historical fact: Sharing the world has never been humanity's defining attribute."

The X-Men return, along with director Bryan Singer, in the sequel X2. While the first film gave us a lot of set-up with characters and conflicts, this one takes everything in new directions in a very good way. We get new mutants, new antagonists, and much more character development.

We start with a very cool sequence of some mysterious mutant attempting to assassinate the President by teleporting. That mutant was Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) who was brainwashed by Colonel William Stryker, (Brian Cox) originally a religious bigot who despises mutants, who in the movie is a scientist with a connection to Wolverine who has been traveling to find answers about his past which he doesn't remember. While Storm and Jean Grey go looking for Nightcrawler, Stryker gets information about Xavier's school through Magneto and kidnaps Xavier and Cyclops, while also strategizing an attack on the school. Wolverine escapes the school along with Rogue, her boyfriend Bobby a.k.a. Iceman, and Pyro. They reunite with Jean Grey, Storm, and Nightcrawler, who later run into Magneto who escaped from his prison with the help of Mystique. The two become allies with the group in order to save Xavier from Stryker who built his version of Cerebro, a device use to find mutants, to kill all mutants with Xavier under the mind control powers of Stryker's son, Jason.

While the cast of the first film return, we get new mutants like Nightcrawler, Pyro, and Lady Deathstrike and they all do well in their roles. Back to the original cast, Hugh Jackman still shines as Wolverine as we delve into his past a little and how he came to be the mutant we know and love. Halle Berry ditches her African accent and speaks in her normal voice which I don't mind because I wasn't a fan of the accent. We also see Jean experience advances in her powers in hearing peoples' thoughts telepathically more frequently and even showing a fiery aurora which teases a darker side to her.

Is it me or did Jean stole Willow's college haircut?

As for antagonists, Brian Cox is real good as the slimy Stryker who was responsible for Wolverine's adamantium claws in an experiment. But there's also Yuriko a.k.a. Lady Deathstrike who also possesses adamantium claws. She and Wolverine have an awesome fight together. And while Magneto is not the villain here, Ian McKellen still does excellently while having his own plan up his sleeve with Stryker's Cerebro.

As for minor highs, I like that Xavier can use his power to stop people moving. He would be terrific at mannequin challenges. While there's no Stan Lee cameo, director Bryan Singer makes a cameo as a security guard at Magneto's prison. As for lows, in some scenes, Wolverine's hair looks different in some shots from the beginning and the end. The reason is Hugh Jackman was shooting Van Helsing and he had long hair for the role and that's why it looks a bit poofy. This is like in Fant4Stic where Kate Mara is, in some reshot footage, wearing a wig that is so embarrassingly obvious.

Overall, X2 manages to please fans with twice the action and more insight to the characters. While it's not of my favorites, I do enjoy it for the reasons above. With so many good things coming out of these movies, you would think they would continue this gold streak in the next movie what with the teases to Jean Grey's evolving powers. Did they do it, though? Well...join me in the next review for X-Men The Last Stand.

RATING: STRONG APPROVAL