We’ll have reviews for X3: X-Men United for you Friday, but before we get to where we’re going it’s always a good idea to look back where we’ve been. So let’s look back at the first two chapters of the series, shall we? Indeed we shall…
X-Men & X2
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The mutant gang of Marvel Comics has come a long way from the original conception of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby back in 1963. The group has, for not better word, evolved and grown into a series of titles that has become the backbone of Marvel Comics. Three films have been made, the latest about to hit theaters Friday, so let’s take a look at how mutants have faired on film.
The story begins:
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A war rages between two groups of mutants (humans who have “evolved” with genetic mutations that leave them stronger and more powerful). As the film opens a US Senator (Bruce Davison) is pushing for the mandatory registration of all mutants and two outcasts Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Rogue (Anna Paquin) stumble into the struggle between Professor Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart) X-Men who wish to coexist peacefully with normal humans and Magneto’s (Ian McKellen) Brotherhood of Mutants who believe themselves superior to the rest of us. Magneto’s plan in the film involves using Rogue to power a weapon that will turn every world leader attending the UN summit into a mutant (for reasons that are only clear to Bryan Singer). The X-Men save the day and Wolverine leaves to search into his mysterious past…
The story evolves:
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Wolverine learns a little about his past which involves government scientist William Stryker (Brian Cox) who wants every mutant dead and has discovered a way to meet his goal which involves using the mutant mind-control powers of his son and the big brain of Prof X. Other plot threads involve Jean Grey facing her fears that her powers are growing out of control, Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) and Pyro (Aaron Stanford) vying for the attention of Rogue, and an attempt on the President’s life by a myserious new mutant called Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) which leads to a government lockdown on mutants and an all-out assault on the school. Aside from Nightcrawler, both Colossus (Daniel Cudmore) and Deathstyke (Kelly Hu) make their first appearances on film as does the Beast (sort of). The film ends with the team successfully stopping Stryker but with the tragic loss of one of thier own…
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Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, After the Sunset) takes over for Bryan Singer as the film gives us the showdown between the X-Men and the Brotherhood, Iceman and Pyro finally have it out, the resurrection of Jean Grey as the Phoenix, a “cure” for mutation, and new heroes like Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and Angel (Ben Foster) and villains such as the Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones) but oddly enough in a film with every freakin’ mutant imaginable no progeny of Magneto make an appearance. We took a peek last night and Aaron and I both agree (wrap your mind ‘round that one folks!). You’ll have to wait until Friday for the review, but until then I’ll wet your appetite with a review from a film that in every aspect is on par with this one (click here).