The emotional spectrum has widened, too, encompassing buoyant mirth and heroic tragedy.
X2: X-Men United (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:219
Fresh:192
Rotten:27
Average Rating:7.4/10
Consensus: An improvement on the first movie in the franchise, X2 gives viewers more of what they want.
Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Synopsis: X2: X-MEN UNITED, the remarkable sequel to X-MEN, picks up shortly after the first film's finale. At the White House, a would-be assassin--the acrobatic, teleporting blue mutant Nightcrawler (Alan... X2: X-MEN UNITED, the remarkable sequel to X-MEN, picks up shortly after the first film's finale. At the White House, a would-be assassin--the acrobatic, teleporting blue mutant Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming)--menaces the president. Meanwhile, in the Canadian Rockies, Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) searches for answers to his mysterious past at the top-secret facility where he received his metallic skeleton and claws. Back at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and Storm (Halle Berry) instruct students Rogue (Anna Paquin), Iceman (Shawn Ashmore), and Pyro (Aaron Stanford), while Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and Cyclops (James Marsden) pay a visit to the imprisoned Magneto (Ian McKellen). However, Magneto has a secret weapon in the shape-shifting Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos). Soon allies and enemies alike will unite to defeat the hate-filled military scientist William Stryker (Brian Cox), who wants to rid the world of mutants. When Stryker launches a ruthless two-pronged attack that leaves the school under siege and Xavier and Cyclops captured, Wolverine and the remaining X-Men must spring to action to save their friends and prevent all-out genocide. Even better than its excellent precursor, X2 delves deeper into the X-Men mythology, introducing new characters and touching on essential storylines from the decades-long run of the Marvel comic book series. Providing larger action-packed set pieces and more advanced special effects, director Bryan Singer further develops the characters of Jean Grey, Storm, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Iceman, Pyro, and Mystique. Each member of the cast breathes vitality into their mutant characters with Wolverine, perfectly portrayed by Jackman, once again the wild heart at the center. A love letter to longtime fans of the comic and an amazingly entertaining movie for everyone else, X2: X-MEN UNITED is that rare breed of sequel that manages to improve on the original in every way. [More]
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Alan Cumming, Brian Cox, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Kelly Hu, Daniel Cudmore, Bruce Davison, Michael Reid MacKay
Director: Bryan Singer
Director: Bryan Singer
Screenwriter: Michael Dougherty, Daniel Harris, David Hayter
Story: Zak Penn, Bryan Singer, David Hayter
Producer: Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter
Composer: John Ottman
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for X2: X-Men United
During shooting, Singer constantly referred to The Empire Strikes Back as his template -- and, by jove, he's made a movie that's worthy of the comparison.
Parallels to 9/11, John Ashcroft, the Patriot Act and the rest of the Bush administration's racist thuggery are obvious; the movie creates a stirring tide of activist force.
It works perfectly and is never less than believable in an unbelievable, comic-strip kind of way.
Suffers from the same problems as its predecessor -- too many characters, too much going on -- but it's funnier and more inventive.
Wolverine makes the movie -- a wry, raw, charismatic character, embodied by the excellent Hugh Jackman.
So much inventive stuff that it takes your breath away--from massive set pieces to amazing stuntwork to tiny details.
The higher aspirations sometimes weigh the action down, creating a story that is interesting but not always engaging, lacking the exuberance that could have made it truly exciting.
Bigger and more ambitious in every respect, from its action and visceral qualities to its themes.
It takes a true cinema talent to turn the daunting and rather unwieldy 40 years of material into a coherent yet complex, smart yet incredibly fun entertainment that satisfies both the fanboys and newbie moviegoers alike.
Singer and his screenwriters know the value of a surprise and they deliver their share without dipping into the absurd. The result is a movie that surpasses expectations, a superhero flick that can rightfully take its place alongside the best.
Bryan Singer ... makes sure the animating theme of this series -- the freedom to be different in the face of intolerant authority -- doesn't get lost in the din of battle.
Possibly one of the best superhero franchises in history, X2 is thoroughly engaging, well acted and well plotted. Bryan Singer is a master of the genre.
Latest News for X2: X-Men United
June 02, 2009:
Bryan Singer Talks Superman, X-Men Franchises ![]()
Could Bryan Singer still be interested in another "Superman" movie? How about a return to the "X-Men" franchise? He discussed both topics in a pair of recent interviews. More...
March 18, 2009:
Uni Sends Dan Harris into Dante's Inferno ![]()
Universal has recruited "X-Men 2" and "Superman Returns" co-writer Dan Harris to handle screenwriting duties for the studio's live-action adaptation of EA's "Dante's Inferno." More...
September 30, 2007:
Gavin Hood Suggests A Philosophical, Operatic Wolverine
Gavin Hood devoted a few minutes of time at a Rendition press day to answer questions about the upcoming project on everybody's mind: Wolverine. Even the director of the... More...
July 20, 2007:
Wolverine Has a Director!
Fox has (finally) signed a director for their upcoming "Wolverine" spin-off, and the lucky helmer is ... Gavin Hood, whom you might know from the South African film "Tsotsi." More...
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