AGW Entertainment reporter Lynn B. saw a new sci-fi action film. Here are her thoughts on....

X-2: X-Men United

20th Century Fox Pictures

The whole cast of the original, 2000 X-Men movie is back and X-2 adds more action scenes featuring junior X-People.. Rogue, Iceman and Pyro, played by Anna Paquin, Shawn Ashmore and Aaron Stanford who passed their off-set time while shooting in Vancouver with wild paintball games that left Anna black and blue. "The make-up people were really upset with me", she confides.

X-2 is full of action and plot development on many fronts and picks up where the last film left off. Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) is still fighting government attempts to register and control mutants. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) has gone to an isolated lake to finally discover the secrets of his past. Telepath Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) is still unsure about choosing Cyclops (James Marsden) over hot Wolverine. Rogue (Anna Paquin) is now going with Bobby/Iceman (Shawn Ashmore) who appeared briefly in the first film. A new kid on the block Pyro (Aaron Stanford) is really heating things up and Magneto (Ian McKellen) is still a prisoner in a plastic cell (to prevent him from manipulating metal).

When demon-like mutant Kurt Wagner (Alan Cumming), known as Nightcrawler, attacks the White House, almost killing the President, he is the mind slave of the film's bad guy, evil Col. William Stryker (Brian Cox) who wants to get rid of all mutants forever. His own son is one and he just can't stand it! He sends his army to attack Xavier's prep school in upstate New York and this sends Wolverine, Rogue and her pals on the run.

While Jean and Storm (Halle Berry) go looking for Nightcrawler, sneaky shapeshifter Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) helps Magneto escape. Like it or not, Magneto must team up with his arch-rival Xavier to defeat Stryker, resulting in X-Men united to save the entire mutant race.

This new X-Men film is bigger and more action-packed than the original but it also manages to include more humor, a bit of romance and even more personal stories for many of the cast members. Hugh Jackman does a great job as the troubled Wolverine who is desperate to find out what and who turned him into a monster. Bobby and Rogue are a cool but tentative couple and Pyro is a dark, brooding guy ready to literally "explode".

I was really impressed with the performance of chameleon Alan Cumming (the weird kiddie t.v. host from the original Spy Kids) who is very touching and yet funny as the demon-looking Mutant who is a strong believer in Faith. It's a strange combo and Cumming pulls it off beautifully. He also has a cool tail to whip around and leaves a smoky blue residue when he teleports. Rogue isn't as featured in this film. In fact, although some efforts are made, Storm and Jean as well, could use more character development. I'd go for a new film featuring all the female X-Men. Sir Ian McKellen is both regal and funny at times as Magneto and Bryan Cox as Stryker is a very evil villain indeed. Mystique (Rebecca Romijn Stamos) is as slinky as ever, especially when she comes on to Wolverine. Kelly Hu as the dark villainess Deathstryke doesn't have anything so say but has one heck of a cool, action-packed fight with Wolverine.

Even if you ignore all the action, which is very well directed by Bryan Singer, I especially like the X-Men comics and films for their core message. Just because a person is different, doesn't mean they are evil or to be feared or looked down upon. This is even more strongly stressed in this new film and it works to make us feel for the characters. There are a few logic questions revolving around "hummm, why didn't so-in-so use their power to prevent that?' but that's a minor quibble. The music is hot, the look is great and you care about the people. Not much more to ask for in a comic-action flick.

Rated: PG-13

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