X2: X-Men United
{4.5/5} “Have you tried… not being a mutant?”
A mutant gets extremely close to the President of the United States, an event that turns even more people against mutants. Stryker is a military scientist who’s trying to get rid of mutants — and although Wolverine has forgotten, Stryker is a figure from his past. When Stryker tries to kidnap the mutants at Charles Xavier’s school, some of them escape. Mutants who were previously on opposite sides must work together to defeat Stryker.
X2: X-Men United was released in 2003. This is the second time I’ve seen this movie, the best of the original X-Men trilogy (and on par with the recent X-Men: First Class).
The movie starts with an exciting scene, and it remains interesting throughout with some unique action sequences. The villain is villainous but has an understandable point of view. The large cast is used very well — each character has some good scenes.
I like the enthusiastic music by John Ottman (Superman Returns).
Patrick Stewart (the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation) plays Charles Xavier and Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings) plays Eric Lensherr / Magneto. Hugh Jackman (Australia) plays Logan / Wolverine and Halle Barry (Things We Lost in the Fire) plays Storm. Anna Paquin (the TV show True Blood) plays Rogue and Shawn Ashmore (Frozen) plays Bobby / Iceman. Famke Janssen (GoldenEye) plays Jean Grey and Rebecca Romijn (Femme Fatale) plays Mystique. James Marsden (Enchanted) plays Scott / Cyclops.
Newcomers to the X-Men universe Brian Cox (The Bourne Identity) plays Stryker and Alan Cumming (the TV show The Good Wife) plays Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler. Kelly Hu (The Scorpion King) plays Lady Deathstrike and Aaron Stanford (the TV show Nikita) plays John / Pyro.
The movie was directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects).
Spoiler alert
The only problem I have with this movie is the ending. Jean saves the ship but sacrifices herself. Xavier says “she made a choice” but what does that mean? Why did she choose to die?
Spoiler alert for X-Men 3: The Last Stand
Jean actually survives and comes back as Phoenix. I realize that this came from the comic books and might make sense to people who read those comic books, but for people who just saw the movies — it didn’t make sense.