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X2: X-MEN UNITED: STAYING TRUE TO THE SPIRIT OF THE
COMICS
by: Edwin Bartolome
 The most striking feature of the X-Men films has been their exceptional faithfulness
to the heart and soul of the comics. Director Bryan Singer’s commendable
respect for the sensibilities of the so-called “fanboys” combined
with his ability to translate it into a product so acceptable to the mainstream
audience have been the films’ key success factors.
Ok, so we don’t get to see Wolverine’s trademark yellow spandex,
or Mystique’s skull-shaped forehead piece, or even Rogue’s familiar
green costume, but hey…these are mere cosmetic features. The litmus test
of a movie’s faithfulness to its origins is the way it presents the characters’ behaviors
and the way they interact with one another. When these movie characters react
the exact way you expect them to act in the pages of your favorite comicbook,
then you know the movie…and those characters you love so much…are
in good hands.
The movie’s opening sequence was brilliantly executed. The blue-skinned
mutant Nightcrawler attacks the White House and disposes of the President’s
Secret Service agents in a cunning fashion. This sequence is arguably the single
most-praised aspect of the movie. I’ve read so many X2 reviews and they
were all unanimous in their approval of this sequence. And who would not love
to see their favorite Bible-quoting mutant appearing in his characteristic
agile self while teleporting past several layers of guards and accompanied
by the haunting strains of a classical piece. Simply amazing!
There were so many scenes worthy of praise in this movie. Some of these are:
Storm’s navigation of the X-Jet to elude the pursuing government fighter
planes, Magneto’s spectacular escape from his plastic prison, the X-Men’s
confrontation with the police in Bobby Drake’s front porch and lawn where
Pyro unleashes his awesome mutant ability, Colossus “armoring-up” (this,
incidentally, I think is the fanboy favorite), and Jean Grey’s big “moment” toward
the end where she tries to stop the surging wall of water from engulfing the
X-Jet (ok, I’ll stop here lest I ruin the movie for the 2 people who
hasn’t seen the movie). The brilliant conceptualization and execution
of these scenes were what made X2 the best comic book movie I’ve seen
so far.
Enough of the scenes, what about the characters? Of all the characters assembled
in this ensemble piece, I’d have to say I was most impressed with Ian
McKellen’s Magneto. Although the comicbook Magneto may be a lot younger
than his movie counterpart, I can think of no other actor who can project Eric
Lensherr’s tenacious principles and belief in mutant supremacy better
than McKellen. His English accent and commanding presence may be part of the
overall package that made his performance simply awe-inspiring. Patrick Stewart’s
Professor Charles Xavier is comicbook perfect. The dignified authority exuded
by the X-Men’s patriarchal figure came out very well. Some people are
of the belief that Patrick Stewart was born to play the Professor. I couldn’t
agree more.
The mother-and-son tandem of Mystique and Nightcrawler (although they don’t
know it yet), as played by Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Alan Cumming, were portrayed
strongly. Mystique’s character stole the limelight mainly due to the
various amazing tricks and stunts she pulled off against her adversaries. Nightcrawler’s
presence, on the other hand, was felt due to his character’s movie-friendly
mutant ability of teleportation, as well as the surprising depth of characterization
that the writer were able to imbue him.
The portrayals that left me wanting more were those of James Marsden’s
Cyclops and Halle Berry’s Storm. I can’t believe that the two characters
given the most exceptional leadership skills in the comicbook were the ones
who looked most like followers in the movie. I mean… is this the same
Cyclops who was the Original X-Men’s de facto leader (and also the leader
of the so-called X-Men Blue Strike Force)? Is this the Storm who led the X-Men’s
Gold Strike Force and was chosen leader by the underground mutants known as
the Morlocks? Ok, Storm was given a lot of “moments” in the movie
but I think Halle Berry’s portrayal lacked the forcefulness and decisiveness
that the comicbook Storm possessed. Ditto for Cyclops who spent much of the
movie helpless & in the clutches of the nefarious General William Stryker.
I hope Berry and Marsden are given meatier and more improved parts in the virtually-sure
X3, as I would still like to see them reprise their roles, if only for the
sake of “visual continuity”.
Nevertheless, as I mentioned above, X2 is by far the best comic book movie
I’ve seen. And it stems in large part from the director’s respect
for the root material. I sure hope they let the brilliant Bryan Singer take
charge of X3 so that this franchise will avoid the pitfalls encountered by
such distinguished franchises as Superman and Batman, both of which got lost
along the way and in the end succumbed to the siren call of crass commercialism.
All characters are © and ™ of their respective
companies.
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