Professor Xavier's School for the Gifted Links: Home * A-B * C-E * F-H * I-M * P-S * T-Z * The Superman Family * The Bat Cave * The Super-100 Generation X Originally Reviewed on August 14th 2008 In 1989,with DCs Batman raking in the dough, Marvel began working with James Cameron to bring their popular X-Men series to the big screen. This movie never came into being and in the years between that and Bryan Singer's eventual filming, there was an attempt at launching the franchise through the small screen with Generation X. Budget constraints have always been the Achilles heel for live action TV super flicks. Costumes and special effects can't be too elaborate and therefore heroes are often reduced to tossing normal people in street clothes through the air, ala the Incredible Hulk series. Those explosive epic comic book battles, highlighted by dazzling larger than life powers, are lost. This means that while we do get to see Emma Frost/White Queen, Banshee, Jubilee, Skin and Monet/M from the comic series, other characters were ditched and replaced with new, cheaper to film heroes (Out are Chamber and Husk, in is Buff/Arlie -strength- and Refrax/Kurt (with Cyclops style eye beams). It also means that Xavier's School for the Gifted isn't buzzing with student activity and looks pretty sad with only 6 kids and 2 teachers wandering its immense halls. Oh, and why the hell does the mansion apparently have only one bathroom? Despite these inherent problems there is still a serviceable story to be told. It concerns a dream world that bad guy scientist Russell Tresh (Matt Frewer) plans to exploit. Tresh desires to inject himself with Mutant brain juice, become a bush league Freddie Kruger and have his revenge against the woman who ruined him -Emma Frost- played with appropriate ice by Finola Hughes. As this tale of vengeance unfolds, the quarrelsome students must learn to work together to defeat the baddie and save one of their own. Among the performances I liked Jeremy Ratchford as Banshee, I was surprised by how good he looked as I was most familiar with the actor in the role of the out of shape Vera on "Cold Case". Jubilee, played ably by Heather McComb was the big draw here for most fans, though many were upset that a Chinese American actress didn't play her. On the other side of the coin Matt Frewer 'Jim Carrey's' the hell out of his part. How irritating did I find him? Try walking around in underwear made of fiberglass insulation and you'll have a close approximation. Humor wise it's hit and miss - I laughed at the stripper comment directed at Emma and I enjoyed the Officer's Hootie and Blowfish bit. Then there's the unfortunate moment where the evil scientist induces involuntary attacks of gas among a group of businessmen. -Sigh- did they have to go there? I watched the UK version of this film and there was a heavy dose of sexual comment and a few expletives (Jubilee drops 2 F-Bombs!) not heard in the American televised cut. A primitive version of Cerebro is seen and the School is the same one they will later use in the X-Men features. The Mutant Registration Act discussed in the Hollywood films is in full force here and it's a bit intimidating and scary when Jubilee is carted off and her mother can do nothing (at least until Banshee and Emma step in). It made me appreciate Magneto's point of view on the situation. Generation X is imperfect; there's the idiotic (an eating contest between a mutant and a townie) and in the final showdown we get a few too many of those shoving matches (and comic book Emma would have mopped the floor up with Tresh). Despite this I was generally entertained by the story and character interaction. Plus it didn't hurt having the sexy White Queen on screen. X-Men Originally Reviewed on August 8th 2006 This is the one that got this current superheroic ball rolling! As a kid I read Marvel Comics voraciously, and always thought they'd look incredible on the big screen. So this flick was a big deal for me. And from the first frame I was happy as a clam. Sure Director Bryan Singer took liberties with the story and the look (as Spider-Man later proved, you could stick with the original costume and still make a serious production) but the tone of the piece was so solid that the changes didn't dampen my enthusiasm in the least. The X-Men focuses on the 3 sides of the coin: A government official who preaches fear, the mutants lead by Charles Xavier who call for cool heads and tolerance and Magneto's brotherhood of mutants, who are preparing for war. When Magneto's scheme to tilt the playfield in his favor threatens to wipe out most of the human race. Charles and his band must step in - not only to save one of their own, but humanity as well. The strength of the movie was found in its characters and the one character that stood out most was Wolverine. Had I been familiar with Hugh Jackman before X-Men, I might have questioned the casting. Jackman is very refined, almost too polished in many of his roles. But with Logan he delivers the gruff, raw personality to a tee. His portrayal is the hub of the entire film. His relationship with Rogue is warm, his view of the uniforms and code names is hysterical and brutally honest ("What do they call you", he says to Charles, "Wheels?") and his no holds barred style of fighting is never compromised in the movie (He slices a female foe without mercy). Aside from Jackman, the entire cast is perfect. McKellen as Magneto and Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier in particular, have a great dynamic. And though Halle Berry slips in and out of a silly accent (very noticeable in the deleted scenes, and dropped in later films), her Storm looks really cool. (The lightening shimmering around her eyes was sharp) There are too many scenes of folks standing around sick bay and when Storm confronts Toad she delivers one of the dumbest punch-lines ever spoken. But other than that, it has a great score (much better than the overcooked music heard on X-2), sharp camera work and a screenplay that retains a sense of humor even as it touches on the serious nature of prejudice. It's a compelling and timeless theme that will be explored in a richer story for the sequel. X-2: X-Men United Originally Reviewed on August 8th 2006 At its core the story of the X-Men is about the struggle against an oppressive authority that fears anything different. This thread continues with X-2, a much better told tale than the first with several great additions. Including Brian Cox playing William Stryker, a man who has ties to Logan and a major mad-on for mutants after enduring tortures and tragedy at the hands (or rather mind) of his mutant son. His plan is to use the imprisoned Magneto to get to Charles and wipe out all Mutant kind. In order to stop this scheme, friends and foe must unite. The movie also introduces us to Nightcrawler (well played with soul searching heart by Alan Cumming), who is a better fighter and (I felt) a more interesting character than he was in the comics. The opening scenes with the teleporting mutant in the White House were one of the best-staged action sequences in any Super Hero movie. In fact, the battles throughout are choreographed to perfection. Wolverine's one-man assault against the task force Styker sends into the mansion was violent, true to character and thrilling to no end. Nightcrawler (who was under Strykers influence when he attacked the President) leads the other X-Men and Magneto/Mystique to Strykers base and the final confrontation. But the journey to this point is thoughtfully written, imaginative, and intricate in all phases (such as Mystique's clever scheme to break Magneto out of prison). Perhaps that's why Singer is so ingenious when staging fight scenes. There's more to them than just swinging fists... it's a ballet, germane to the character and the situation. Wolverine heals quickly from any wound, it's logical then that he would not be an exceptionally deft defensive fighter - therefore in the brutal back and forth brawl with Lady Deathstrike, he takes as much as he delivers. Singer's direction is the foundation, but it's also a thoughtfully scripted film. It's empowering, heartbreaking at times, breathtaking in scope. There's great action but its strength lies in the compelling and layered character interplay. I loved how it made me hunger for more, but I hate how I'll never get to see how Singer would have presented the third film. There's a scene at the end when we see Jean flickering with the Phoenix flame. And later, the shadow of the Phoenix dances upon the lake where Jean's body lay. I remember getting a charge over that scene and how I couldn't wait to see how the director would tie everything up for the 3rd installment. Ultimately Brett Ratner's "X-Men: Last Stand" wound up an energetic popcorn flick with a bit of heart to redeem its rough edges. But it never approached the wisdom or creative scope of Singer's X-Films. X3: The Last Stand Originally Reviewed on August 8th 2006 I just finished watching this and like many in this marathon, I enjoyed it even more the second time around. Now, this isn't the artistic achievement of the previous 2 films. While Bryan Singer couched his films closely to reality and made the characters fully flesh and blood, Director Brett Ratner is a closed fist. He pummels us with action and isn't as concerned with easing us into the world of Mutants. Sometimes the dialog is clunky and the nicknames kind of come off sounding silly in this installment (something Singer strove to avoid) But this is the Final Conflict and just as in the comics, a big story arc ends with a huge battle. So I feel this fits quite well. I do wish I could have seen how Singer would have closed the series, but despite a few nitpicks I liked the Last Stand. X-3 is splashy, summer fun - an FX extravaganza that grabs one by the throat and never lets go. The movie is dark, there's a lot of death. On the other end of the spectrum, there are moments where Logan seems a little too tame at times for my tastes. The director made a couple of bad choices (I think he should have gone with the extended battle at Jean's house), but he also struck the right tone as well - ala the unlikely Kitty Pryde/Juggernaut square off. I defend Ratners decision to change the content of the original comic story in regards to Rogue. In the comics Rogue was a major player, a force to be reckoned with. But in the films she's just a girl with a power that keeps her from being "just" a girl, a teenager who wants to do the normal things any regular teen wants to do. I agree that it was appropriate to have this version of Rogue make a different choice. Connected to that thread, I thought Storm came off kind of bitchy (the way she snapped at Rogue when she heard about the cure). Rogue isn't like Storm, She can't be a regular Joe (so to speak). It's different for her and in her place; I'd have done the same thing. In Storms place, hell no, I'll keep the kick ass power. I'd place this as my 5th in the current X-Men series, but it's a high five and a movie I enjoyed. EDIT: Upon watching this again, I was really taken with the end exchange between Logan and Jean. He keeps coming as she tears him a part. She asks if he'd actually die for them and he chokes out that it's not for them (the bystanders etc) but for her. He'd die for her. Cripes that seriously pulled at my heartstrings and has become one of my favorite scenes in this marathon. It's human, real and touching. Man, I think I need a hanky! X-Men Origins: Wolverine Reviewed on May 3rd 2009 Fox's fourth film in the franchise is stuffed to the gills with guest stars as it gives us look at the formation of Weapon X, the connection to William Stryker (seen in X2), the relationship between Logan and Victor Creed (Sabertooth) and most importantly, answers the questions of what lead to Wolverine acquiring that adamantium skeleton and what caused his memory loss? There's a lot packed in here and even though it's presented in less than 2 hours, the movie never feels rushed (ala Spider-Man 3). And unlike the Burton/Schumacher's Batman flicks where the hero got lost in the shuffle, the spotlight never strays far from the title character. And for that screenwriters David Benioff and Skip Woods deserve a round of applause. Director Gavin Hood isn't as sharp as Bryan Singer (X-Men 1 & 2) who was a master of character interplay and also staged epic action sequences that were smartly choreographed and filmed. Many of the fights between Logan and Victor come off generic and suffer from those annoying frenzied edits, which only the most accomplished director or editors should attempt (like Peter Hunt, to name a classic example). Hood though is deeper than Brett Ratner (whose X-Men 3, was fun but didn't have a lot of meat on its bones) and there are times where he taps into pure cinematic bliss - as with the introductory scenes where we see Logan and his brother fight in wars throughout the ages. At the top of the food chain are the actors. It goes without saying that Hugh Jackman carries the film with his usual talent and charisma. Logan's dry wit and badass snarl are all present, as is a lot of heart. Matching him is Liev Schreiber as Sabertooth. While not the obvious choice, he proves that acting chops are better than a shaggy mane and muscles wrapped in leather. Victor is a chilling and imposing figure. As the years pass we watch him unravel, gladly embracing the animal inside. Because of these 2 fine performers, the split between brothers never comes off forced or phony. The only character that was a bit of a let down was Stryker. Danny Huston just doesn't have Brian Cox's cool commanding menace, but not many actors do and it would have taken a greater talent cast in the role to pull it off. The guest stars have caused some controversy, but the changes made with them were not an issue with me and didn't dampen my overall enjoyment: As Wolverine hunts down Creed, he comes across a treasure trove of classic X-foes and future allies. Some critics ask, "Was all of that needed?" In a word... YES! Sure, a few were there as eye candy but who cares. Adding something sweet, just because it's sweet and cool and fun isn't such a terrible thing - so I say, "Bah to cranky critics!" Deadpool (perfectly cast Ryan Reynolds) was a hoot and a great swordsmith in early scenes -he's a considerably different animal all together at the end- a super-mutant programmed to kill Logan in the final knock down drag out (and when Victor enters the fray, it develops into one of the films better fight sequences). I've never been a Gambit fan, but I liked the character here. Actor Taylor Kitsch had a natural easy camaraderie with Jackman, and Gambits powers were nicely displayed. Though Emma Frost in her brief cameo wasn't anywhere near the uber hottie she is in the Marvel comics, I am a fan of the White Queen and getting to watch her use her diamond powers was an added bonus. And speaking of bonuses, a certain familiar face shows up at the end. There are rough spots: Old plot devices were hauled out (how many times over the years have I seen someone betrayed by an ally/friend/etc because the allies loved one was threatened?) Being a prequel it can feel hemmed in by stories already told (you know Wolvies not going to kill Sabertooth or Stryker) and the explanation for Logan's memory loss is contrived and clumsily handled. But those are minor quibbles and none was a deal breaker. All told I was entertained by the story, I liked the intrigue and mystery. I dug the many characters that showed up, I thought the interplay between them was strong and coupled with the impressive performances; they kept me riveted to the screen. The movie is a hell of a ride, loads of fun but it also carries some weight (apart from the Blob). Recommended. X-Men First Class Reviewed on September 12th 2011 First Class is a movie custom made for me. I love the sixties. I love the style and the color pallet and the music and the movies... And one of the movies I was to die for was Bond, James Bond. Director Matthew Vaughn was all about capturing that 007 vibe, without drifting into pastiche - and he and his crew succeed in that goal. Michael Fassbender as Erik "Magneto" Lenscherr brings the Sean Connery swagger -he even has a bass throbbing John Barry style musical theme- while maintaining his own uniqueness of character. For this alone, I was in Heaven. The film is about the formative years of the X-franchise - Of the friendship between Charles and Erik, how the bond with Erik and Mystique was forged, and how important the Beast's (and Charles') reaction to her mutation had a hand in that. It also shows us the early fear of the mutant and how the seeds of this conflict with humans were first planted. It weaves this expansive story, all of this character development and interaction, and does so masterfully. To make it work, you needed a great cast, and they got it. While the satellite characters aren't as well known, the actors are capable and their characters have interesting powers to show off. At the top of the acting food chain is the brilliant Michael Fassbender, who has become a personal favorite through his work in Independent film (Fish Tank, Hunger). Fassbender is actor with soulful and intense eyes and an understated expressiveness that serves Magneto well. James McAvoy is the conscious of the team as Charles Xavier, but he also makes him a bit of a player early on. Jennifer Lawrence is wonderful as Mystique, she along with Nicholas Hoult as Beast are two sides of the same coin, both are trying to come to terms with their mutations, but each search for acceptance from a different perspective. Rose Byrne rounds out the group as a CIA agent – a non mutant- but someone who is also fighting for respect in her male dominated work place. The villains, while good, didn't fare as well. The chief opponent (attempting to pull off a Bond-baddie type scheme of pitting two world powers against one another) is Sebastian Shaw -a man not that philosophically far off from Magneto. Kevin Bacon is not as physically imposing as his comic book counterpart, and plays him more as Hugh Hefner's evil twin. There's a calm, confidence in him that's scary, but I didn't feel he was charismatic enough. January Jones plays the icy Emma Frost, and at first she was perfect. She started off a worthy counter to Charles, but she's taken out of the equation with a relative ease that didn't sit well with me. I expected a little more fight and scheming from her. Though often seen in smaller roles, I've always liked Jason Flemyng and he makes the Nightcrawler-like Azazel a frighteningly vicious foe. Positives: I liked the 'matter of fact' way the story is with the code names and powers. I loved the nods to future events and the cameos (one in particular had theater patrons roaring with laughter). John Dykstra was in charge of the SFX design and his talents and skills are in breathtaking display - intermingling as much practical magic as he can – as in the great fight scene between Banshee and Angel. Actual stunt people were used here, flying on wires strung from helicopters. I thought the costumes and makeup were strong. Unlike others, I liked the Beast; it's tough to make blue fur look anything but laughable, but he was appropriately ferocious to my eye. The film is anchored by one of the greatest final acts in Superhero movie history. The fights and the resolution, the tying up of the various threads are all accomplished and exciting. Fassbender really shines in this section, and what Magneto does to Shaw is badass and poetic. And when we get to see Erik in the classic red helmet and flowing purple cape... damn - that was icing on the cake! 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