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The plot has Magneto, a Nazi death camp survivor (played
by Ian McKellen), declaring an unofficial war on humans as
the world's leaders begin to move against the "mutants"
with special powers.
Combating Magneto's wish - to prevent (by violence) what
he sees as a second looming holocaust - is Professor Xavier
(Patrick Stewart), who wants to ease humans and his own kind
through the teething period of mutual distrust.
Siding with Xavier are Wolverine (Aussie Hugh Jackman), Rogue
(Anna Paquin), Cyclops (James Marsden), Storm (a fabulously
blonde Halle Berry) and Dr Jean Grey (Famke Janssen). Opposing
him are Sabretooth, Toad and Mystique.
The good guys are better rounded than the nasty trio and,
Aussie bias aside, Jackman does a super job as the wolfman
with the claws, and skeleton, of metal.
And, for any budding cinematographer, studying the imagery
in X-Men and observing the number of levels on which
it succeeds, would be time well spent.
The transfer is pretty darn good with only a few film artefacts
in some of the moments when the characters faces are shot
against a light background, Hugh Jackman in the snow for example.
Still, the overall imagery is exceptionally sharp - even down
to the on-nose hairs of Jackman.
X-Men is comic-book stuff, but done with a straight
style, terrific special effects, and a desire from all concerned
to treat the characters and storyline seriously.
Worth having a look at.
Conclusion: Movie 80%, Extras 20%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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