The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015. Remaining movies: 130 Days to go: 91
Movie #310: X-Men 2
This movie used to be called X2, but according to IMDb, that’s its “original” title, and it’s called X-Men 2 now. Whatever.
X2 is a stellar improvement on its predecessor, as it brings in new characters and reveals new backstories while maintaining the underlying central conflict wherein some powerful humans are mistrustful of mutants (and vice versa). This time, however, the powerful human is sly villain William Stryker (Brian Cox), who was the one responsible for the adamantium Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is filled with, and who has found a way to harness and exploit his mutant son’s mind control powers and use them against his enemies. And incidentally, his enemies are mutants — namely Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen), but essentially all mutants everywhere.
We pick up X2 where X-Men left off, with Magneto in a plastic prison, Logan (Wolverine) off searching for the secrets of his past on a motorcycle he stole from Scott (James Marsden), Rogue (Anna Paquin) dating Bobby (Shawn Ashmore) but unable to get too physical because of her condition, and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn) still sporting her signature Wolverine scar (I LOVE that they put that detail in), still impersonating Senator Kelly (Bruce Davison), and still kicking ass and taking names. She’s my favorite. I especially like when she breaks into Stryker’s fortress by being Logan first and then Stryker himself (but not before flipping them all off). It’s even better than when she subversively breaks Magneto out of jail, and that part’s GREAT.
This time, because of the greater threat against them all, the Professor’s and Magneto’s band of mutants come together to defeat Stryker, but it doesn’t stop them from widening the gaps in the philosophies of their two camps. When all is said and done and Stryker is defeated, Magneto tries to take advantage of the situation Stryker created and wipe out the humans again. And even though he doesn’t succeed, he winds up with a new recruit in Pyro (Aaron Stanford), and his actions snowball into a crisis that results in the loss of Jean (Famke Janssen) who, as a friend of mind would be the first to tell you, would not put up with this shit. (Thankfully, she comes into her own in the next movie. Unfortunately, I don’t own that one because I hated it when it came out. It’s become the one I find most rewatchable, surprisingly, but I’ve still never rectified the fact that it’s not in my possession.)
Storm (Halle Berry) has a whisper of an interesting storyline when she meets up with Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), who softens her bitterness quite a bit, but despite being the one to rescue the Professor at the end, she’s still not given a whole lot to do and I don’t blame Berry for becoming sort of bored with the role. Nightcrawler, too, is a flash in the pan — appearing in this film only — but he saves Rogue’s life in dramatic fashion, so I like him a lot. And speaking of Rogue, she really comes into her own, taking control of her powers and turning them on Pyro to defuse the escalating situation at Bobby’s house. She comes across as much more confident and mature than she was in the last film, and it sets up her arc nicely for the next one. (That being said, my actual favorite part of that showdown at Bobby’s house is Logan pushing a bullet out of his forehead with his powers. It’s a kickass, fantastic use of effects.)
You also get a glimpse of all sorts of cool powers of the kids at the school, but I don’t know any of their names because I still haven’t read an X-Men comic. Still doesn’t my diminish my enjoyment at all. I really love these movies, love this universe, and love these characters. When we meet them again (for My Movie Shelf), they’ll all be much younger.
Viable Option 