X-Men 2 Rating:  Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle
UK Certificate: 18
Comic book adaptations may be all the rage these days with filmmakers but that doesn't necessarily mean they're any good. 'Swamp Thing' immediately springs to mind, and despite it's stellar cast, the original 'X-Men' seemingly left something to be desired. Well, that's certainly not a charge you could successfully level at 'X-Men 2', which finds director Bryan Singer refining almost every facet of the original, tying it up with a strong story line, and coming up with an all action belter that will take some beating this year.
Most of the characters return from the original, with Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier and Ian McKellan's Magneto once again holding centre stage and hamming things up like the old pros that they are. Hugh Jackman's Wolverine also features strongly, as he hunts for the truth behind his own mutant abilities. That trio are ably supported by Halle Berry (Storm), Famke Janssen (Jean Grey), Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (Mystique) and Anna Paquin's (Rogue) whilst Alan Cummin's new character Nightcrawler adds some light relief.
The story line revolves around another government attempt to crack down on mutants, led by the crooked Brian Cox, and, almost incredulously, Xavier and Magneto joining forces as the mutants fight for their own survival. Meanwhile Wolverine searches for his own past, a plotline that ties up nicely with everything else at the end.
Of course nothing goes as planned, and it's all utter hokum. But it's thoroughly enjoyable hokum. Great fun in fact, with edge of your seat action sequences and a story you can actually get your teeth into. The blockbuster of the summer, you mark my words.
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