X-Men Review

 

        As we’ve seen in my exploration into superhero films, the genre has evolved a lot in its 20-year existence. It only seemed natural that Richard Donner and his wife would oversee the film to really create the love of the genre and put Marvel on the map. Bryan Singer’s X-Men is the superhero film to take credit of making superheroes cool. While Blade had its moments of action, this film about mutants had the drama to really resonate with the audience. 

1. War Among Mutants

        The film takes place in a hypothetical not too distant future. We follow a young mutant named Marie. She unintentionally causes her boyfriend to accidentally go in a coma when her powers start to emerge. Amid that, Jean Grey protests an anti-mutant rights bill that is led by the controversial Senator Kelly. Attending the hearing is Professor Xavier and his complicated friend Erik.

        Charles is an idealist who wants mutants to coexist with humans. While Erik is a holocaust survivor and knows that humans will reject mutants. Throughout the film, Xavier and his covert team attempt to stop Erik and his Brotherhood of Mutants from enacting their plan of mutant terrorism. Despite the film having little action, the drama is the film’s saving grace. It mirrors some aspects of the comic series the film is based on. Mostly that, the entire "X-Men" comic series is littered with drama. 

        The whole idea of mutants can be interpreted with any sub-culture that wishes to be compatible with everyday society. Honestly, any person can put in any lifestyle and the film will go along with it. I think it works since the actor who plays Magneto, Sir Ian McKellen is gay and can relate to the struggles of anyone who just wants to be normal or seeing anyone being mistreated. 

        I know that the obvious real-life counterparts for the two are the civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. I think it was made intentional because the entire series hinges on the mutants wanting to be accepted. As well as being an allusion when the series was started during the Civil Rights Movement. When we see the students in Xavier’s School, they mostly look normal and don’t look like mutants. Those moments show that they look like regular kids, but are gifted with the powers that are with them. 

  

2. The Wolverine

        This was Hugh Jackman’s first role in any film and the one he’ll always be known for. Even before the movie, The Wolverine had developed a following among comic book readers. Due to him being a rugged hero and having a mysterious background. Jackman absolutely nails the portrayal of the Canadian Mutant. He originally started as an actor in theater, he was told by his wife to not do the film. Jackman studied wolves thinking that a Wolverine was just a made-up name. 

        I feel that his story alongside Marie/Rogue is the central one in the whole movie. Both go through an arc, with Marie being a runaway and Logan being a vagabond. There’s a real father and daughter thing going on. Especially since she starts to care for the guy. My favorite scene is when she runs away, and Logan goes to get her. They are in a train, and they talk. I love it since it undresses the notion that Wolverine was tough, he’s just a big softie. 

        Basically, what hinges on him staying at Xavier’s is Marie being comfortable in his school. When Xavier shows Logan around the mansion, he sees that Marie is in a class. It confirms to him that Professor Xavier genuinely wants to help them out as he tells Marie that. He gets comfortable and is a flirt with Jean Grey. She is Scott’s/Cyclops girlfriend; it’s carried over from the comics since both Logan and Scott have a friendly rivalry and it mostly involves Jean. 

3. A Thing About the Suits

        When looking at the suits now, it looks ridiculous. To put it into context, The Matrix was already in the public’s consciousness. So I think to make the film approachable, the filmmakers decided to give the team leather suits. Obviously, they look nothing as they do in the comics. Especially Wolverine without his mask. His hair was added in when Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige was an associate producer and suggested to give Jackman’s character his signature look with his hair. 

        Many fans complained about how the team looks. It’s even mentioned when the team goes to rescue Marie. When Wolverine complains about the suit, Scott says to Logan, “What would you prefer, yellow spandex?”. Given that the comics have them running around in their colorful costumes, it makes sense that the team is more covert since they want their approach to be like a black ops mission.

4. 20 Year Film Series

        This film put the team on the map for the general audience. While an animated show premiered back in the 90s, the movie made an immediate impact on audiences. It made superhero films respectable again. What followed was a 2 decade long franchise that had sequels, spinoffs, and reboots. Also, influencing the comics they are based on and another animated series that reflects the films.

        Having watched nearly all the X-Men movies, they are largely inconsistent. The first two were solid and were working towards the comic series’ most famous storyline “The Dark Phoenix Saga. The third one was just a disappointment since it relied on action instead of the drama of what made the first two interesting. It was only a matter of time when Wolverine got spun off and had his own film series. X-Men Origins: Wolverine is one of the worst things to have Wolverine on it. The original intent was to introduce other characters into their solo films.

        That was nixed when Fox rebooted the franchise with X-Men: First Class. It was an enjoyable film and probably one of my favorite comic book films. When word got out that Fox was developing a Deadpool movie, I was hesitant. Ryan Reynolds’ two Deadpool films are the most hilarious superhero films that I have watched. Such a gamechanger of utilizing comedy and introducing the public to the Merc with a Mouth. 

        Little did people know that the series even had two tv shows. While connected to the film series, they were mostly their own thing. FX’s Legion is the most experimental comic book show that ever came out back in the 2010s. While Fox’s The Gifted was the standard comic book show that had it slate of mutants. 

        I feel that the series was experimental in terms of giving a superhero film an R rating. Such as with the two Deadpool films and Logan. I applaud the series for at least being daring and risky with such a high-profile character. There were more spinoffs that were announced, but got shelved when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox. 

5. Overall

        While some diehard fans would be turn off by Bryan Singer’s approach to Marvel’s mutants. I feel that it’s a sacrifice to show the public a unique adaptation to the most oddest teams to ever come out from the house of ideas. 

        X-Men gets a four out of five.