X-Men (2000)

Director:

Bryan Singer

Writers (WGA):

Tom DeSanto (story) &
Bryan Singer (story) ...

Release Date:

14 July 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Join the Evolution.

Plot:

Two mutants come to a private academy for mutants whose resident superhero team must oppose a powerful mutant terrorist organization.

Plot Keywords:

Melting Man | Cage Fighting | Kicked In The Crotch | Runaway Teen | Super Power

Awards:

11 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Hugh Jackman	...	Logan / Wolverine
Patrick Stewart	...	Professor Charles Xavier
Ian McKellen	...	Eric Lensherr / Magneto
Famke Janssen	...	Jean Grey
James Marsden	...	Scott Summers / Cyclops
Halle Berry	...	Ororo Munroe / Storm
Anna Paquin	...	Rogue / Marie D'Ancanto
Tyler Mane	...	Sabretooth
Ray Park	...	Toad
Rebecca Romijn	...	Mystique (as Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)
Bruce Davison	...	Senator Kelly
Matthew Sharp	...	Henry Gyrich
Rhona Shekter	...	Magneto's Mother
Kenneth McGregor	...	Magneto's Father
Shawn Roberts	...	Rogue's Boyfriend

Also Known As:

X-Men 1.5 (USA) (DVD box title)
X-Men: The Movie (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:12 | Ireland:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37616) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:TE | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:G | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Ajax, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Rebecca Romijn and Sam Elliot have both played major and supporting roles as different characters throughout the Marvel Universe. Sam Elliot played a major role as General Ross in Hulk, and a supporting role as the Caretaker in Ghostrider. Rebecca Romijn had a major role as Mystique in all 3 X-Men movies, and played a supporting role as Joan (Frank's neighbor) in The Punisher.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jean Gray is checking Logan after the fight you can see a pink bra under her jacket. The camera then switches to Logan and when it returns to Jean Gray the bra is missing and her coat closed up.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Prof. Charles Francis Xavier: [narration] Mutation: it is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This process is slow, and normally taking thousands and thousands of years. But every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in War Journal: On the Set of 'The Punisher' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

GOVERNOR'S GUARD

Not a "Comic-book Movie"

There's no doubt about it, X-Men is not a stereotypical "comic-book film". Whenever a movie is made that is based on comic books, there is always a fear that it can and will be typically pigeonholed into the "comic book film" genre and that the movie is basically made for the fans of that comic book. Comic-book films are usually unrealistic and unappealing to the general audience.

Bryan Singer, however, did a wonderful job at making X-Men a movie that will not only overjoy the fans of the comic book, but also the general movie-goer as well. The movie is grounded, without the flighty unrealism of comic book material, and it delivers a message about prejudice that has always been what X-Men were about: fighting for a world that hates them.

The performances are outstanding, especially Hugh Jackman who, in my opinion, did a dead-on Wolverine, and Patrick Stewart, who never failed to show the peace and self-control that Professor Charles Xavier always strove to maintain.

Aside the characters, the plot was original (I couldn't tell you what was going to happen in the end by the middle of the movie) and most importantly: the world was REAL. The only suspension of disbelief that is required is the assumption that these genetic mutations can happen, and did, causing these extraordinary people. Honestly, I was a little disappointed that the colorful high-flare costumes were omitted, but I instantly forgave Singer when I realized why. It was simply to add to the realism.

All in all, X-Men was excellent. If you're a fan of the comic book series as I was, then you'll endlessly enjoy seeing these characters come to life. And if you've never been exposed to the comic book, this movie will give you an entertaining way to be exposed to its message about fear, hatred, and prejudice.