Good morning! Hamlette here again, ready to discuss one of my favorite movie soundtracks. Today, we'll be listening to music from X-Men (2000), composed by Michael Kamen.
We owe a lot to this movie, don't we? It kicked the popularity of superhero movies into high gear by not trying to turn the story into Serious Drama like the first couple of Batman movies, but also not descending into silliness and camp like the last couple of '90s Batman movies. Instead, it unabashedly presented complex characters who happen to have super powers, giving them a stylish story that does not pretend it's not based on comic books.
This score contains one of the most haunting, achingly beautiful themes of any movie soundtrack I have ever heard. I'm talking about the first two minutes of the final cue, "Logan and Rogue."
(This movie is 15 years old, but I'll still say it: Spoiler Alert!) In the movie, of course, this is the point where Wolverine risks his own life to save Rogue by letting her take his healing powers. It's an amazing moment in the film, but even if you haven't seen it, I think you'll still feel the emotions here.
My other favorite cue on this soundtrack is "Mutant School" because of the way it conveys cautious optimism. It starts out as a happy, hopeful song, then turns quiet and contemplative, reminding us to enjoy our powers, but to take them seriously too.
Thoughts: X-Men, Marvel's first successful attempt to adapt their comics to
film and the one sparked the modern comic book movie craze. It is hard to
believe that it has been 13 years since the first X-Men and to think that the
X-Men universe is still within the same continuity after all those years
is extraordinary, especially considering that most other comic book franchises
from the time have rebooted. Despite its age, X-Men will always be among the
best in the comic book genre. It brought the first comic book team to the big
screen and without it, many of everyone's favorite comic book movies would have
never been made like The Avengers, Dark Knight, or Spider-Man. Although some
say that Blade started the comic book craze, it was not quote as successful as
some might remember. As for the X-Men movie itself, it holds up even today. Hugh Jackman was the
perfect Wolverine, even though he is physically much different than his
comic book counterpart, because Wolverine is very short and stocky, where as
Jackman is a big guy. However, he owned the role and made Wolverine
the main reason why the X-Men movies are awesome. X-Men was
probably the first comic book movie that I watched in theaters when I
was a kid, or at least the one that I remember watching. It and Spider-Man
sparked my interest in comic books that is now an obsession, I
probably own more X-Men comics than any other franchise, and before
the Avengers, X-Men were, by far, my favorite comic book team. What makes X-Men
different than superheroes is that they are outcasts; most people do not want
to accept those mutants exist. X-Men were brought together because they were
the strongest heroes around; they are together because each was born with an
ability that made them an outcast.
The Good: Revolutionized comic book movies, Perfect casting of Wolverine,
Professor X, and Magneto, Great beginning to a great franchise, Excellent
soundtrack, Impressive special effects, Magneto is an awesome villain,
First serious take on a comic book,
The Bad:
Plot: The film starts in a concentration camp in Germany-occupied Poland in
1944 as a young boy is being separated from his parents upon entry to the
concentration camp. When he tries to get back after the gates close, he is
restrained by numerous guards whom he easily overpowers as they are sliding
towards the gate, which is also curling towards them, as though attracted by a
magnetic force. The boy is soon knocked out cold by one of the guards. Jumping
to modern day, a girl named Marie runs away from her home in Meridian,
Mississippi after almost killing her boyfriend after kissing him. In Congress, Senator Robert Kelly attempts to pass a "Mutant
Registration Act", which would force mutants to publicly reveal their
identities and abilities. Magneto begins his plans to level the playing field
between mutants and humans. Meanwhile, Marie (aka Rogue) meets Logan (aka
Wolverine) in Canada. Rogue's mutation makes her temporarily assume the powers
of any mutant she touches while Wolverine possesses superhuman healing
abilities, heightened senses, and claws that extend from his knuckles.
Suddenly, both of them are attacked by Sabretooth, a mutant and associate of
Magneto. Watch the movie to what happens next.
Plot: 8.6/10- X-Men does a solid job of introducing each character into
the story, however Wolverine, Professor X, Rouge, and Jean Gray receive the
most character development throughout the story. While Cyclops is given the
shaft, most of the plot works well and delivers a fun experience. Even though
some may argue that Tim Burton’s Batman was the first serious adaptation of a
comic book, it is far too cartoony for me to take it seriously, I consider
X-Men the first truly serious take because it was set in a mostly realistic
world, just with mutants.
Action: 9.2/10- Even though it does have the same level of insanely
awesome action as modern comic book movies like The Avengers, X-Men’s action
are well filmed and impressive considering the low budget of the film. There
was one horribly written line in the film, “What happens to a toad that stuck
by lightening?” You know the rest.
Acting: 8.9/10- Hugh Jackman killed it as Wolverine. He perfectly captures
the inter struggle of the character, and he only gets better in the sequel.
Patrick Stewart both looks and plays the part exactly as Professor X is in the
comics, no one could have done it better. Ian McKellen brings one of the best
villains every created to life as Magneto; he owned the role. Even though Halle
Berry is often a fine actress, she has never fit the role well. James Marsden
as Cyclops was not bad, but for being an important character in the X-Men
universe, he was severally shafted in the film. The other cast member gave
solid well rounded performances.
Special effects: 8.5/10- Considering the budget and time when it was
made, the effects still hold up very well, although none of the effects are
especially impressive by today’s standards.
Soundtrack: 8.4/10- While nowhere near as iconic as The Avengers or Elfman’s
Spider-Man theme, X-Men score fits the mysterious nature of mutants well.
Comedy: N/A: A few humorous remarks, mostly from Wolverine.
Would I Watch This Again: To me, X-Men is a classic, and a movie that I
re-watch once every other year or so.
Overall: 8.5/10: X-Men is an excellent film that started the modern era of
comic book films and created a foundation that the new X-Men continue to build
upon.
Closing comments: If you are a comic book movie fan, watch X-Men and its
sequel X2, because both are awesome movies.
Recommended for: Comic Book movie fans, Superhero movie fans, Action
movie fans, Patrick Stewart fans, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen fans.
Saxon at A Knight's Quest requested we review X-Men: First Class but we have not seen it yet so we decided to review X-Men(2000) the first movie in the X-Men series.
If you have seen the movie please give it any score from 1 to 10.
The Good: Lots of action, Patrick Stewart was the perfect choice for Professor X, Hugh Jackman was the perfect choice for Wolverine, Famke Janssen was a great chocie for Jean Grey, Ian McKellen was the perfect chocie for Magneto, Great casting, Really good special effects, Great beginning to a great franchise, Magneto is a great villain,
The Bad: Cyclops was very under developed.
Plot:
The film starts in a concentration camp in Germany-occupied Poland in 1944 as a young boy is being separated from his parents upon entry to the concentration camp. When he tries to get back after the gates close, he is restrained by numerous guards whom he easily overpowers as they are sliding towards the gate, which is also curling towards them, as though attracted by a magnetic force. The boy is soon knocked out cold by one of the guards. Jumping to modern day, a girl named Marie runs away from her home in Meridian, Mississippi after almost killing her boyfriend after kissing him.
In Congress, Senator Robert Kelly attempts to pass a "Mutant Registration Act", which would force mutants to publicly reveal their identities and abilities. Magneto begins his plans to level the playing field between mutants and humans. Meanwhile, Marie (aka Rogue) meets Logan (aka Wolverine) in Canada. Rogue's mutation makes her temporarily assume the powers of any mutant she touches while Wolverine possesses superhuman healing abilities, heightened senses, and claws that extend from his knuckles. Suddenly, both of them are attacked by Sabretooth, a mutant and associate of Magneto. Cyclops and Storm arrive and save Wolverine & Rogue and bring them to the X-Mansion. Professor Charles Xavier runs the facility, and leads a group of mutants who are trying to seek peace with the human race, educate young mutants in the responsible use of their powers, and stop Magneto from starting a war with humanity.
Abducted by Mystique and Toad, Senator Kelly is brought to Magneto, who tests a machine on him that artificially induces mutation though Kelly manages to escape imprisonment with his new abilities. After an accident causes Rogue to use her powers on Wolverine, she is convinced by Mystique (disguised as Bobby Drake) that Xavier is angry with her and that she should leave the school. Xavier uses Cerebro to locate Rogue at a train station. Mystique infiltrates Cerebro and sabotages the Cerebro. At the train station, Wolverine convinces Rogue to stay with Xavier but a fight ensues when Magneto, Toad and Sabretooth arrive to take Rogue. Watch the movie to what happens next.
Plot: 9.4/10- X-Men's plot is very original and unique for a Comic Book movie.
Action: 9.2/10- Some really well done fight scenes and an epic fight at the end with Wolverine.
Acting: 9.4/10- Great casting, All of the actors were chosen perfectly for their roles.
Special effects: 9.0/10- Wolverine's claws looked amazing and so did his healing factor, Mystique's makeup was done very well.
Soundtrack: 8.4/10- X-Men has a very good soundtrack that fit the action well.
Comedy: N/A: There wasn't munch comedy in the movie.
Overall: 9.3/10: X-Men is a very good action comic book movie that we think you should watch.
Closing comments: X-Men is the movie that started the 21st century comic book movie genre.
Recommended for: Comic Book movie fans, Superhero movie fans, Action movie fans, Patrick Stewart fans, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen fans.
