The Five Emojis of X2
:heart_eyes:
Amazing opening sequence, introducing us to one of the more interesting mutants from the comics, Nightcrawler.
With the base set in the previous film, Bryan Singer puts focus on developing characters further and fleshing out the world, while keeping everything interesting by adding new elements, of which the greatest one is the magnificent Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler.
The visuals have been hugely improved from the first film and still look really good.
X2 is a funnier and more exciting film, with higher stakes and a faster tempo.
This film some of the finest scenes in the franchise, such as the opening scene, the assault on Xavier's and the visit to Bobby's parents.
All the regulars are still amazing and we get a lot more beautiful Wolverine action.
Bigger, bolder and more natural action scenes really help make this sequel worth a watch.
Great to see humanity, lead by the tragic Stryker (expertly portrayed by Brian Cox) as the main villain of the film, since that deepens the main theme of the franchise.
The other villains are also more compelling compared to the first one.
Amazing score adds just the right tone to the more intense scenes.
Feels a whole lot more like an X-Men team-up film, with the script allowing the characters to complement each other.
That whole final act by the lake is dragged out but very well-paced, creating one of the stronger finales in the genre.
Incredibly powerful ending.
Hits the right emotional notes by being funny, touching and exciting.
:smiley:
Anna Paquin feels a lot more comfortable and natural as Rogue this time around.
Significantly better paced and divided between the school stuff and the X-Men stuff.
Bobby Drake and Pyro are given bigger roles and complete the cast in smaller roles.
Cool to see the uneasy alliance between Magneto and the X-Men as well as the build-up to the the third film.
:neutral_face:
The film kind of forgets about Storm, Cyclops and Jean for large parts.
Mystique still isn't particularly interesting.
Nightcrawler is sadly undetutilized.
:frowning2:
:face_vomiting:
The Final Emoji: :heart_eyes:
Since the first film seemed like an introduction that has become too long, I am very happy about this successful sequel. The final fight was also quite cool. I was wondering all the time how to use a smartphone with such fingernails...
"X2" is one of the very best films of the superhero genre. The characters are well-defined and above all else, that's what makes "X2" so good.
The threat to all mutants by bad guy Stryker unites Prof. Xavier and the X-Men with Magneto. This unlikely teaming is remarkable in that their dialogue and interaction actually overshadows the big action scenes. Magento and Mystique are the most interesting characters and their scenes are the most memorable. Magneto's escape from his plastic prison and Mystique's shape-shifting deception are fantastic. Much was made of the opening scene, which features an attack on the White House by Nightcrawler. The effect of Nightcrawler's transportation ability is unique and I can't recall seeing anything like it before or since. Some of the tried and true X-Men favorites are a little dull, though. The struggle of Wolverine to regain memories of his origin are secondary to the possible elimination of all mutants. The psychic manipulation of Prof. Xavier gets a little lengthy, too. Storm and Cyclops are mostly a bore but that's a little unfair because there's really not enough screen time to go around.
The source of the conflict is intolerance and hatred between humans and mutants. The movie doesn't take sides and is not heavy-handed or preachy.
Much better than the first one. I can't point on single thing out that I like better. It's just that the whole movie felt like something carved from a solid billet instead of put together from several pieces. I am sure the experience from the first helped as much as the fact we didn't have to introduce every character. The additional runtime helps adding depth and detail and the climax really felt dramatic.
It's a lot of things all over that makes this a step up from X1.
Builds perfectly on everything that the first X-Men film setup, they work so well together, it only serves to remind that much of the disappointment with the next film stems from the goodwill that was built up from them. The filmmakers ensure that none of the relationships are shortchanged and Hugh Jackman continues to show why he is the MVP of this franchise, but the lengthier time also gives each character chance to shine unlike the last one. It is also a much more confident film, with much better action sequences and the themes of prejudice and intolerance are much more explicit. Perhaps knowledge of what is to come has dulled its impact somewhat, but this is still one of the strongest comic book films out there.
My brother loved this one.
The most disappointing part about the Dark Phoenix tease isn't that The Last Stand was terrible, just that this movie was a great follow-up to everything teased at the end of the 2000 movie.
We all left the theaters in 2003 expecting that the third one would be just as satisfying as this, making Sansa Stark's line about the third movie always being garbage too self-aware to make up for both "The Last Stand" and "Apocalypse".
To be totally honest, I've had a rather negative view of this movie for over 20 years because of how blue-balled I felt about The Last Stand, but now that I'm rewatching it again, I can appreciate that it was at least a great followup to X-Men; just because the successor couldn't live up to it doesn't make it a bad movie. It's a great X-Men movie!
Also, Brian Cox was an unsurprisingly great pick for the fun-to-hate bad guy. Danny Huston playing Stryker in Origins: Wolverine was about the only good part about that movie.
Better than the last one. This time just longer. The second half of this was brilliant, the rest not so much.
this is way better than the first one im ngl
and I'm happy jean died... i hope she never comes back
i hated everyone except logan and that blue guy
8.5/10 - Oh, wow! I liked this one so much more than the first one. I didn't expect three years to make such a difference. The story is better, the mood lighter, the jokes better, the CGI much better, etc. Maybe I should even rate this 9/10.
I didn't like the villains in the first movie (Eric was ok but also not that great and his sidekicks where just completely uninteresting for me). This time Eric's role is much stronger and Raven has much more and better action scenes and enough screentime to let her character develop a bit.
Kurt Wagner was also great. I really liked how he went from a perceived villain to a real hero. Plus it was fun that he used many German words xD
The weakest villain was Stryker but that didn't matter much as he wasn't that important. His son Jason had few screentime but was quite scary. He played a nice role IMO.
Xavier's new ability to (locally) freeze time is very cool even though it doesn't make much sense (scientifically).
I really loved that the mood felt much lighter and the jokes where way better IMO. E.g. the scene with the cat licking Wolverine's claws was killing me xD Even lines like "have you tried not being a mutant?" from Bobby's mum where quite enjoyable :)
Just the ending was a bit over the top and I don't understand why they wouldn't stay above the water hight when escaping from the water dam.
It'd be nice if Jean somehow survived. I really liked her character.
It was nice in general that there was more character and relationship building in this movie. So many nice interactions between Logan, Jean, Ororo, Kurt, Scott, Rogue, Bobby, etc.
X2: X-Men United delivers a brilliant and exciting adventure, and is among the best of superhero films. Wolverine returns as the X-Men face a new threat, this time from Col. Stryker who’s planning to use Cerebro to kill the entire mutant population. The stellar cast gets even better with the additions of Brian Cox, Alan Cummings, and Kelly Hu, who all give strong performances. Director Byran Singer’s craft improves, as he gives this sequel a more epic story with grander action sequences. Delivering a strong, compelling drama and a high energy action-adventure, X2: X-Men United takes everything to the next level. In short, it’s X-cellent.
The story is solid, the characters we know from the first one have new arcs, and the action kicks it up a notch.
I especially like how cinematic it feels, it feels big and like an actual event film.
The choices that are made in regards to editing and camerawork really stand out compared to most blockbusters nowadays.
It kinda falters a bit with its pacing, and the plot relies too much on convenience, but it’s still a solid film.
7/10
Strong sequel.
I didn't quite enjoy 'X2' as much as 'X-Men', though not by much in truth. This follow-up film is still something I'd class as entertaining. Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) again impresses, though those behind him are - though all good - a little meh in my opinion; especially newcomer Brian Cox (Stryker), who underwhelmed me.
All in all, it's a film that is totally worth watching and is a sequel that is worth its salt.
/copied directly from my Letterboxd review\
Magneto is such a badass!! I liked how this movie explored better the powers of the mutants.
A great sequel that opened up the door for even better sequels. Except part 3 didn’t live up to the potential at all.
Another great movie. Nightcrawler stole the spot for my favorite character of the movie but they all did a fantastic job.
A good follow up to the first with more characters and bigger stakes. A little too long and can drag at times. Brian Cox is a great bad guy.
Major oversight when Xavier is mentally interfering with the humans and mutants in knock-off cerebro, wouldnt that have caused millions of fatal incidents via car crashes and other physically vulnerable situations? Also sad to imagine babies having to endure it. Idk these are things I think about ok.
Even better than Days of Future Past. Why ? Because X-3 flushed all the potential this film gave the franchise, down the toilet. The result is a mutant universe that has been one big mess since.
So Xavier back after part 3 will really be left with us that he had a spare body laying around ? Did he have a spare in Logan too ? lol. While Singer regretted Fox killing off Cyclops and Jean in his absence. So he had Days of Future Past change time to bring them back.
So does that mean X-1 and 2 were erased ? No one cares of X-3 was.
What makes this film solid. Is less of the confusing dialogue of the first film. Cyclops: If I had to tell you to stay away from my girl, she wouldn't be my girl. Logan, by the way, stay away from my girl..."
Storm: You know what happens to a toad when it is struck my lightning ? The same thing that happens to everything else."
X-2 also gave us NightCrawler with Alan Cummings in top form. Someone the sequels didn't even bother to bring back for no good reason. That is until the unnecessary and forgettable sequel/prequel X-Men Apocalypse.
While the Jean Grey scene is fabulous in the end of this movie. So good that it's disappointing that it led to "Eh."
This is also arguably Hugh Jackman's best Wolverine movie, why over Logan ? Since this is him at his prime and just kicking ass. Over just drinking and brooding. Spoiler: oh and dying. Here he survives being shot in the head...
Spoiler: Wolverine's death itself was kind of lame. Since I think he was just put through what a tree branch ? lol. He survived so much worse. Yes...like. being shot in the head in this film.
I should really write these after I review them. What even happens in this one? Was something I gave 3.5 stars this forgettable?
reads Wikipedia
Ohhhh, Nightcrawler's in this one. Yassss. Oh yeah, all the water? Yeah, got ya. I've actually seen this twice this year and I forgot all about it...
Very cool and entertaining action flick!
“My name is Kurt Wagner, but in the Munich circus I was known as The Incredible Nightcrawler.”
Shout by Matheus de OliveiraBlockedParent2015-04-27T13:50:09Z
"Have you tried not being a mutant?"