MCU Rewatch - X2

X2 (2003) directed by Bryan Singer

Written by Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, David Hayter

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn, Brian Cox, Allan Cumming

Synopsis: When anti-mutant Colonel William Stryker kidnaps Professor X and attacks his school, the X-Men must ally with their archenemy Magneto to stop him.

 

Did I watch it when it first come out? Yes. And I owned the DVD, so I watched this one a lot. Also all the extras - my favourite tidbit is about all the standing still extras: they're mimes!

 

Highlights: almost everything.

Mystique is still the most competent person ever.

They did a good job seeding Pyro's heel turn.

Nightcrawler! Just Nightcrawler. And the entire opening scene.

 

Worldbuilding Notes: According to Cyclops, it’s been a month since Liberty Island and Jean’s powers got stronger. That raises the question of how long has been Stryker making plans, because it must have taken longer to develop Magneto’s plastic prison and all associated protocols.

 

Little things that stood out: the fact that Stryker realizes the dam is about to implode and immediately abandons his great plan to escape really illuminates what kind of man he is.

Human looking Hank McCoy is on the TV! And Remy LaBeau’s name is on Stryker’s files (and a bunch of others, but that’s the only one I noticed).

Kurt is really hurt Wolverine didn’t care he was “The Amazing Nightcrawler” in the circus.

 

The Plan: the kill-all-mutants plan is definitely effective, although short-sighted - eventually, more mutants will be born.

The kill-all-humans might work better, although it wasn't been established in movie canon if mutants can have human babies.

Either way, Magneto is the MVP for even thinking about it.

 

The Other Stuff: I have nothing bad to say about this movie. I didn’t even mind the love triangle bits - Logan/Jean might feel a bit forced (although I think their chemistry is fine), but it’s also not taking over the plot.

 

Ranking (for now):

1. X2 (2003)

2. Spider-Man (2002)

3. X-Men (2000)

4. Blade (1998)

5. Blade II (2002)