X-Men 2 (2003)

[X2: X-Men United]

Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen

Synopsis:
A military scientist connected to Wolverine's past launches an attack on Xavier's school as part of a larger plot to wipe out all mutants from the world.

Impressions:
The first X-Men movie was really good, but this one improves upon the groundwork laid by the original on all fronts. We delve into Wolverine's past and kick off a plot that dwarfs Magneto's big scheme from last time. Of the newcomers, Brian Cox impresses as the ruthless William Stryker and Alan Cumming is really cool as Nightcrawler. There are some really good action scenes, nice character development and setup for a plotline that'd be totally ruined in the next movie. This is a fine film in and of itself, but in light of the eight-year drought of good X-Men movies that'd follow, it looks even better.

Rating:
Own It