X2 (2003)

April 28, 2024 10:40 AM

[TRAILER] Stryker (Brian Cox), a villianous former Army commander, holds the key to Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) past and the future of the X-Men. This threat re-ignites the call for a mutant registration act. Stryker starts a full-out assault on Professor Xavier's (Patrick Stewart) mansion and school. After escaping his plastic cell, Magneto (Ian McKellen) proposes a partnership with Xavier and the X-Men to combat this new formidable enemy they both have in common.

Also starring Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Alan Cumming, Bruce Davison, Anna Paquin, Aaron Stanford, Kelly Hu, Michael Reid MacKay, Katie Stuart, Ty Olsson.

Directed by Bryan Singer. Screenplay by Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris, David Hayter. Story by Zak Penn, David Hayter, Bryan Singer. Based on the comic book series, created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby. Produced by Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter for 20th Century Fox/Marvel Enterprises/The Donners' Company/Bad Hat Harry. Cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel. Edited by John Ottman, Elliot Graham. Music by John Ottman. Alternate titles: X2: United, X-Men 2, X-Men 2: United, X2: X-Men United.

85% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming on Disney Plus. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (8 comments total)

It is easy to forget that, at the time of its release, this had a very solid argument for "Best Superhero Film Ever Made."
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:46 AM on April 28 [7 favorites]

I really enjoy the way that Raven gets metal into Magneto's cell. this is a fun movie, I've seen it a bunch of times.
posted by supermedusa at 10:56 AM on April 28 [1 favorite]

I really enjoy the way that Raven gets metal into Magneto's cell.

aka The Schlub Pub Seduction Deduction

Also, "if I had a nickel for every time the plot of an X-Men movie involved breaking Magneto out of prison, I'd have two nickels" etc.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 12:43 PM on April 28 [1 favorite]

The White House break-in and the prison-cell breakout are just great, extremely enjoyable superhero action setpieces, possibly rivalled only by the first Cap-Winter Soldier fight in Winter Soldier.
posted by praemunire at 12:53 PM on April 28 [4 favorites]

I left this movie absolutely overjoyed: "They've set up freaking Dark Phoenix! I wouldn't have thought they could do that! And given how they've handled everything else, it's going to be fantastic!"
Ooooooooooooooof.
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 3:38 PM on April 28 [9 favorites]

For my money, the best individual action scenes in the X-movies proper are both Quicksilver's, in Days of Future Past and Apocalypse (the latter being about the only good scene in that movie, period), but this probably does hang together as a movie better than any of the others. It's especially fun to watch John/Pyro and his recruitment to the dark side; for a telepath, Xavier doesn't seem to have a clue about what he's about, but Magneto gets it instantly:

Pyro: So, they say you're the bad guy.
Magneto: Is that what they say?
Pyro: That's a dorky looking helmet. What's it for?
Magneto: This "dorky looking helmet" is the only thing that's going to protect me from the REAL bad guys.
[magnetically takes Pyro's lighter and lights it]
Magneto: What's your name?
Pyro: [staring at his lighter in Magneto's hands] John.
Magneto: What's your *real* name, John?
Pyro: [summons lighter's flame to his hand] Pyro.
Magneto: Quite a talent you have there, Pyro.
Pyro: I can only manipulate the fire
[flame disappears into Pyro's hand]
Pyro: I can't create it.
Magneto: You are a god among insects. Never let anyone tell you different.

At a certain age, I would have followed that man straight to hell.
posted by Halloween Jack at 3:44 PM on April 28 [17 favorites]

I left this movie absolutely overjoyed: "They've set up freaking Dark Phoenix! I wouldn't have thought they could do that! And given how they've handled everything else, it's going to be fantastic!"
Ooooooooooooooof.

I legitimately can't tell say if I have ever felt more let down from a build up in one movie/tv show.

The White House break-in and the prison-cell breakout are just great, extremely enjoyable superhero action setpieces, possibly rivalled only by the first Cap-Winter Soldier fight in Winter Soldier.

The Nightcrawler attack on the White House remains one of the best mutant action scenes ever and I'll stand by that. X2 hit hard from the get go with this scene, from the choreography of the action to the music, and I think just also, the vulnerability of the Secret Service in being unable to handle just Nightcrawler. The tension inside the Oval Office as everyone is facing the door, hearing the gunshots, shouting, and everything, poof!

This film probably remains the best X-Men film.
posted by Atreides at 7:37 AM on April 29 [5 favorites]

Loved it. Still love it. I agree with the sentiment earlier in the thread - I was so excited about what was going to come next after seeing this movie, and Christ was I disappointed.
posted by kbanas at 7:59 AM on April 29 [2 favorites]