X2 (2003)

Director:

Bryan Singer

Writers (WGA):

Zak Penn (story) and
David Hayter (story) ...

Release Date:

2 May 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The time has come for those who are different to stand united

Plot:

The X-Men band together to find a mutant assassin who has made an attempt on the President's life, while the Mutant Academy is attacked by military forces.

Plot Keywords:

Mutant | Prison | X Men | Assassin | Storm

Awards:

4 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

Patrick Stewart	...	Professor Charles Xavier
Hugh Jackman	...	Logan / Wolverine
Ian McKellen	...	Eric Lensherr / Magneto
Halle Berry	...	Storm / Ororo Munroe
Famke Janssen	...	Jean Grey
James Marsden	...	Scott Summers / Cyclops
Anna Paquin	...	Rogue / Marie D'Ancanto
Rebecca Romijn	...	Mystique / Grace (as Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)
Brian Cox	...	William Stryker
Alan Cumming	...	Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler
Bruce Davison	...	Senator Kelly
Aaron Stanford	...	John Allerdyce / Pyro
Shawn Ashmore	...	Bobby Drake / Iceman
Kelly Hu	...	Yuriko Oyama / Deathstrike
Katie Stuart	...	Kitty Pryde

Also Known As:

X-Men 2 (Singapore: English title) (USA) (working title)
X² (USA) (alternative spelling)
X-2 (USA) (poster title)
X-Men 2: X-Men United (USA) (promotional title)
X2: X-Men United (USA) (promotional title)
X2: X-Men unis (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action/violence, some sexuality and brief language.

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English | German | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Denmark:11 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Bern) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39703)

Filming Locations:

Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Marvel Enterprises

Trivia:

The name 'Franklin Richards' briefly appears on a computer monitor among government files relating to mutants. In the Marvel universe Franklin is the son of Reed Richards and Susan Storm of the Fantastic Four, he also happens to be a mutant.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Wolverine isn't supposed to be able pull out his claws when his hands are not flush with his wrists, however during the invasion of the mansion Wolverine is holding the soldier back from stabbing him and to do so his hands and wrists are not flush.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Professor X: [voiceover] Mutants. Since the discovery of their existence they have been regarded with fear, suspicion, often hatred. Across the planet, debate rages. Are mutants the next link in the evolutionary chain or simply a new species of humanity fighting for their share of the world? Either way it is a historical fact: Sharing the world has never been humanity's defining attribute.

Movie Connections:

References The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Soundtrack:

Mozart's Sonata K545

Most "X"-Cellent!!

X2: X-MEN UNITED (2003) ***1/2 Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Bruce Davison, Anna Paquin, Kelly Hu, Aaron Stanford, Shawn Ashmore, Cotter Smith. Superlative sequel and a boost of hyperactive energy in the franchise's arm in the second chapter of the Marvel Comics' cult classic this time with good mutants teaming with bad to stop a bent human military advisor (hissable Cox) out to wipe out both types at any cost. Far-out special effects, new characters (particularly winning is Cumming as the blue-skinned Night Crawler) and non-stop action packaged with kinetic infectious giddiness. Jackman continues to amaze as the tormented Wolverine, Berry is given more to do as the tempestuous Storm, Janssen's Jane Grey is perhaps the most nuanced in her suddenly advance telekinetic skills and McKellen is well…magnetic as Magneto. Fun tongue-in-cheek screenplay by Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris (w/ David Hayter, Zak Penn and director Bryan Singer getting story credits) keeps up with the multi-layered storyline encompassing class welfare, social strata and in general to accept one for who they are and not what they are. Well done!