X-Men (2000)

In a world where mutants (evolved super-powered humans) exist and are discriminated against, two groups form for an inevitable clash: the supremacist Brotherhood, and the pacifist X-Men.

Director:

Bryan Singer

Writers:

Tom DeSanto (story), Bryan Singer (story)

Stars:

Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen

13 wins & 26 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Jackman	...	Logan / Wolverine
Patrick Stewart	...	Professor Charles Xavier
Ian McKellen	...	Eric Lensherr / Magneto
Famke Janssen	...	Jean Grey
James Marsden	...	Scott Summers / Cyclops
Halle Berry	...	Ororo Munroe / Storm
Anna Paquin	...	Rogue
Tyler Mane	...	Sabretooth
Ray Park	...	Toad
Rebecca Romijn	...	Mystique (as Rebecca Romijn-Stamos)
Bruce Davison	...	Senator Kelly
Matthew Sharp	...	Henry Gyrich
Brett Morris	...	Young Magneto
Rhona Shekter	...	Magneto's Mother
Kenneth McGregor	...	Magneto's Father

Storyline

In a world where both Mutants and Humans fear each other, Marie, better known as Rogue, runs away from home and hitches a ride with another mutant, known as Logan, a.k.a. Wolverine. Professor Charles Xavier, who owns a school for young mutants, sends Storm and Cyclops to bring them back before it is too late. Magneto, who believes a war is approaching, has an evil plan in mind, and needs young Rogue to help him.

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Plot Keywords:

mutant | professor | superhero | superhero team | first part | 

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Taglines:

Change is coming. The evolution begins july 14th.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

X-Men 1.5

Filming Locations:

Showline Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$54,471,475, 16 July 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$157,299,717

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$296,339,527

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Marvel Enterprises, Donners' Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital EX SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

To prepare for the movie, Bryan Singer took a private tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

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Goofs

(at around 44 mins) When Rogue and Bobby are sitting on the bench talking, Rogue's hair keeps switching from being behind her shoulder and then in front of her shoulder.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Prof. Charles Francis Xavier: [narration] Mutation: it is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet. This process is slow, and normally taking thousands and thousands of years. But every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward.

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Crazy Credits

This is the only X-Men movie that does not use the "flipping comic pages" Marvel logo, as it did not exist at the time.

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Alternate Versions

For the airing on cable network FX, Wolverine's response "You're a dick" is replaced with "You're a dork."

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Connections

References Hollow Man (2000)

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Soundtracks

STILL I LONG FOR YOUR KISS
Written by Lucinda Williams and Duane Jarvis
Performed by Lucinda Williams
Courtesy of the Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

intelligent and significant

With so many movies out right now that are designed solely for entertainment puposes--from "Gone in 60 seconds" to "MI-2" to "Scary Movie"--it is promising to sit through a 90-minute film based on a comic-book that actually gives you an opportunity to think and be challenged.

Bryan Singer's "X-men: The Movie" is nothing more than an introduction to the lives of the characters from the comic book. The very fact that his movie doesn't try to add new elements, or change elements that already existed within the comic, is what makes it so successful.

X-men the comic series has been around for more than 30 years. And for good reason. It has dealt with all of the important elements that good storytelling includes--rejection, loneliness, hope, fear, distrust, love, selfishness, power, and the price you pay for doing what you believe is right. By consistently exploring various difficult elements of humanity, the X-men comic has been able to be not only entertaining but stimulating as well.

Thankfully, Singer's movie translation is no exception. "X-men" is very well executed, with excellent character work for the leads (Logan, Rogue, Magneto and Xavier), a good exploration of the motives of each character, and dialogue that is sharp and intelligent. However, lest you think X-men is only intellectual, let me assure you that the special-effects department has done an incredible job of mingling the human elements of the story with action. From Wolverine's claws to Rogue's devasating touch, from Storm's namesake displays of nature to Magneto's awesome power, "X-men" constantly finds new and arresting ways of showing-off each mutants power. And the closer you get to the end, the more exciting it is.

True, the movie was not perfect. Certain story elements were modified slightly for big-screen adaptation (nothing, however, that is disloyal to the ethic of the series). The soundtrack was only sufficient, rather than being something truly memorable. And not all of the characters were given equal time on screen (some important characters were completely missing).

But for a 90 minute movie that needs an action plot, it's obviously impossible to give all the X-men (and their evil counterparts) equal attention or character development. In fact, the sheer scale of the series alone all but requires a sequel to flesh out what was missing in this first, "Intro to X-men" movie.

Yet, as a beginning exploration of the "X-men" universe, this movie shines. It is attractive, fun and meaningful. Whether you're an X-men fan, you're looking for something that will make you think, you want an action movie, you enjoy sci-fi, or you just want to leave the theater feeling like you didn't just waste a couple of hours and seven bucks, go see Bryan Singer's "X-men." You won't be disappointed.