X-2 Thoughts

[Guest mach7]

Did anyone else find it somewhat amusing how Lady Deathstrike/Adamantium Lass sank to the bottom of the tank with a *clank*? Hilarity aside, I wish they hadn't killed her off because she could've had a larger role in a future Wolverine arc. Like have Stryker's mind control start to weaken, while Wolverine takes advantage of her confusion and kicks her ass. Then when she's beaten, he lets her get away, but not before macking on her a little. Or maybe I just like looking at Kelly Hu.

Never say never in the world of X-Men. I could see her coming back. She's got the healing factor, so who knows. They could easily explain their way out of it. Though, it'd be totally rad if she came back as the cyborg Deathstrike complete with extendable arms and such!

[Yuna_Firerose 0]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/click/movie-...e=1&rid=1134120

Ok fanboys, put up your dukes cause I’m ready for you. You’re not going to like what I have to say about "X2."

 

Ever heard of that old saying about how the sum is greater than the parts? Well "X2" is the opposite. There are several great scenes in the movie that will make comic geeks quiver in excitement. The opening scene is amazing as is the battle at the ole X-Ranch. There are a bunch of comic references that only the astute X-fan will catch (be sure to watch the computer screen in Stryker’s office for example) and in keeping with the first X-Men movie, there are a ton of cool cameos.

 

But what the movie needs more than anything is a script. The story is very disappointing and near the end, things start to get weirder and weirder. I can’t really go into detail without creating spoilers galore, but of the entire source material the X-writers had to work with, this was the best plot they could think of? Come on.

 

Another very annoying aspect of "X2" is its need to prove to you that this movie is an epic. Every couple of scenes we get to see a character standing on some set piece just posing and pondering. After the third or fourth time this was done I gave the pose a name, The Epic Pondering Pose. See if you can keep track of how many EPP’s you can catch. It won’t take you long to start the count. Wolverine does one within the first five minuets of the movie. It’s rather obvious the writing team looked at each other and said, “Let’s write a script that’s our version of the X-Men do 'The Empire Strikes Back,' it’ll be an epic.”

 

The addition of Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, though, is great. Also, the interaction between the younger members of the team was a nice touch. Halle Berry gets a lot more story line than in the first film, but really doesn’t do anything except make wind and then more wind (I presume someone at the studio said, “She’s got an academy award, give her a bigger part.")

 

Overall, "X2" is a major disappointment. And like I said before fanboys, I’m ready for you. I grew up reading the X-Men, I’m a big fan and I can prove it. Long time X-Men writer / Godfather Chris Claremont yelled at me once when I was 12 for asking him stupid questions about issue 142 (something like “Get out of here kid and stop asking me about Kitty Pryde”). Besides, I got to go to the premier and hang out with Stan Lee, smoke cigarettes with Alan Cumming and stand next to Famke Janssen, can you say that?

That has to be the lamest "rotten" review ever written. Although the "Epic Pondering Pose" was a bit funny.

[Guest starvenger]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/click/movie-...e=1&rid=1134120

Ok fanboys, put up your dukes cause I’m ready for you. You’re not going to like what I have to say about "X2."

 

Ever heard of that old saying about how the sum is greater than the parts? Well "X2" is the opposite. There are several great scenes in the movie that will make comic geeks quiver in excitement. The opening scene is amazing as is the battle at the ole X-Ranch. There are a bunch of comic references that only the astute X-fan will catch (be sure to watch the computer screen in Stryker’s office for example) and in keeping with the first X-Men movie, there are a ton of cool cameos.

 

But what the movie needs more than anything is a script. The story is very disappointing and near the end, things start to get weirder and weirder. I can’t really go into detail without creating spoilers galore, but of the entire source material the X-writers had to work with, this was the best plot they could think of? Come on.

 

Another very annoying aspect of "X2" is its need to prove to you that this movie is an epic. Every couple of scenes we get to see a character standing on some set piece just posing and pondering. After the third or fourth time this was done I gave the pose a name, The Epic Pondering Pose. See if you can keep track of how many EPP’s you can catch. It won’t take you long to start the count. Wolverine does one within the first five minuets of the movie. It’s rather obvious the writing team looked at each other and said, “Let’s write a script that’s our version of the X-Men do 'The Empire Strikes Back,' it’ll be an epic.”

 

The addition of Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler, though, is great. Also, the interaction between the younger members of the team was a nice touch. Halle Berry gets a lot more story line than in the first film, but really doesn’t do anything except make wind and then more wind (I presume someone at the studio said, “She’s got an academy award, give her a bigger part.")

 

Overall, "X2" is a major disappointment. And like I said before fanboys, I’m ready for you. I grew up reading the X-Men, I’m a big fan and I can prove it. Long time X-Men writer / Godfather Chris Claremont yelled at me once when I was 12 for asking him stupid questions about issue 142 (something like “Get out of here kid and stop asking me about Kitty Pryde”). Besides, I got to go to the premier and hang out with Stan Lee, smoke cigarettes with Alan Cumming and stand next to Famke Janssen, can you say that?

That has to be the lamest "rotten" review ever written. Although the "Epic Pondering Pose" was a bit funny.

Last I checked, there were many more positive than negative reviews at Rotten Tomatoes, so to the reviewer I say

[Guest Sakura]

I hate the "fanboy" stuff that has taken over the internet.

[Guest Nanks]

areacode212, that kind of thing would only really appeal to the comic fans, and whilst there's a lot of them, you have to be wary of saturating the market with X-Men, us movie fans would get tired of X-Men movie after X-Men movie constantly. This would also mean smaller budgets per movie and that would hurt them as special effects are obviously a major part of the movies. Not to mention that the key parts like Hugh Jackman have other projects to worry about and it wouldn't be reasonable to typecast himself as Wolverine, and there's no way you could recast it, that'd suck

[Guest notJames]

I agree. I think one more X-Men movie is the way to go; maybe a final battle between Xavier's crew and the Brotherhood, with Phoenix factoring in somehow. It should have lots of characters being killed off, completely saying fuck all to the comic book continuity. No way are you going to get all those stars to keep reprising their roles in what is essentially a niche film franchise, albeit a profitable one right now.

 

No need to turn this into that pitiful Batman series, eh?

[Guest SP-1]

The difference between what happened to the Batman series and X-Men is two words: Warner Brothers. We see how they're handling the Superman movie and whichever Batman movie of the month they've decided to run with.

 

I think Fox knows how important X-Men is, and I think they've got quality people working on it. I seriously don't see it going the way of the Bat.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Why can't you re-cast some of the characters? It worked for James Bond. As long as they can do the job and the scripts don't go down the shitter, there shouldn't be a problem.

[Guest art_vandelay]

Famke Janssen was on Kilborn last night. She said that her role in the next movie will be of Jean Grey "evolving into the Dark Phoenix." Whether she knows the difference between Phoenix and Dark Phoenix, I don't know. Just thought I'd share.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

While I don't agree with the idea of 2 "brand split" X-Men movies per year...why not combine the two and have half of the characters be dealing with one problem, the others dealing with another, and then both halves of the team join together for Big Daddy Motherfucking 3rd Problem? Like, have Wolvie/Cyclops/Phoenix interacting, with Wolvie and Cyclops trying to jog Jean's memory (within the first 15-minutes, I think it'd be necessary to have Jean return as Phoenix). About halfway through the movie, Dark Phoenix. And, in the final 30 minutes or so, Jean beats the Phoenix powers and returns. As long as the characters of Cyclops and Jean are progressed even a little in the flick, that part of the overall story should be good.

 

Have, say, Nightcrawler/Storm/Rogue/Iceman be after the Brotherhood. They're constantly fucked over, with Storm/Nightcrawler tagging on Magneto, Rogue taking on Mystique, and Iceman squaring off with Pyro.

 

And, in the end, after the double-turn of Jean Grey and while the Brotherhood and Team B are at rest...SENTINELS. Mmhmm...

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

You can't do a brand split of the X-Men because not all of the characters are popular enough to carry a movie. When there were the Blue and Gold teams I didn't really give a damn about the Gold Team because the blue team had all the cool characters. I really wanna see Cyclops join the Brotherhood though.

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

There is no way you can "split" the X-Men as a movie franchise. First off it's just a movie so they have to compact several months worth of books into a 2 hour movie...can't be done. That's why they couldn't even pull of the Pheonix Saga true to book in the movies. Wolverine, they can do a franchise just on his character. Same with Chuck and several others. It took them 40+ years before they could even put them on the big screen. It will be hard enough for them to get Berry back for another one. Plus Jackman is gaining popularity and will continue to do other projects. For the X-Men to work you have to have the same people playing the same characters. I wish, as an "old school" X-Men fan that they could make movies forever, but that won't happen. So the "split" will never work.

[Guest C.H.U.D.]

Holy shit, I can't believe how much I loved this film. I thought it was much better than the original and the ending was great. Did anyone else get shivers during that last shot of the lake?

 

Oh, btw, Hogan Made Wrestling, where in the HELL did you get that pic of the fat cat? Is that yours? I was laughing for 10 minutes. Best. Cat. Ever.

[Guest Hogan Made Wrestling]

Holy shit, I can't believe how much I loved this film. I thought it was much better than the original and the ending was great. Did anyone else get shivers during that last shot of the lake?

 

Oh, btw, Hogan Made Wrestling, where in the HELL did you get that pic of the fat cat? Is that yours? I was laughing for 10 minutes. Best. Cat. Ever.

A guy I know online sent it to me. No, it is most assuredly NOT mine. I wouldn't stand for any animal I own being such a beast.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I have a ferret who does that.

[Guest Aero]

I just got around to seeing the movie last night, and just as everyone else is saying... an amazing movie, and 50 times better than the first. I just have a few thoughts and questions.

 

I read before about Jason Stryker possibly being somewhat of a remake of someone like Mastermind. When I first saw him, it seemed to me that he was more along the lines of Legion. Now, when the X-Men comic series was heading into the Legion Saga story, I had just stopped reading. I'm probably wrong, but when watching, I thought of Legion.

 

As for Mageto's breakout... It was an awesome scene and all, but why did he break out right there? It seemed as though he could've done it anytime he wanted to. Maybe I'm just looking too far in. I guess he just felt as though he needed to breakout right then and there?

[Guest Downhome]

As for Mageto's breakout... It was an awesome scene and all, but why did he break out right there? It seemed as though he could've done it anytime he wanted to. Maybe I'm just looking too far in. I guess he just felt as though he needed to breakout right then and there?

He couldn't have done it at any time, as no one ever brings in metal into his "cell". Mystique injected that guard with some sort of iron/metal substance, and when the guard went in to give Magneto's food to him, he then used his power to extract said substance out of the guard's body (cool as fuck by the way), and he then used it to escape, as you saw how he did so on screen.

[Guest eiker_ir]

that's right, he couldn't have done it at any other moment because his power is controlling metals and without any metal around he's just an old man like any other.

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

Si. That's why he said "too much iron in your blood" right before extracting it.

 

That scene somewhat reminded me of when Magneto ripped out Wolvie's adamantium...only Wolvie's scene would be gorier.

[Guest Downhome]

Si. That's why he said "too much iron in your blood" right before extracting it.

 

That scene somewhat reminded me of when Magneto ripped out Wolvie's adamantium...only Wolvie's scene would be gorier.

No offense to ANYONE, but how could you not understand how he was able to escape? I thought it was totally spelled out for ya.

[Guest The Grand Pubah of 1620]

There was a comic a long time ago when Magneto stopped the entire X-Men. Gold and Blue teams. He put his hand up and froze everyone of them in their tracks. He stopped them all because he "froze" the iron in their blood. There are alot of inconsistancies but I agree Magneto could have broken out whenever he wanted, acording to the comic book, not the movie.

[Guest Marshall]

But the movie was made with the people who hadn't read the comic in mind. I've never read it, but I did watch the cartoon. When Jean died in the movie I remember that she died in the cartoon too. Speaking of which, I've it twice now and I still can't work out why Jean died. She was on the ship, the bad guys were defeated and the day was won, then she's like I think I'll get off the ship and go for a walk. Nightcrawler could of saved her, iceman could of at least had a go at freezing some of the water. But everyones like 'no, she wants to die fuck her' and they fly off. It's so strange.

[Guest SP-1]

The ship was busted and was having trouble starting up. That was a HELL of alot of water for young Bobby to try and handle, but Jean knew she could take it long enough for the ship. The Prof. was still a little woozy, Storm was trying to pilot. And they had Nightcrawler try to save her but he said she was keeping him from teleporting.

[Guest Lethargic]

I thought of the Iceman thing too. He could've just froze it. But then again, they did focus on him for a minute to show that he was too busy pouting and feeling sorry for himself instead of helping. Maybe that'll be something that comes into play in X3. Tension between Iceman and the rest of the them because he didn't do all he could to save her and he has to do something next time around to prove himself. Either that or nothing will come from it at all. haha

 

Nightcrawler tried to teleport out but Jean wasn't letting him.

 

She reason she went out is because the ship wasn't working so she had to hold back the water. Theories are that SHE was the reason the ship wasn't working so she had to get out. They foreshadowed something like that early in the movie when the electronics in the museum flicked out because of her.

 

It also seemed like Mr Know It All Xavier pretty much knows that she'll be back which was why he wasn't overly concerned.

[Guest Downhome]

And they had Nightcrawler try to save her but he said she was keeping him from teleporting.

Which would lead one to believe that she was also keeping everyone else from trying to save her also. She wanted to die, it was done so in order for her to truly find herself, etc... Besides, she'll return just like in the cartoon.

[Guest Lethargic]

It showed her shut the door and control the ship. It should be pretty obvious they couldn't get out. I'm not saying that this part isn't suspect. It is questionable why she couldn't do all this IN the ship like when she stopped the rocket from IN the ship. Or it's questionable why Iceman couldn't just make another big wall around the ship like he did in the house. But I think they tried to cover all their bases as much as they could with it. I didn't question it when I watched it. I didn't think anything about it until seeing questions about it on the internet.

[Guest Aero]

No offense to ANYONE, but how could you not understand how he was able to escape? I thought it was totally spelled out for ya. 

 

None taken... to be honest, I just totally forgot about the Mystique injection scene. Oh well, thanks for the reminder.

[Guest SP-1]

I still believe that it was just WAY too much water for a teenaged Iceman occupied with his girlfriend with little "combat" training to deal with.

[Guest eiker_ir]

remember Jean started to have like fire coming out of her at the end, maybe she knew that the ship couldn't take that knd of power from inside so she had to go outside and sacrifice herself...

[Guest Downhome]

I personally wish they had've let it be known that after all of the Mutants were almost killed, it left their powers weak for a short while. Then, when they really needed to escape, they could have built it up that Jean was so desperate to try to save everyone, she focused so hard, tried so desperately, that SHE was the only one able to bring forth so much power, needed to hold back the water and to get the craft into the air, and then as her powers fail, the moment the ship is in the air, she passes out or the such, and the water consumes her.

 

I don't know, something like that could have worked.

 

I didn't think about it untill this thread, but really, I'm not thinking all that much about it still. I took it for what it was and really don't care, I'm just trying to come up with something that COULD have worked, lol.