Review of X2 (2003) by Electronick — 25 May 2016

"X2: X-Men United" is an ideal sequel which improves on the foundations set by it's predecessor and expands on the lore. The stakes are raised as Colonel Striker wishes to use Xavier's machine to unleash genocide on mutant kind.

With this common threat the brotherhood and the X-Men need to put aside their differences in order to fight a common menace. The theme of prejudice is dealt with much more in this film than in the previous film as the anti-mutant hostilities start to intensify.

The most nuanced scene which illustrates this was the scene when Ice-Man was talking to his parents about him being a mutant to which his mom asked "Have you ever tried not being a mutant". This illustrates the homosexuality allegory that the comics have have dived into.

Wolverine's past is revlead more and he starts to face his supposed superior of the weapon x program in Lady Death- Strike. He even has a nice end to his character arc as he decides to fight against his vengeful nature and decided to Spare Striker.

Night Crawler makes his first theatrical appearance played by Alan Cumming. Cumming perfectly captures the spiritual conflict within him as he wants t be a good christian but looks like a demon on the outside.

Magneto is more sinister in this film as he tricks the machine to kill all humans instead of mutants which does make fit the character but it feels like a last-minute conflict though. The films entire ending actually felt rushed as it laid a sequel bait feeling which will lead to obvious cliffhangers.

Rushed ending aside it is a film that is worth a watch that will satisfy the hardcore fans and average movie- watchers.