X-Men/X-Men 2 - Region 2 DVD

The series got off to a strong start with the original X-Men. If you can forgive the fact that the film is a little cluttered with introductions, it sets the scene well, basing its story around Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine as he discovers his mutant powers for the first time. He finds himself introduced to the secret world of the mutants, both good and bad, and aligns himself with Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, rather than his nemesis, Ian McKellen’s Magneto. It’s surprising just how much business, in retrospect, the original movie gets through, and it’s a strong indictment of the skills of director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Superman Returns) that it all makes sense and gels so well.

Singer excels himself though with X-Men 2, arguably one of the finest films to originate from a comic book source. His trick is to ground the film in its characters, and to never lose that focus. Singer then successfully weaves them into a story that puts Professor X’s mutants under profound threat, kicking off with an attempted Presidential assassination and ratcheting the action up from there. And while there are a couple of minor flaws here and there, the film itself is a raging success, and properly considered as the high point of the series.

Whatever your thoughts may be on X-Men: The Last Stand, these two films that started the franchise off have eminent rewatch and entertainment value, and make ideal viewing companions. And that makes this double pack a very worthwhile purchase indeed.--Jon Foster