First off, apologies to my family and friends for the overuse of cursing as of late, I've been curtailing it in everyday talk, so it needs some outlet... this entry will most likely continue that trend as I get very vulgar on just how fucking amazing X2 really was. You have been warned.
To start with, the comic book X-Men is near and dear to my heart. It wasn't the first series I ever picked up (if you're interested, you can read about my first >here<), but ever since I picked up Uncanny X-Men #300, they've been my favorite book to read. I collected every issue I could get my hands on (sadly, if I think about it, I've probably dropped over $2000 on X-Men comics alone), and when the original X-Men came out, I was blown away, not only by the movie, but the experience in general. I was actually able to convince a bunch of my fellow interns to go with me, and it helped lay the seeds of my friendship with Michelle, so that's a big plus in the pro column.
The movie itself was pitch perfect. Sure, I could find faults with it... a weak score, some hackneyed line delivery, not enough ass kicking, but I ignored most because it was all my childhood heroes brought to life by a cast crew who actually respected the comic book (keep in mind I was still wary since getting screwed by Batman & Robin). Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart totally owned their roles, and honestly I can't imagine anyone else doing the characters justice. Since that first night, I've had to have watched X-Men over a dozen times, it has become one of the most enjoyable films to pop in for some great fun.
So now X2 arrives... as anyone who knows me, I've been salivating over it for weeks... actually months. I downloaded clip after clip, scoured every review I could get my hands on, and the one thing I knew is that after seeing the movie, I would most likely need a new pair of pants. After catching it on Thursday at midnight with the greatest crowd possible at The Metreon, all my desires were answered. X2 has jumped to the top of the list of my all-time favorite comic book movies of all time. Fuck Superman. Fuck Batman. Fuck Blade. Hell, even fuck Unbreakable. X2 delivered in every way possible for a comic book fanboy, I'm having a hard time finding anything I have fault with. So let's go with what makes it so fucking awesome (no spoilers as of yet):
Nightcrawler. His attack on the White House... the best action scene in the movie? Quite possibly, the effects were amazing, and the BAMF was right on. Alan Cumming brought just the right balance of tortured soul and curious swashbuckler to the role
Wolverine going all beserker on a shitload of pansy ass Special Ops dudes. This whole scene was pure Wolverine, Jackman nailed it
Professor X as the not-so-goody-two-shoes. What makes Prof X such a great character is that he has one of the most powerful and scary abilities, and every now and then he uses it in such a way that gives you the creeps.
The Iceman/Rogue love story. Easily my favorite subplot, Ashmore and Paquin bring real life to the relationship, I hope they never leave the franchise. If I had a complaint it's that it seemd as if there was a scene missing towards the end with a Iceman/Rogue/Pyro confrontation.
The dogfight in the sky. Great special effects, and an applause-causing rescue. Plus the final shot looked to be directly taken form a comic
Rebecca Romijn-Stamos is so smoking hot.
The cameos. I love being able to recognize characters from the book. Colossus had the audience screaming their heads off, Siryn was sweet... Dr. Hank McCoy (my favorite character, Beast) appears fleetingly. We get Artie Maddocks (sadly without the bumpy pink head and thought balloons), and quick mentions of characters from Gambit, Multiple Man, and Omega Red, to the Fantastic Four's all-powerful son, Franklin Richards.
I saw Project Wideawake on Stryker's screen... for those not in the know, that means one thing: Sentinals. Big fucking robot Sentinals.
"We love what you've done with your hair"... oh man, that was good.
Finally, the ending... even knowing it was coming, it was still shocking... won't go into it for a week or too, so as not to spoil any of ya', but Singer framed the shots perfectly, and the homage to Wrath of Khan was awesome.
Anyway, I have so much more to say on the subject, but don't wanna spouil it too much... thinking back, the only fault I have is that Cyclops got the shaft and didn't have too much to do. Oh well... something tells me he'll have a big role in X-Men 3...
Watching: Lost, Heroes, 24, Criminal Minds Listening: Brobdingnagian Bards Reading: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Playing: Final Fantasy XII Eating: Healthy...er Doing: Running... hopefully Wishing:
Comic Quote of the Week
"It's trying to end the suffering of everything. Do you want to discuss our options? Maybe together we can, you know, workshop?"
"Okay, best way to stop a ten-story godlike monster from destroying existence? I'm gonna go with hitting, you have anything?"
"You took mine."
Wesley and Angel, Angel: After The Fall #15
Who Am I?
Name: Holz Home: Sonoma County, California About Me: I'm a comfortador. See my complete profile
AKA: Ozymandias, DrOzymandias, Darth Angelus, Darque Feonix, Trip McNeely Kicking ass for: 29 years Job: UWing Systems Design Specialist Walking Theme: Believe It Or Not by Joey Scarbury Most watched movie: The Princess Bride Most read book: The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
"Let a man get away with fuckin' you once, you stay bent over so's he can fuck you again whenever he damn well pleases. An' if one man can do it? Another will too. An' another, an' another still. So's being fucked, that's yer life. 'Til who you were, you ain't. 'Cause all you are is an asshole." 100 Bullets #42
