Review - X-Men

"X-Men" is based on the popular Marvel Comics title, which has had several spin-offs and different versions.
The movie begins in a Nazi concentration camp...where a young man is torn from his parents, and destroys a gate in the process. Fast forward to the present...where the young man has grown up and become Magneto, one of the most powerful mutants in the world. Magneto is the head of the Brotherhood, a group of mutants who believe that with their abilities, mutants should rule the world...not be enslaved by it. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Professor Charles Xavier, who believes that mankind and mutantkind can peacefully co-exist. Both sides have men and women with extraordinary gifts...from the shape-shifting Mystique, to Storm, with her ability to control the weather, to Wolverine...a mystery with the ability to heal almost instantly, and a skeleton made of metal.
One of the main points that separates this movie from most comic book movies is that you do not have to be a fan of the comic to follow the movie (it doesn't hurt...but it isn't a requirement). The characters are well-developed enough that a novice can join in and understand instantly what is happening. Another thing that makes this movie different is the fact that here...the heroes of the movie are not treated as heroes. In this world, mutants are distrusted...feared...even persecuted. They are hated by the very people that they risk their lives to protect. It has always made for a potent selling point in the comics...and translates well onto the screen. Almost everyone has felt alienated or different from the rest of the world in one way or the other...here, it is for super powers.
For a great action movie with a plot and a relevant social message...or if you're a long-time fan of Marvel's misunderstood heroes..."X-Men" does not disappoint.
Starring - Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, and Famke Janssen. Directed by Bryan Singer.
Time - 1 hour, 44 minutes. Rated - PG-13 (Action violence, some language)