The X-men films have helped the Super-hero genre become what it is today. It is one of the three main elements into this new generation of Super-hero movies, and while for the most part, these films have been entreating and fun to watch (Iron Man, Spider-man) there have been a few films which were just forgettable (Elektra).
But the X-men movies have had films with a mixed reception. Without a doubt, the first two are the exceptions as this was a new trend. A group of Super-heroes take on Magneto and his brotherhood of steel. Both teams which first saw the light of day back in the brightly coloured sixties. It’s an easy concept to put to film, with the main topic being about prejudice and what it could do to people. The first film had done that very well. With the story being about how these mutants save the world and not get any thanks at the end of it. Instead they are treated like scum, with people being afraid of them. The end results into a fight in the statue of Liberty. While I may not remember that much about the film itself, I do recollect some very good fights scenes which emerged from the film. This led to a sequel entitled “X2- United.” A fitting title as there was a threat so big, it led the X-men to team up with their rival Magneto. This Movie was based off an 80’s X-men comic called “God Loves, man kills” which took the X-men to Weapon X (for those who don’t know, Weapon X is the place where Wolverine got his adamantium bones). The film has since been called one of the best Comic book adaptations because of its story and characters. The film was a success and a few years later, X-men the Last Stand was released.
Now this is where people started to say the series went downhill. I will admit, looking at the film with the others, it sticks out like a sore thumb. But this was the film where a war broke out, people were getting killed. Even the Mutants being bad storyline was turned up a notch. This film was once again based off another story from the eighties, the dark Phoenix saga. This has been said to be “the” X-men comic to read. It’s like what The Watchmen is to DC, this is to marvel. But the comic eventually ends with the death of Jean Grey, something which happens in the movie as well. The film also had another storyline adapted from the comics, the Mutant Cure. This was first shown in “Astonishing X-men” and put the mutant world into a dilemma. They could either stick with their powers or cure them. This results into an all-out war between the X-men and the Brotherhood. But even through it got mixed opinions from fans, the films brought the X-men saga to its rightful close.
A few years later, the next film was announced; Wolverine Origins. This was given even more stick than the last stand. While I can see why this was, it was still a good movie. The origin of Wolverine revealed on the big screen, it was perfect. But the fact of the matter is, it’s a far from perfect film. So, this film adapts the “Weapon X” story from the eighties with influences from the “origin” story back in the early century. I have two major problems with this film, first of all, Bullets? All it took was one Bullet in the head to make Wolverine forget. And why was Deadpool’s mouth stitched. It seemed both stupid and horrifying. This film was given the worst reception out of all the other movies. People didn’t like it for the reasons I pointed out above, and more. But honestly, I didn’t care about any of the other stupid points. I thought the whole story was stupid. But we at least got some good action scenes and the fight with Wolverine, Sabertooth and Deadpool was pretty awesome.
Now, the final film, a prequel to the whole series. X-men: First class is the latest instalment and shows the back story to Xavier and Magneto at a time when they were both friends. The story follows the revenge of Magneto as he tries to find the person who killed his mother in World War 2. While I don’t want to give too much detail for those who haven’t seen it, but the films ends with everything leading into a sequel. While I do enjoy this film for both action and story, I do fell there are a few continuity problems I want to address. Xavier and Mystique start out as friends, yet their friendship is never addressed in the new movies. Magneto meets Xavier from what appears to be in their twenties, but Xavier mentions in the first X-men film that they have known each other since they were seventeen. These are just a few minor errors, the rest I will let you figure out for yourself.
So now my opinion on these movies, I love them all. Yes, besides the stupid plots, the continuity errors and the endless count of characters. Even if you don’t like them, you can still find something you enjoy. Wolverine Origins is the film that nearly everyone hates, yet I look at it and see so many things it did right. It had him talk to normal humans. It had him socialise for a while to see what he is really like. When do you see that in an X-men film? How long have you wanted to see what Wolverine does in his spare time or when he finds comfort in a normal family? Hardly ever. So that’s that wrapped up. Now all we have to do is wait for X-men: Days of Future Past and The Wolverine.