Let's Go to the Movies: May 2003 Archives

Stellar, oscar-winning performances, perhaps not - though the whole cast was uniformly solid, not least the great leads (Stewart, McKellen) - gripping excitement, fantasy and special effects, aplenty! X-men 2 was a success in this corner, ladies and gents, and I'd heartily recommend it to anyone who is into the genre, or who enjoyed the first incarnation at any rate. Heck, make that everyone.
Die-hard fans of the comics and animated series might wonder whether the finale has undermined the entire Phoenix Saga, but that said, there's room for a sequel, and I don't think it'll involve alien Empress Lilandra, a M'Kraan crystal or any such original plot lines. Frankly, they just wouldn't do it for me in a film, and this is a plus point, because the characters on the celluloid take have already begun to develop in different, more plausible directions, and I'm content with where they're headed. Bryan Singer, Dan Harris and Mike Dougherty can feel free to guide this franchise down its current path with my compliments.

On a less overly-fervent note, it's a beautiful evening tonight, and bar the chilly breeze, it's starting to feel pretty summery 'round about now. I can smell the barbecues and cut fens already.