X-Men | 100 Movies Bucket List

 

This is another one that I was saving because I was really looking forward to it.

I'm pretty much a fan of most superhero movie franchises, and that definitely includes X-Men in a big way! 

I wrote a post ranking the X-Men movies back in 2018 and I ended up putting this film at number 5, because I loved the prequel movies so much that they overtook my love of the originals. 

And while I've seen pretty much all of the movies again since writing that post, it was fun to go into this one remembering that post and now seeing if I'd still put it in the same place.

And I'd definitely move it up! I still love the prequel movies, but this one is something special.

Of all the superhero movies on the bucket list, this was my biggest surprise because the X-Men movies are never given the credit they deserve. Which is especially sad because they have one of the most interesting and important messages of all superhero franchises.

But anyway, on to this specific movie.

I like this movie. I don't think it's necessarily better than some of the others that came after it, but it was a great way to kick off this franchise, introduce these characters and begin the journey into this world.

I'm going to try not to spend the whole post writing about Wolverine, but that character is one of my favourites, and I loved the introduction to him.

The film is kind of centred on him, we get to learn and understand this new world through his eyes. This connects us with him, keeps us on his side throughout the franchise, and also lets us root for him.

But at the same time, it also allows us to build connections with the other characters. Not only are they are extremely well written, but they're all so distinct and genuinely interesting, and this is what keeps you watching. These characters, all with completely unique powers and personalities, help to create a world that feels so real and authentic that we can't help but believe everything that happens.

But let's be honest, the only reason these movies work as well as they do it because of the amazing actors who completely embodied these characters. The fact that the casting directors struck gold twice with the older and younger cast is incredible.

Sticking with the older cast we have Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijin and Anna Paquin who are amazing in their roles, and then on top of that we have the incredible Hugh Jackman in his perfect portrayal of Wolverine from this movie in 2000 right up until Deadpool and Wolverine in 2024. I don't know if there's ever been better casting than this.

This all being said, most of my praise takes into account all of the other movies in the franchise, and this one being a starting point.

I don't think this is the greatest X-Men standalone, and while I love the characters, the story itself tried to do a little bit too much in too short a time.

So while I love and am deeply invested in the entire X-Men universe, this isn't my favourite film of the franchise. That being said, I'll definitely be watching it again and again - especially because some of the cast are going to be in an upcoming Avengers movie!