X2 (2003)
X2
I believe I have found another sequel that is better than the original. I was pretty surprised by how good this was, because a lot of times, superhero sequels are kind of crappy. Not always, but a good chunk of the time. However, in this instance. I thought it was better made than its predecessor. I do think I prefer the first one over this, but of the two, ‘X2’ has a better story, more characters, and just a cooler feel. The story has a nice continuation from the first one, while still feeling original. I don’t think this movie had to rely on the first one to be as good as it was. Yes, it’s related, but in many ways, it feels like a very nice standalone film. I think the biggest reason why I liked the first one better was because of the runtime. This movie clocks in at 2 hours and 14 minutes, which for me, is about 15-20 minutes too long. I do like long movies (usually), but this felt a little too long for its own good. Not that there was anything that should’ve been cut out, I just got slightly bored in a few scenes. Besides that, it was very solid, with some of the same cheesy feel as the first one. Also, the combination of comedy and seriousness was very well balanced. There were some great little remarks that were funny, but then you quickly jump right back into the action or drama. Such a beautiful blend. The return of all the characters were very nice, and of course, a couple more awesome additions. Nightcrawler is the obvious new guy, and though his design and character is sweet, I found him a little annoying. I just wasn’t a huge fan. Finally, the CGI, makeup, and practical effects were all outstanding again, especially considering this was in 2003. I seriously wish more movies were made the same as this one. Not too much special effects, but enough to give the comic book feel, while still feeling down to earth. Overall, this movie is even greater than the first, though I would rather watch the original between these two. I’d definitely recommend it to all Marvel/superhero fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!