Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment – 342 minutes – 2000/2003/2006 – Rated PG-13 – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS-HD Lossless 5.1 Audio Mix – Digital Copy

The X-Men have a legion of fans that read the comic book religiously, and being that Hollywood is always looking for a way to cash in on anything that’s popular, it was more than obvious that there would be an X-Men movie. Finally in 2000 the most famous mutants in the world were brought to the big screen, hoping to be the next Batman. The first X-Men was a huge success, followed by an excellent sequel, X-Men United, and finally The Last Stand. Originally, only the third film was available on Blu-ray, but now all three films are on HD either individually, or as a complete box set from Fox Home Entertainment.

X-MEN (2000)

Unlike Batman, Superman, and Spiderman, The X-Men is a much harder film to adapt because instead of focusing on just one character, there is a whole team, and to satisfy fans that may favor Cyclops over Wolverine, it’s complicated to give them all equal time in a two-hour movie.

There’s no need to go into a set-up, because like characters in the bible, the X-Men are apart of our world. Basically, the Earth has two types of people inhabiting it, regular average humans and mutants. And being the way the world is the two sides are always at battle with each other because the humans have the majority and consider the mutants to be ‘different’ and ‘dangerous.’ Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), a mutant himself, has used his power and influence to open a school for the gifted, where mutants who are seen as freaks by society can come to learn and be protected.

Xavier has helped and gained the loyalty of Scott Summers aka Cyclops (James Marsden), Ororo Munroe aka Storm (Halle Berry), Bobby Drake aka Iceman (Shawn Ashmore), and the mysterious Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), just to name of few of his students. An incident leads two other mutants to the doorsteps of Xavier’s school, Marie D’Ancanto aka Rogue (Anna Paquin), and Logan aka Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) a total badass with adamantium retractable claws. Besides being hunted by the government, Xavier’s students are also under the surveillance of a dark group of mutants led by Xavier’s former friend and partner, Eric Lensherr aka Magneto (Ian McKellen), who’s followers including his sexy sidekick Mystique (Rebecca Romijn), choose to destroy whatever gets in their path, thus giving mutants a bad name in society.

Directed by Bryan Singer the X-Men was a hard movie to do because after decades of comic book history, the film had to be spoon-fed to a mass audience, most of which know very little about the X-Men. Singer should be credited for pulling it off as well as he could, but some would argue that the film appears to focus much more on the Wolverine, while everyone else is given the jr. characters treatment.

Everything feels compressed, but for the most part entertaining, and Singer took risks that almost had him crucified such as not having the characters wear the traditional costumes they are known for in the comics. And yet the film has problems with pacing and story structure it all somehow works, and classical trained actors such as Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen give the film major credibility. Also, this is the film that pushed Hugh Jackman into the limelight, giving him the star effect for two sequels as well as his own spinoff movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine that is currently in theaters.

Some fans love the film and others hated it, but they all agree that it’s great to see their heroes on the big screen even if they are watered down. X-Men was more a way to test the waters for what Fox hoped would be a major franchise and it paid off. Blu-ray collectors will be happy that the original film is finally available in high definition where it belongs.

X2: X-MEN UNITED (2003)

The first X-Men film made a fortune at the box office, so there was no doubt that a sequel would be on the way. And where most sequels are either worse or just more of the same, X2 is bigger and better in every way, and in my opinion one of the best comic book movies ever made.

The whole team from the first film has returned for the sequel, as well as some new characters from the comic such as Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), Lady Deathstrike (Kelly Hu), and Pyro (Aaron Stanford). The story centers around the government ordering a secret attack on Xavier’s school for the gifted, led by a corrupt scientist named Stryker (Brian Cox), who is actually after something more.

Again directed by Bryan Singer, this sequel works on every level because where the first film was a set-up to light the fuse, X2 knows what it’s doing and delivers. The action is solid, the characters are all given room to show their stuff, and the story actually has you involved, just like the other excellent Marvel Comic film Spiderman 2.

Elements from one of the most famous storylines in the X-Men comic based on the Phoenix Saga is also one of the highlights of X2, focusing on Jean Grey who is ultimately the most powerful mutant who has ever lived.

Wolverine is obviously the most famous character, and the so-called lead singer of the band, so he is given plenty of screen time to slice his claws, including a kick-ass fight in the finale between him and Lady Deathstrike.

Overall, X2 is a winner in every way and mad fans crave for more, which they would have to wait another three years for with X-Men: The Last Stand. If you’ve only seen X2 on DVD, this Blu-ray is a step up, big time.

X-MEN: THE LAST STAND

Hollywood loves trilogies, so when the credits for X2 rolled, the countdown began for the finale. Unfortunately, the heart of the second film stop beating when director Bryan Singer chose to walk away from the third film and instead direct Superman Returns, which was a huge mistake on his part. Director Brett Ratner jumped into the driver’s seat hoping to continue the magic, but instead crashes into a wall going 100mph.

The Last Stand takes place where X2 left off with the death of Jean Grey, and Xavier’s X-Men attempting to move on. Cyclops, who was in love with Jean is taking it the hardest, but when he feels she may still be alive he returns to the place she died to discover what he believes is her, but unfortunately she has transformed into something else, something deadlier.

Mixed with this the government has found a special mutant and derived a drug from him that has the ability to purify mutants and make them regular humans. This sparks an imminent war between the mutants and the humans, and Magneto uses this to gather the most lethal mutants on his side to kill all those in his path.

Wolverine and Storm, as well as new characters Hank McCoy aka Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page), and Angel (Warren Worthington) must unite to fight Magneto’s army and stop the war. Their greatest opponent is former X-Men Jean Grey who has now transformed into the Dark Phoenix, who is now as powerful as a god.

The Last Stand suffers from the trilogy jinx where are other great first and second films such as Spiderman and Spiderman 2, Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back offered weaker concluding films. Even though it’s easy to blame director Brett Ratner (which everyone did), you really can’t because it’s the script that is the major problem. X2’s script was excellent and thought out, but The Last Stand is rushed and lacks passion.

Even Wolverine who is the star of the show doesn’t really have much to do here, but swing his claws and say one-liners. And whoever thought of killing off Xavier and Cyclops should be stoned. There must have been a better way to make the story roll forward.

Overall, The Last Stand is a letdown, especially compared to X2, and there probably will not be another real X-Men film anytime soon. Let’s see what happens with the solo Wolverine film to see exactly how things in the X-Men movie world will progress.

Tech Specs for X-MEN:

VIDEO

Presented in full 1080p and framed in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, X-Men offers a decent transfer, but being it’s not that much better than the standard DVD. There is plenty of grain on the print and some scenes look somewhat unfocused. Unlike the X2 and The Last Stand, the first film didn’t receive the same care. It’s good but will not blow you away.

AUDIO

With DTS- HD Lossless 5.1 master audio, X-Men sounds great from the beginning moment in the Nazi concentration camp, to the finale on New York’s Liberty Island. Dialogue is crisp, and action sequences are highlighted to their full potential. Crank up your speakers for this one.

Tech Specs for X2: X-MEN UNITED:

VIDEO

X2 also offers a full 1080p picture framed in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, but this time around the image is everything you desire from a Blu-ray. The picture looks superb with bright colors and perfect details on everyone’s face. The effects such as the X-Jet chase will jump off your screen, and guys will appreciate seeing Rebecca Romijn roam around in her painted on costume.

AUDIO

The DTS-HD Lossless 5.1 master audio mix is a grand-slam and anyone with a home theater system will appreciate this film from start to finish. Every time Wolverine springs his claws you’ll hear the ‘ping’ echo from your rear speaker. Dialogue is also clear even when the action is exploding all around.

Tech Specs for X-MEN: THE LAST STAND:

VIDEO

This is the same transfer from the original Blu-ray, and it still stands out with a full 1080p picture in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Colors are excellent and details such the details on Angel’s wings can only be enjoyed in high definition. There’s noting to complain about, because this is excellent all around.

AUDIO

Again the sound is a winner with a DTS-HD Lossless 5.1 master mix that allows you to hear every line of bad dialogue in the movie. The action is the highlight of the show and here you’ll appreciate every explosion, crash, and retracting claw.

EXTRAS

This is a fan’s delight with nine disc included in the box set including a Digital Copy of all three films. The bonus features are mainly carried over from the original DVD releases, with the highlight being all the new extras offered with The Last Stand for the first time.

Bonus Features For X-MEN:

• An Audio Commentary featuring Director Bryan Singer and Brian Peck is well worth listening to.

• Six deleted scenes with optional director’s commentary.

• The Mutant Watch, a Fox TV featurette.

• Charlie Rose interview with Director Bryan Singer.

• Evolution-X: a five part feature length interactive documentary that dives into every aspect of the comic and the making of the film and is a must see.

• Animatics, Trailers, Marketing materials.

• Digital Copy.

Bonus Features For X2: X-MEN UNITED:

• Audio Commentary from Director Bryan Singer and cinematographer Tom Sigel.

• Audio Commentary with Producers Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter, as well as writers Dam Harris, David Hayter, and Michael Dougherty.

• History of the X-Men featurette goes into the origin of the heroes and focuses on the latest X-Men, Nightcrawler.

• A series of making of featurettes.

• Eleven deleted scenes that are worth a look.

• United Colors of X2 looks at the costume design of the film.

• Requiem For Mutants gives details about the film’s musical score.

• Stills and Trialers.

• Digital Copy.

Bonus Features For X-MEN: THE LAST STAND:

• Audio Commentary with Director Brett Ratner and writers Simon Kinberg and Zak Penn.

• Audio Commentary with Producers Avi Arad, Lauren Shuler Donner, and Ralph Winter.

• Ten deleted scenes and three alternative endings to see the fate of certain characters.

• X-Men: Evolution of a Trilogy looks at the seven years it took to create the trilogy, and its place in movie history.

• Generation-X: Comic Book History goes into the entire world of the X-Men in comics, and is the best feature on the disc.

• Brett Ratner’s Production Diaries shows the directors adventure in making the film.

• Anatomy of a Scene: Golden Gate Bridge dissects the movies bridge action sequence.

• Animatics, Still Galleries, Trailers.

• Digital Copy.

BOTTOM LINE

If you’re a fan of these movies this Blu-ray box set is a must have, with nine discs total, including digital copies for each movie, and days worth of bonus material, even if you didn’t like the third film, you won’t complain with this package as a whole. These movies are offered individually, but this box set is the way to go and is highly recommended.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

X-MEN:

The Movie: 3.0

Video: 3.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 4.0

X2: X-MEN UNITED:

The Movie: 4.5

Video: 4.5

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 4.0

X-MEN: THE LAST STAND:

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 4.5

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 4.0

X-MEN TRILOGY:

Bottom Line: 5.0