So here we are, eleven years and a few dozen superhero movies later, and this sequel to the surprise hit
X-Men is still regarded as one of the best of its kind. For some like myself, it stands as the greatest movie of all time. What made
X2: X-Men United so great? Here are some of the highlights:
That Theme:
Right from the start, this movie was epic. Even though the theme was only featured briefly at the start, it was enough to make you want to get up and join the mutant fight. As it played while the credits rolled, there was nothing else to do besides swing around your imaginary Wolverine claws. Not only did it sound awesome, but it made you feel awesome.
That Nightcrawler Scene:
It's eerie yet cool. A lost tourist on a White House tour gets questioned by a guard. Intriguing, but not fascinating. Then the tail comes up. There are a few things I love about this scene. The first is the background music. The classical score creates a mysterious and creepy tone that is unlike anything else in the film. Second, are the special effects. Nightcrawler's teleporting looks and sounds just as a comic book reader would imagine it. You can practically see the "BAMFs" written inside the little puffs he leaves behind. The slow-mo really enchances the attacks as well. The third thing I really enjoyed about this scene is often overlooked: Nightcrawler losing his disguise. As he teleports, he teleports
out of his makeup, looking more and more like Nightcrawler with each action. It's a neat little thing to watch for. Finally, is the most awesome part of this scene. It's fun to watch and fun to describe. As Nightcrawler kicks a guy, he telports, and kicks another guy
with the same kick. It's all one motion and a great way to show his powers. (See 1:42 in the embedded video)
That Rogue:
Keep in mind that I was five years old when this movie came out. My contact with females had been limited. I'll be completely honest here, Anna Paquin's Rogue was my first crush. Yes, she's the girl that got me interested in girls. Whether it was the white hair, the awful accent, or the gap in her teeth, five-year-old me found Rogue extremely attractive. And part of me still does.
That Wolverine Rampage During the Mansion Raid:
Running? Check. Screaming? Check. Slashing wildly? Check. I actually love Wolverine's battle strategy. Just straight up murder the guys. It seems silly, but it's wildly entertaining.
There, just watch. He just plunges his claws into a man's chest. Awesome.
The rest of the mansion raid is a cool scene too. There some nice cameos from Kitty Pryde, Siryn, and Colossus. It's a mini showcase of everyone's powers.
That Phoenix in the Water:
It's subtle, it's barely visible, but it's there. During Jean Grey's narration at the end of the film, we get a glimpse of a Phoenix-like figure in the water. Though I didn't understand what it meant at first, I was curious. And even now I still get excited to see the Phoenix Saga in the next installment. I know they botched it, but this shadow gives me hope every time I see it.
The End
There are plenty of other things that make this movie great. Sound off with your top moments in the comments below!