X2

A sequel to Bryan Singer's superhero film was already in the making when the first film premiered almost three years ago. "X-Men" introduced its extensive cast of characters but left enough loose ends for there to be something to build on. One of the big questions was: what lies hidden in Wolverine's past? That question is answered in X-Men 2.

In the sequel the mutants are under serious threat. Professor Charles Xavier, who runs a school for mutants, believes in peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants. His view, however, is shared neither by Magneto, who wants all power for the mutants, nor by the powerful General Stryker, who for personal reasons would prefer to see the mutants wiped out.

Stryker stages a mutant attack on the White House in order to obtain authorisation to launch an attack on the mutants. When Stryker takes Professor Xavier prisoner, the other X-Men see no alternative but to ally themselves with Magneto, but can he really be trusted?

X-Men 2 is aimed exclusively at those who already know the characters and the basic conflicts. There is simply no room left to introduce all the film's characters. Instead new mutants are introduced who may play a part in future films about the X-Men, among them the friendly Nightcrawler and the young, rebellious Pyro. Unfortunately the large cast also means that the pace becomes a little too hectic and the conflicts are handled in a rather superficial and muddled way. X-Men 2 is nevertheless still a worthy sequel, handsome and entertaining and with its underlying moral of tolerance intact.