Arguably, one of the most recognizable and popular Marvel comic book franchises is the X-Men. The world can be complicated, add to it the existence of both good and bad people with special abilities a.k.a. the mutants, and you have a story that continues to thrill, enamor, and entertain audiences.
The X-Men comprised of two sides: Charles Xavier / Professor X's team of mutants who seek to protect humanity, and Magneto's acolytes hellbent on controlling the human race. Each mutant had a unique name, ability, personality, and design.
As popular as these characters were, they wouldn't arrive on the big screen until the 2000 film X-Men. Regardless of the differences in the story from the original source material, including costume changes, this film put X-Men in a whole new light, perhaps becoming the catalyst for the superhero films that followed. Starring Hugh Jackman, Sir Patrick Stewart, Sir Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, and Anna Paquin, fans of the Marvel characters got to see them in the flesh, powers and all. With the film's success, it was only obvious that a sequel would be released.
And wouldn't you know it, X2: X-Men United arrived in 2003 and it was even more successful and popular than its predecessor. I remember watching this film in theaters, completely blown away but how the opening sequence alone.
While X-Men introduced our core group of characters from the likes of Wolverine, Professor X, Storm, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Magneto, and Mystique, the sequel developed them further, all while welcoming more characters into the franchise - from Nightcrawler to William Stryker.
X2: X-Men United presented its heroes with new challenges
The nature of the sequel is quite simple, Logan a.k.a. Wolverine returns to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters after trying to learn more about his past but coming up short. Since his departure Rogue - the teenage girl he saved and befriended in the first film - has been romantically tied to Bobby Drake, a.k.a. Iceman.
Although Jean Grey remains the girlfriend of Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops, Wolverine's attraction to her remains just as strong, if not stronger. Trouble arises for our mutants when Charles and Scott visit an imprisoned Erik Lehnsherr, a.k.a. Magneto. The visit was a trap as both are captured soon after. But thanks to Mystique, Magneto is able to escape sometime later.
As Jean and Ororo Munroe a.k.a. Storm go to find the mutant responsible for almost taking out the President (Kurt Wagner a.k.a. Nightcrawler) in the beginning of the film, soldiers under Stryker's orders (thanks to the president's lack of his own research or at the bare minimum vetting those who suggest such decisions) attack the school and kidnap some of the students.
As all three groups convene, they hope to rescue Charles, Scott, and put an end to Stryker's plans, which involve his own mutant son in a plot to kill all mutants via telepathy through Charles and Cerebro (Charles device to detect mutants). Naturally, Magneto has plans of his own; to have the mutant kill humans instead.
The big fight between the mutants and soldiers goes down underground at the lab where Wolverine was made. With everyone rescued and Stryker left for dead, the group comes to a problem when dams of water are compromised, rushing towards our group, trying to leave via X-Jet or Blackbird.
Therefore, Jean sacrifices herself using her powers to block the water so that the X-Jet can escape. Her death breaks both Cyclops and Wolverine's hearts.
Jean's sacrifice made an impact, but the story wasn't over
But in the end, her sacrifice is not only what saves the team but also allows them to speak with the president themselves about the true issue of mutants and humans. For as it turned out, Nightcrawler's attempt on his life was planned by Stryker as a means of pushing for more control over the mutant population.
The president is left with the arduous decision as to how to handle mutant and human relations. As for Jean, she never truly died, as her psychic powers and abilities that Charles once blocked are now free.
Jean returns in the next film X-Men: The Last Stand as the Phoenix, whose powers are beyond control, causing her to become deadly and monstrous. Unfortunately for the X-Men franchise, there would be several films that would fail to make an impression with fans, from the likes of X-Men: The Last Stand to X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Dark Phoenix.
But for the few that failed to meet expectations, several more would prove to audiences that the X-Men franchise is far from over, with great stories and characters left to talk about. What are your opinions on X2: X-Men United?
Let us know who your favorite mutant is and why.