X-Men

The humans, or as Aussie comedian Steady Eddie would call them, the "normies" are frightened; wary of what they can't understand and concerned that a war might erupt against evil forces. A band of good warrior mutants, the X-Men are indeed conducting a clandestine campaign against the forces of evil.

Stan Lee and his Marvel Comics invented the X-Men in the 60's and heated has been the debate over whether anyone should even attempt to put them on the big screen. The die hard addicts will no doubt bicker about details, but I fail to see why just about anyone wouldn't enjoy this slick, exciting, intriguing, comic book action film.

There's a strong Australian connection here too with Hugh Jackman making a fine meal of Wolverine, and shall we claim yet another actor from New Zealand as our own as it suits us? Why not. Anna Paquin, the young Oscar winner from The Piano is just perfect as the vulnerable Rogue, a young lass with strange powers indeed.

Marvel Comics took the high ground. The conflicts were about much more important concepts than mere countries or taxes. High octane values such as honour and dignity were at issue. Broad, heart swelling battles were fought and often the fate of the entire universe was at stake We were asked to share the pain the strange ones might feel at the hands of bigots.

X-Men has managed to capture the essence of Marvel Comics. It's main characters are estranged and hurting. Wolverine is bitter and frightened and doesn't understand why he's the way he is. We meet him in a cage fighting off a succession of assailants for money.

He befriends Rogue and she has no idea why at puberty her body became mutant. Both are powerful, but lonely.

Suddenly strong forces emerge to challenge them in the shape of Mystique ( delectably played by Rebecca Romjin- Stamos) and the huge Sabertooth (Tyler Mane). But X-Men represented by Cyclops (James Marsden) and Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) suddenly appear after a remarkable exit by Wolverine through a truck windscreen.

The bad guys are lead by master British actor Ian McKellan (Richard 111) playing Magneto and Star Trek's Patrick Stewart is Xavier, the leader of the good X-Men.

There have been plenty of comic book movies made and most of them were regrettable, especially compared with The X-Men against which the Batman franchise and crowd favourite The Matrix pale into insignificance. Films like Blade, and John Carpenter's Vampires I found to be pretty satisfying and now you know where my tastes lie.

And speaking of taste, if you're excited by the weird you couldn't do better than Toad in the The X-Men played by Ray Park. This wildly nasty creature takes a devilish delight in scurrying up walls and snapping up doves or guns or whatnot with a thirty foot long tongue! Loved the look on his face. Nasty little bugger!

X-Men is pretty short but by the celluloid centimeter it's the best value for money we've seen in Cairns since Run Lola Run. And Hugh Jackman is sure to be looking keenly at some juicy acting contracts.