While Superman and Batman had blockbuster movies before X-Men was released, the average person was already very familiar with these characters by the time, their movies hit the big screen. Though X-Men had been a top selling comic book (and a popular Saturday morning cartoon show), the thought that average moviegoers might be unfamiliar with these characters gave great hesitancy to the studio executives. After all most of these studio executives knew little about either the comics or the animated TV series. Though Fox received the film rights in the 1990's, the studio executives still nervously sat on the property (while in hindsight it is easy to make fun of these executives, with most superhero movies that didn't feature Batman or Superman having been critical and commercial failures, their position is understandable). The fact that this movie even got made was heavily thanks to a woman named, Lauren Shuler Donner. She had become a producer at Fox in 1994. She was well aware of the comic books and the cartoon series and felt there was great potential for a blockbuster with these characters. She was also aware that Marvel Comics had filed for bankruptcy. Lauren would spend the rest of the 1990's trying to get an X-Men film off the ground. She approached such top Hollywood filmmakers as James Cameron, Michael Chabon, and Joss Whedon. Ideas for the drafts and outlines from these filmmakers would find their way into the final script, though the screenplay would be end up being solely credited to David Hayter. (Hayter would later be a writer for two more superhero films, X2: X-Men United (2003) and Watchmen (2009)). However the directing job had instead gone to Bryan Singer, who was fresh off his critical and commercial success, The Usual Suspects (1995). Another early decision to separate this from previous superhero films was to cast classically trained actors in two of the most important roles. Therefore, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen would be cast as Charles Xavier and Magneto. This would hopefully lend an air of respectability for those who might normally overlook a superhero movie.
The movie finally went into production in the late fall of 1999 with an expected release of Christmastime 2000. Still the studio heads at Fox were still nervous about this film. They cut the budget down to $75 million, a low budget for a special-effects heavy blockbuster, even 25 years ago. This meant that the filmmakers had to remove some of the more special effects heavy characters such as Beast. This was not the only production trouble. The original actor cast as Wolverine; Dougray Scott had to be replaced when there was scheduling conflicts due to the shooting of Mission: Impossible 2 (2000). He was replaced by Hugh Jackman, an unknown actor at the time. This would turn out to work for the best though as Jackman would become the film's breakout star.
This movie eschews the type of lighthearted campy storytelling that many associated with superhero stories at this time from the very start. This film opens with a scene centering on Magneto as a child being led to a concentration camp during the holocaust. When the movie first transitions to modern day, we see a teenage Rouge (Anna Paquin) accidently nearly kill her boyfriend with her powers. These two scenes immediately tell us that what we are about to watch will not talk down to us and will not be either campy or silly. As the film continues it tells us the story of two mutants (the next step in human evolution, meta-humans with superpowers) named Wolverine and Rouge. The two find themselves at The Charles Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. This is a school that helps mutants learn how control their powers. Some of the graduates have become what are known as X-Men, a group of mutants that help protect human and meta-human alike. Meanwhile humans discriminate against mutants, feeling that they are danger to mankind. Magento is tired of this discrimination and decides to lead a group of mutants to destroy humankind. The X-Men must stop Magento and his Brotherhood of Mutants.
This is a strong start to this series of movies. What makes this film work so well is Rouge and Wolverine. These two are truly the heart of this movie. They are the ones that we connect to and being newcomers to the world of the X-Men, we see things through their eyes. The last part is especially true of Wolverine. His skepticism and how he initially writes off everything about Xavier's school as silly, keeps the movie feeling grounded while not eschewing comic book fantasy. Rouge is simply a heartbreaking figure, and it is hard not to feel for her. That she can kill anyone who even touches her makes her feel more like a threat than a hero. This type of self-doubt and feeling like you don't belong is something we all can relate to and understand. The friendship between these two characters is very heartwarming. This film also benefits from having a fantastic cast. Not only are the actors who portray these two characters excellent but everyone in the cast is perfect. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen do exactly what they were brought into do and help us take this superhero story seriously. Though they don't get as much to do James Marsden and Famke Janssen bring a certain likability to Cyclops and Jean Grey. And of course, Halle Berry is the definition of cool as Storm. This movie also does a wonderful job of digging into the deeper themes of discrimination and how people find ways to try and justify their hatred. The messaging may not be subtle, but it is effective with some quite intelligent dialogue.
As much as I enjoy this movie, I do have to admit that the smaller budget really hurts the film. The special effects often look very fake, and this frankly takes you out of the movie.
Director, Bryan Singer is an openly homosexual filmmaker. Because of this many having viewed his take on mutants to be a commentary on the discrimination that homosexuals receive, especially with lines about them reveling or hiding who they truly are. This interpretation is not unfounded. Since the comics of the 1960's the X-Men have been a representation of marginalized groups. It is understandable that Singer might connect with this and draw from the discrimination he received due to his sexual orientation.
The movie grossed $157 million domestic and received mostly positive reviews from critics. The film was a surprise breakout hit and would spawn an incredibly successful movie franchise.
Resources Used
Superman: The High-Flying History of America's Most Enduring Hero by Larry Tye.
https://nerdist.com/article/x-men-2000-most-important-superhero-movie/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120903/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_3_cdt_c_8
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