Before I even start, I'll mention that I used to collect the X-Men comics (until they got too expensive and far too convoluted for my tastes) and I really enjoyed the first X-Men movie. Given that, I had pretty high expectations of X2: X-Men United. Right off the bat, I'll say that I wasn't disappointed!

X2 offers up great action, great characters and astounding SFX. Bryan Singer took everything we all loved from X-Men and ramped it up, turning it to 11. And God bless him for it. As a sequel, I would rank this with the Empire Strikes Back as being at least as good and in some ways better than the original. That's a heck of a claim. How can I make it?

First off, the characters. With the introduction of Nightcrawler--an exceptional performance by Alan Cumming--we are treated to one of the finest portrayals of a religious figure outside of historical dramas. A devout Roman Catholic, Kurt Wagner proselytizes, but only in the most indirect fashion. Instead, Nightcrawler leads by example. He is a humble, polite and kind soul, made to commit a crime which he cannot remember, uncertain of his strength. Taking a cue from an earlier era of Christianity and the acts of the Flagellants--priests and monks who whipped themselves in an attempt to drive out the temptations of the flesh--Nightcrawler has marked himself with what he considers Angelic sigils, in response to the sins he's committed.

We're also given a further look into Mystique. Perhaps Mr. Singer wanted to use her sparingly in the original because he was uncertain of the acting of Rebecca Romijn-Stamos. She does a fine job here. In a simple, terse sentence, we are given a glimpse of what drives Mystique, why she sides with Magneto in a battle to rule or destroy Humanity. When Nightcrawler asks her why she doesn't use her powers to change her appearance to look normal, she simply answers (and I paraphrase): "I shouldn't have to." I won't go into the physical desires she exhibits in this movie, but I think something is being set up for X3.

Most of the returning characters from X-Men expand their roles, save for Rogue. She becomes a tertiary character, at best, as Iceman and Pyro are brought forward from the background to exemplify the situation with mutants in the world. I can't say any more without using spoilers. Wolverine is allowed a tantalizing step closer to his past, and is forced to make a decision that will undoubtedly affect him in X3--which we all know is coming. I'm not even going to mention Jean Grey, but those of you who know the X-Men story will figure out where X3 is heading.

The story is suitably 'comic book' in its scope. Much like X-Men, viewed without the filter of four-colour action, it might be tough to swallow. However, the plots of X-Men are no more outlandish than the plots for the recent James Bond movies. I understand this is fantasy, however, when one's willing suspension of disbelief is already burdened with a world populated by super-powered mutants, to stretch is further is dangerous. Still, I was able to swallow the plot for this one, with a caveat (see bottom, a sort of spoiler). If you accepted the plot of X-Men, this one is no more outlandish, and given the foundation of the first movie, perhaps easier to accept.

Overall, you are doing yourself a disservice if you miss this movie. This is also a movie that needs a movie theatre. Unless you've got the $10,000 home theatre, spend the money to see it in a theatre with a massive screen, stadium seating and killer sound. The action and grandeur will be diminished on a small screen.

The biggest problem with X-Men and X2 is that these movies raise the bar for comic book adaptations to come. Daredevil had this problem, though Spider-Man, in my opinion, was able to meet the high expectations created by X-Men. The Ang Lee Incredible Hulk will have a hard time now that there has been a crop of great adaptations it will be measured again.

Now, if someone would only adapt the Walt Simonson run on Thor, I'd be a really happy camper.