Barnes & Noble

From uncanny in the comics to action blockbuster at the box office, the mutant superhero group the X-Men serve their audience well in this live-action adaptation directed by Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects). Highly anticipated by fans for years -- the comics date back to the 1960s -- the film intelligently tackles the comics' common themes of racism, immigration, and identity, with the aid of a crackerjack ensemble cast. Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, James Marsden, and adorable Anna Paquin are regarded as outsiders both by humans and by their own mutant race. Chronicling the beginnings of professor Xavier's super-powered X-students (who flaunt super costumes to match), the battle focuses on sinister primary foe Magneto (Ian McKellen), with his mutant minions, played by Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and Ray Park (a.k.a. Darth Maul) at his side. A George Wallace-like senator (Bruce Davison) launching a campaign against mutantkind only complicates things for our heroes, but provides for some good character drama, a tactic that has always made the X-Men comics as super as they are. Singer's stylish direction handles the action well and with a bit less silliness than other recent comic-book adaptations, while X-Men creator and all-around comic legend Stan Lee cuts the mustard in a fine cameo as a hot-dog vendor. The X-ceptional 1.5 DVD features an Enhanced Viewing Mode, incorporating more than 60 extra minutes of behind-the -scenes footage and previously deleted material. Tony Nigro

All Movie Guide

One of the most popular superhero teams in comic book history finally comes to the screen in this big-budget adaptation of the long-running Marvel Comics series. Psychic Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) leads a school of skilled mutants called X-Men, a peacekeeping force to safeguard the world against a race of genetically mutated humans known as Homo Sapiens Superior. However, Magneto (Ian McKellen), a mutant with a powerful magnetic charge, has also begun to organize a team to strike first against what he believes to be a threat from humanity. When he kidnaps Rogue (Anna Paquin) from the X-Men's compound, Xavier and his forces must rescue her, even as they continue to vie with Magneto for the fearsomely strong mutant battler Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Both Xavier and Magneto also have to contend with Senator Kelly (Bruce Davison), a heartless political leader who wants a final solution against mutants on both sides. Fighting for the forces of virtue with the X-Men are Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, Halle Berry as Storm, and James Marsden as Cyclops; Rebecca Romjin-Stamos as Mystique, Ray Park as the Toad, and Tyler Mane as Sabretooth are the minions of Magneto. Mark Deming

Product Details

• UPC: 024543575283
• Source: 20TH CENTURY FOX
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound, Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Subtitled, Dubbed
• Time: 1:44:00
• Sales Rank: 28,369

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• X-Men Trilogy Pack
• The Ultimate Heroes Collection
• Marvel Heroes Collection

Features: