X-Men 1.5 Extreme Edition [2000]

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Although the superhero comic book has been a duopoly since the early 1960s, only DC's flagship characters, Superman and Batman (who originated in the late 1930s), have established themselves as big-screen franchises. Until now--this is the first runaway hit film version of the alternative superhero X-Men universe created for Marvel Comics by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and others. It's a rare comic-book movie that doesn't fall over its cape introducing all the characters, and this is the exception. X-Men drops us into a world that is closer to our own than Batman's Gotham City, but it's still home to super-powered goodies and baddies.

Opening in high seriousness with paranormal activity in a WW2 concentration camp and a senatorial inquiry into the growing "mutant problem", Bryan Singer's film sets up a complex background with economy and establishes vivid, strange characters well before we get to the fun. There's Halle Berry flying and summoning snowstorms, James Marsden zapping people with his "optic beams", Rebecca Romijn-Stamos shape-shifting her blue naked form and Ray Park lashing out with his Toad-tongue.

The big conflict is between Patrick Stewart's Professor X and Ian McKellen's Magneto, super-powerful mutants who disagree about their relationship with ordinary humans, but the characters we're meant to identify with are Hugh Jackman's Wolverine and Anna Paquin's Rogue. There are in-jokes enough to keep comics fans engaged, but it feels more like a science-fiction movie than a superhero picture. --Kim Newman

On the DVD: X-Men 1.5's two-disc set offers little more than the original X-Men release. The six extended scenes which can be incorporated into the feature on Disc 1 were already available on the initial DVD version (though they're cleaned up a bit here), and when played within the film's original cut they seem disjointed and tacked on, adding very little to the overall story.

Disc 2, meanwhile, will have little appeal to any but the most diehard of fans. The X-Men 2 Sneak Peak, the X-Men 2 trailer, the Daredevil trailer and the Activision Wolverine's Revenge trailer are little more than adverts. The four-part documentary, meanwhile, is impressively interactive (with multi-angle segments and two play modes), but unfortunately it's also a bit dull and self-congratulatory. --Robert Burrow

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Customer reviews

review by: Wildstar date: 2008-08-22 rating:
"What do they call you? Wheels?"
Being a long-term fan of the X-Men comics, I greeted the news of an X-Men movie with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. With the possible exception of the Superman movies, superheros hadn't exactly been portrayed in a positive light. I was most concerned for Wolverine, the team's feisty Canadian bruiser. He is my favourite character and I was desperate that he should be portrayed right, but knew of no actor who would be able to pull it off.

By coincidence, the first photo I saw from the new movie was of Wolverine, battling on a train. I was astounded, everything seemed to be in place - the trademark upswept hairstyle, the claws, even the leather jacket. Things began to look up!

But I digress! For those of you who have not seen the film, here is a brief plot synopsis.
Humanity is starting to evolve, producing individuals with amazing powers and abilities. These individuals are split into two main groups - the X-Men, led by Professor Xavier, who believe that humans and mutants can live together peacefully, and the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Erik Lensherr aka Magneto, who want to rule humankind. Magneto is willing to go to any lengths to achieve his aim and therein lies the problem ....

This is an extremely intelligent and well thought out movie - not the usual fluff and nonsense superhero outing we have previously been subjected to. The movie begins with the young Magneto's parents being herded into the Nazi gas chambers and explains why he is so determined that mutants will not go down the same road, despised as they are by normal humankind. Xavier's solution is a school, where mutants can be taught how to use their powers safely for the good of all humanity, while at the same time providing a safe haven from the outside world.

These two characters, Xavier and Magneto, are played by two heavyweights of stage and screen, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan, and their casting is nothing short of inspired. Both bring a wealth of talent and integrity to their roles. In fact, most of the casting is spot on. Special mention must go to Hugh Jackman, who is a positive revelation as Wolverine. Of course, he's a little taller than his comic-book counterpart, but this can be forgiven in the light of his excellent performance. Unfortunately, Hallie Berry doesn't fare quite so well as Storm, and is grossly miscast. Whoever thought she would be perfect as the majestic windrider was woefully misinformed.

However, this is just a minor quibble for a movie that singlehandedly revived the superhero franchise, and paved the way for such blockbusters as Iron Man and the excellent Batman re-imaginings. Love 'em or hate 'em, the superhero movie is here to stay!

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review by: s.vernon date: 2007-08-07 rating:
ONE OF THE BETTER COMIC ADAPTIONS
Adapted from the most popular comic book on the planet and starring two Shakespearian actors, a virtually unknown Australian and directed by a man better known for a dark, edgy crime thriller, this really shouldn't be good, but it is. In fact it is fantastic. From beginning to end Bryan Singer makes what has to be one of the best comic book adaptations to hit the screen in years, perhaps the finest since Tim Burton brought Batman to the screen in 1989. What works so well here are the factors that should bring the film crashing down. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is fantastic, showing what a great star he could make. His perfect American accent and the wonderful dark edge, mixed in with humor and sincerity for Rogue make him the most perfect choice for the character.

In fact casting here is perfect, which is a miracle for a comic book that is not made up of one primary superhero like Superman, Batman and Spiderman are. X-Men is an ensemble and Singer casts actors perfectly in their parts. Patrick Stewart is undeniably the only actor who could play Professor X, likewise Ian McKellen as Magneto. Anna Paquin shows what a talent she can be in her more older years as Marie/Rogue, while Famke Janssen adds the glamorous as Doctor Jean Grey. The remaining X Men characters of Scott/Cyclops and Monroe/Storm are played well enough by James Marsden and Halle Berry, but don't really get a chance to shine in the same way as the others do, mainly due to the fact that the script has to accommodate so many characters, but that's why this film works so well. Singer and writer David Hayter have saw fit not to bombard the film with action sequences and flashy special effects, they let the characters come to life, have the audience care for them and when they have done that, then they bring out the action in the shape of the Statue of Liberty finale.

As the first part of a movie series, X-Men works a wonderful treat. The script is strong, the acting is first class and Bryan Singer's direction of the actors is fantastic as are his visual touches, which are very similar to comic book framing. Actors are film to one side of the frame while the remainder is taken up with the background. Touches like this show what a great director he is visually. Even better the action is brilliantly handled. The Liberty finale features a storming fight sequence between Logan and shape-shifter Mistique, who has taken the form of Logan himself. It is a fun sequence that is also gripping.

Scarcely a foot is put wrong in this superb film which ranks as one of my favorite comic book adaptations.

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review by: ditzymama date: 2005-08-20 rating:
Only because it's so similar
Well, I guess I don't quite make the grade as a true X-fan since I can't see that much difference between X-Men and X-Men 1.5. It's getting four stars because it's so similar to the first film, which I enjoyed very much indeed. Would I choose X-Men over 1.5? Only if it came with X-Men 2 in a special DVD pack with a special price. But as I've bought X-Men and X-Men 2 already... Rent it but don't buy it unless you really, really want to buy a DVD, have the money, and don't have another DVD which you'd like to buy. But there are other films out there, folks. And X-Men 3's coming out next summer.

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review by: abioyeo date: 2003-07-11 rating:
A must for all X-Fans
If you are a fan of the X-Men,there is no way you can miss out on this DVD. The second disc contains over 5 hours of extra features including hilarious scenes with the cast massing up scenes and falling over. If you are not a big fan of the comics or films, then I advise you buy the one disc edition. However if you are an X-fan you have no business not owning this.

Some major disappointments include the absence of the two easter eggs from the first disc and the complete lack of acknowledgement of the comic book source material. There are few references to the comic and not a single frame includes that the Marvel comics sign or a picture from the comic.


review by: date: 2003-05-17 rating:
Not the best value for money !!!
Xmen in my opinion was and still is a good film for all the family. However the Xmen 1.5 DVD seriously lacks good features and in some places just plain boring. My opinion is to wait till Xmen 2 is released on DVD in the future. There seems to be a lot more action in this sequal.

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Similar products

X Men 2 [2003]
X-Men 3: The Last Stand [2 Disc Edition] [2006]
Spider-Man 3 [Blu-ray] [2007]
Hulk [2003]
Spider-Man [2002]

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Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . All Action & Adventure
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . DVD
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . 15
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Region(feature_browse-bin) . Region 2
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 2000 and later
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English

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Accessories

X-Men 2: Wolverine's Revenge (Xbox)
X-Men 2: Wolverine's Revenge (PS2)
X-Men 2: Wolverine's Revenge (GameCube)
X-Men 2: Wolverine's Revenge (PC)

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