An Unfair Evaluation: Why the First X-Men Movie Was Not So Bad

The First X-Men Movie: A Well-Scripted and Cast

Often criticized, the first X-Men film has unfairly been deemed a failure. Indeed, it was a pilot, an experiment to gauge audience interest in the film series. Yet, the movie was well-written and featured a stellar cast that would go on to star in many X-Men films over the next two decades. Its shortcomings, while noticeable, were primarily due to budget constraints, a subject we'll explore in depth.

Grounded and Practical: Challenges of Budget

The first X-Men film is often criticized for being very grounded with no flight or big aerial fight sequences. Given the budget limitations, this approach was a practical choice, but it certainly set a tone that would later be refined. For instance, the film included some ropey CGI, a clear sign of the times, but it's important to recognize that this was a common issue across many films of the era.

The black leather uniforms worn by the characters, while iconic, are now seen as subpar by contemporary standards. The actors themselves struggled with the uniforms, as they couldn't even fake a jump to look like they were climbing a wall in them. Additionally, the final battle's "bad glowy light" was underwhelming. However, these issues were undoubtedly improved upon in Bryan Singer's sequel, X2, which turned out to be one of the best superhero movies ever made.

Casting and Character Development

Despite the technical and budgetary challenges, the film's cast was exceptional. Key characters, such as Mystique and Rogue, required careful handling. Mystique's portrayal in the film never reflected the comic book origin of the character, where she would never appear nude unless she was naked. This is a significant departure that affected the character's image and the movie's narrative.

Rogue, similarly, was underutilized in the film. The character's strength and invulnerability were attributed to a different character in the comics: Ms. Marvel, Carol Danvers, instead of Rogue. This led to an underwhelming and unrealistic portrayal, particularly considering that Rogue needed to demonstrate her physical prowess and power even closer to the beginning of the film.

The choice of Iceman, Bobby Drake, as a romantic lead for Rogue was another point of contention. The character's portrayal as a joke and general punchline detracted from the narrative and the character's potential development. However, the filmmakers managed to assemble a successful superhero movie, which paved the way for the success of Spider-Man, Daredevil, Ghost Rider, and Elektra.

Conclusion: A Turning Point in X-Men Cinematic History

The first X-Men film may have been a pilot, but it wasn't without its merits. It brought together a cast that would later become iconic and set the groundwork for the X-Men franchise. While it had its flaws, particularly in character development and budget limitations, it was a pivotal stepping stone for the series. The improvements in X2 and subsequent films demonstrate the growth and evolution of the X-Men franchise, much like the journey of the characters themselves.

Keywords: X-Men movie, first X-Men film, X2