X-Men

X-Men - ***1/2

Comic book movies have completely saved the high budget movie genre. Combine a kick ass cast (Anna Paquin, Halle Berry, Ian Mackellen, Hugh Jackman) with a daring director and a little bit of money, and a movie can be wholly entertaining. I think what really succeeds about the movie is that it doesn't try to follow the comic too closely. Courage to challenge the comic traditions is why this movie, the following sequel and the Spiderman movies all suceeded. Thumbs up.