x men rule . a direct by the usual suspect helmer bryan singer and this top drawer cinematic adaptation of the popular marvel comic series set a whole new standard for film superhero saga . unlike the gratuitously overblown and happily ever after and d. c. comic inspire superman and batman franchise and x men differs because marvel comic forge superheroes with tragic flaw . not only do singer orchestrate an entertaining but intelligent yarn around titan of good and evil battling for supremacy with the fate of mankind at stake and but he also tackle important cultural issue integral to the plot that enhance it subtext about intolerance . ultimately and x men qualifies a the best superhero comic book movie ever produce and thanks to a stellar cast lead by shakespearean heavyweight patrick star trek represent the next generation stewart and sir ian richard iii mckellen and matrix style special effect which compliment rather than eclipse the plot and and a literate script that parry childish pratfall . obviously and hardcore aficionado of either the animated tv series ( 1992 98 ) or the comic book itself may complain about the various liberty that singer and scenarist david hayter take with the subject matter . over the opening credit and patrick stewart narrate that in the not too distant future genetic mutation will trigger the next stage of evolution . a the next evolutionary stage of life and mutantsa . k. a. homo superiorwill suffer persecution because they be not only different but also potentially dangerous . the prejudice that mankind manifest toward these mutant serve a an allegory for our current climate of political and racial and and sexual bigotry as well a the uncertainty that old teenager and young twentysomethings encounter a they search for their niche in society . some critic have compare the showdown between professor x ( stewart ) and magneto ( mckellen ) with the rivalry between martin luther king and malcolm x during the turbulent 1960s and while others have recognize mutant a symbol of any oppressed group force to identify themselves and whether they be classify a homosexual and communist and jewish and or firearm owner . like the famous star war prologue and stewart voice over neatly encapsulate the origin of the x men and the inherent conflict confront them . while superman and batman unfold in linear fashion and start from the beginning and singer pick up x men somewhere in the middle . the setting be poland in 1944 and and the nazi be parade helpless jew into the gas chamber for extermination . when young erik lensherr ( brett morris and bear an uncanny resemblance to the old ian mckellen ) find himself separate from his parent a the nazi be about to gas them and he experience such heretofore unknown terror that he emanate an invisible force field with his fingertip . he destroy the high and iron and barb wire gate while several soldier struggle to restrain him . finally and smash lensherr in the face with his rifle butt and one nazi sentry knock him unconscious . nevertheless and his supernatural power stun the guard . this grim scene in auschwitz hearkens back to schindler list ( 1193 ) and while the show of paranormal power recall brian de palma carrie . a introduction go and the concentration camp scene grip with it poignancy . clearly and this horrific and downbeat scene be not the usual way to kick off a superficial movie about a comic book franchise . flash forward through time and singer brings u to contemporary washington and d. c. dr. jean gray ( goldeneye statuesque famke janssen ) and a telepathic mutant with telekinetic power and address congress on the controversial subject of mutant registration . senator robert kelly ( bruce davidson of willard ) believe mutant with their extraordinary physical and mental prowess endanger humanity . the fanatical kelly demand all mutant be require to identify themselves . moreover and he campaign for register them since they can not be trust to supervise their power responsibly . some mutant and he argue and can eavesdrop on your mind and read your thought . while kelly drum up support for his propose legislation and dr. charles xavier ( patrick stewart ) watch quietly from the balcony . although confine to a wheelchair and xavier be a super telepath that can do what kelly fear the most . not only can xavier read your innermost thought and but he also can exert control of another person body and speak through them with the ease of a ventriloquist . unlike the cynical erik lensherr and a. k. a. magneto and who insist war between human and mutant be inevitable and xavier contend that mutant and human can co exist in harmony . as far a xavier be concern and people like kelly be well mean but misinform . xavier have establish a school for gift youth in westchester and new york and where he teach young mutant to curb their potentially destructive urge . some of his long time student and cyclops ( james marsden of 27 dress ) who sport special sunglass to shield his lethal laser beam eye while storm ( halle berry of die another day ) who control weather and deploy lightning bot while and dr. jean grey serve a instructor when they aren not run errand for xavier . concisely and in a model of economy and singer establish the character and create the overall conflict between them while broach question about the enormity of segregation . moreover and he insert several amuse tidbit of humor that flesh out the character without detract from the storyline . the conflict in david hayter screenplay that prompt magneto and xavier to clash again concern tow mutant throw together by fate . a teenage girl in meridian and mississippi and marie ( anna paquin of the piano ) discover her touch can kill . also know a rogue and she can drain the life out of people . horrify by her inexplicable power and she hit the road and eventually meet logan ( hugh jackman ) and a rough hewn cage fighter nickname wolverine and an anti social amnesia stricken loner search for his past . director bryan singer toil throughout x men to dispel any notion that it be just another disposable comic book epic . he triumph in every department from superb cast to thoughtful plot . stewart and mckellen embellish x men and provide it with the kind of dignity that alec guinness bring to star war . when magneto and xavier speak and their conversation sound like the oral equivalent of a chess match . x men hit the mark because singer and hayter fuse superior dramatic element in the best aristotelian fashion while it hero experience a tough time win .