While growing up I collected comic books as voraciously as I now collect DVDs. This was long ago and at that time there was a kind of renaissance... a flailing title of Marvel Comics (those that brought us Spiderman, The Hulk, Captain America etc.) called 'The X-Men' had a 'rebirth' at issue # 94... a copy I thankfully still own (its worth exceeds $100.00). It was transformed into The NEW X-Men... and the comic book industry would never be the same again. Presently just the spin-offs of 'mutant' variations initialized by issue number 94 now exceeds the entire output of the competition; DC Comics (Superman. Batman, The Flash etc.). About 10 years ago I tried to explain the importance of The New X-Men to some non-comic fan friends. I described it as "the Shakespeare of comicdom' and detailed the subtle, but important sub-themes. I don't know if I got through to them at the time... but I did prophecy how this phenomenon would continue to expand.

The original X-Men movie was well made, but perhaps its major flaw was its foreshadowing of a sequel. It was as if it was made solely with one in mind, and that detracted from the plot. However, the 2nd film 'X2' is one of the most enjoyable films I have seen all year. It encapsulated the important themes of the original Claremont/Byrne stories much better than the recent 'Hulk', 'Daredevil' or 'Spiderman' films, all three of which were pleasant ways to pass the time. X2 is in a totally different league. This is not due to the direction or acting... but the story and its central themes.

X2 once again unites characters who are both heroic and still very human... very imperfect at times. This is their major appeal. We share human emotional experience with them. They come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds and their prevalent battle is with societies lack of tolerance to their misunderstood minority. I've heard comparisons to homosexual expression, but I think it has meaning even beyond that. The human species are represented as having an opportunity to 'unite' or 'conflict'. This is entirely based on our tolerance. What does it mean to be tolerant? It starts with respecting one another's culture, religious beliefs and manner of existence without fearing it as a threat to your own. Tolerance means acceptance towards indulgence of beliefs or practices unique to, and possibly outside, your own vision. Tolerance is the key weapon in the battle with narrow-mindedness, prejudice, dogmatism and bigotry. In X2 it is represented in the guise of wonderfully created fantasy heroes who are self-described as "MUTANTS". Their conflict is in coping with their unique capabilities and also with societies judgment of them as a group.

Only one change I would have made in the film X2; when Scott Summers (Cyclops) vows his love to Jean Grey, her reply should have been "... and I you Scott, with all my heart". Other than that this was a fantastic film. It kept its violence to a minimum and it was as action packed a film as I can remember. The plot was complex enough to allow multiple re-viewings. The whole thing was steeped in suspense, love, desire, expressed faith, unrequited passion and the power of the human spirit while maintaining its comic feel with boyhood fantasy and heroic adventure at its core. What a marvelous ride! out of

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