Left to right: Wolverine, Cyclops, Professor Xavier, Storm and Jean Grey
X-Men
(12) 104 mins will will il-
Frankly this summer’s blockbuster movies have sucked. Until now: behold the X-men.
With. earnings from the Batman and Superman ‘i'm franchzses banked, Marve‘ Comics have been sorely laggng behind the” rival publisherr DC Com'cs. But th s blockbuster adaptation of Marvels most popular superhero title looks set to change that.
Tne secret ot' the human genOme may have been d:sco»ered, but in the near ‘uture a genet c 'X-‘acto"' poses a new threat to the Amer-can way of
It's a difficult balance, satisfying the fans without alienating those unfamiliar with the comic
book. X-Men pulls it off.
life. McCarthy- <e US. Senator Robert Ke fy lBruce Dav soni Stirs up hatred against the mutant popu'aton, those indiv:dua|s endowed With superhuman aD‘lerS at birth. Kelly's actions bring two 0‘ the most power‘ul mutants into cont':ct w tr‘ each other: Magneto (Ian McKeileni, master of magnetism. and a Holocaust surVivor who wall not stop at mass murder to protect his own kno, and Protessor Xavier lPatricc Stewart:, a te'epath who seeks peaceful co- ex:stence wzth humankind. To further ther ends the two 0 d foes empIOy rival tearhs Ot’ mutants, the Brotherhood and the X-lvlen, -n a
deadly game of chess.
There’s a great Joke about halfway thrOugh X-lvlen: reluctant new recrwt Wolverine moans about havmg to wear 'eather combat armour; tearh veteran Cyclops enquires whether he'd be happier in yellow spandex (Wolverines costume in the comic). But that -n-iol<e for fans also works as a Signal to non-readers not to take th:s action movre too seriously. It's a difficult balance, satisfyrng the fans wtnout alienating those unfamiliar with the comic book. X-Men pulls it of‘.
The f'lm also cannin combines the comics flrst plotline With a mix of new and old characters. That mix allows for the sketchng in of much the team’s history (the comics been running since 1963), which is as convoluted as any long-running soap opera. Of the varlous mutants Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) comes off best, and it's through this wildcard loner that we are Introduced to the X-Men. If the rest of the cast are somewhat glossed over, fellow thesps McKellen and Stewart supply Suitably JUICy performances in Keeping with the comics emphasis on character. Speedy oacmg, a relatively br.ef running time, the redui5ite .mprESS've set and costume design and imaginativer staged action set pieces orovrde the glamour and thrills. Add to that a smart script full of Witty dialogue and a message abOut race prejudice that's not overplayed, and you've got this Summer's best blockbuster. lMiles Fielder)
new releases FILM
‘ UGUST/SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
7PM TUESDAY 22ND AUGUST
TARIO ALI
Wi‘iltn (lll(l lilinintiluri, ltiiiq /\li, will lit: (list iiSS‘iiiti liis iitrw “()th
IPM THURSDAY 24TH AUGUST
IAIN M BAN KS
will l)() Signing (0})IUS ()l llI() lUIOSl (,iilluu: novrrl
l]:QQK.-IQ__.WINDWABQ 7PM TUESDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER
R A SALAVATO RE
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(lll(l (H)(ll()l ol llIO smitrs
[STAR WARS NEW JEDI'ORDTE—RI
10% discount on all SF/F books at this event
' 7PM WEDNESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER
KELSANG THARCHIN —- BUDDHIST MONK
will In: (liSt USSIIHJ lllC
l EIGHT STEPS To HAPPINESS] 7PM THURSDAY QIST SEPTEMBER
ANDREW GREIG
will be (llS( ussrng liis l(ll()$l novel, sol (igniiisl Ilit: l)(l( lulrop ()I ll“! litilllt} ()l liiiltiiii
[THAT SUMMER] 7PM TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER
JEANETTE WINTERSON
Oranges (rm N0! llN.‘ Only llllll (iiiIlior will In: (liSt iiSSiiig lICl new novel
TPOWERBOOKI 7PM WEDNESDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER
BARBARA WINDSOR
Britain's best-loved (itglross will he in (onversnlion (ll)OUl liOl lilo. (ind w0rk. Tit kols ()lI S(ll(‘: (ll Borders.
FORTHCOMING HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER - 11 Sep Launch - Nigella Lawson, Willy Russell NOVEMBER - Christopher Whyte, Gay Times Short Stories, Terry Pratchett, Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson)
BORDERS"
98 BUCHANAN STREET, GLASGOW GI 38A TEL: 014] 222 7700 80m to I lpm, Monday to Saturday, lOam Io 9pm Sunday www.border'sstorcs.com/sloreS/283
17-24Aug 2000 THELIST 15