@@lilpenny1982 Rebecca Romijn was on Ugly Betty, The Librarians, and more recently, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. So it isn't like she hasn't been hard up for work. She was also the title character on the short-lived WB show Pepper Dennis, during that network's final days.
@@lilpenny1982 I think that I said before that had Tim Burton made his Batman movie maybe 10 years later, then Rebecca Romijn is who I would first imagine playing Vicki Vale.
This is the very first review of yours that completely hits home on nostalgia for me. I had everything with X-Men the movie: I felt the hype, I had the trading cards, the figures, the statue of liberty head, the video cassette. I can't believe I'm watching Oliver Harper do a 20 year retrospective on a film that feels so personal.
I remember getting on the school computers to find any little nugget of news about this movie. Man I wish I could find some of those old pics leaked from back then.
Man, this made me so nostalgic. This movie came out after my Freshmen year in college. I really miss those early 2000s superhero movies, when they were trying to find their footing. They really got me into comics for a while too, especially the Ultimate line (X-Men, Spider-man, Ultimates). Good times...
@@thievingcthulhu8632 I always find that even more incredible to wrap my head around, as an early 80's baby anyways. Like I am currently roofing with a guy who was born when I graduated High School. Craziness
@@OliverHarper sometimes I wonder what would the CGI effects would've looked like, had the guys from Industrial Light-&-Magic had worked on this franchise. the closest this came was in "X-Men: Apocalypse", as the visual effects supervisor, John Dykstra, had not only worked on the film, but was one of the original founders of ILM.
Having Terence Stamp play Magneto would’ve been interesting. Could you imagine a scene of extended dialogue between him and Patrick Stewart. How amazing would that be?
"I could break you, Charles...in two pieces, over my knee. My followers could outnumber your pupils six times over....I could take the metal out of your chair, just to burn your arse!"
@@johnashton4776 So true. I remember that at the time people were making casting suggestions online, his name came up often. He would have been perfect in the role.
I remember an audible gasp! from my theater audience when Logan stabbed Rogue. This movie really clicked for people at the time. I love X-Men, warts and all, but I'm a particular big fan of the first 15 minutes or so. (The concentration camp, the Senate hearing, Wolverine's introduction) For 80s and 90s kids who waited their whole lives to see an X-Men movie, those opening scenes were special. It felt so realistic!
I still remmeber my theather experience with this as well. It's funny to think back to the humble origins of the comic book film craze (Marvel specifically - I know Batman, Superman, whatever, but Xmen really sparked the crazy pivot in Hollywood to just snap up and put out comic IP left and right).
I saw it in theaters like 10 times that summer it came out. Loved it. Hugh Jackman was like Harrison Ford as Han Solo. Immediately owned the Wolverine part before he even said a word.
We pretty much have Solid Snake to thank for the output of superhero movies for the past 22 years. This movie was such a watershed moment that, without it, superhero movies would have fizzled out entirely because of Batman and Robin wetting the bed.
Hugh Jackman was a last minute replacement for Logan/Wolverine as original actor Dougray Scott had to drop out due to MI2 overrunning. So Jackman really owes his career defining role to Scott.
@@fielalmanga, we can also thank Tom Cruise for the Snyder cut of Justice League. If Cavill had cut his mustache for reshoots, there wouldn’t have been a glaring problem with his scenes that set the bad publicity in motion that caused the movie to flop.
Jeez i can't believe its been 20 years now. Gladiator, Shaft, U571, Scary Movie, Shanghai Noon and MI2 were that year as well. :') Great coverage as usual Oliver
What are you talking about?? The only worthwhile movie in your list are Gladiator. Shaft is forgettable, U571 was nice but nothing special, Scary Movie was dumb and had lots of dumb milked out sequals and MI2 is kinda considered the dumbest of the series.
@@flybeep1661 well i don't think those movies are horrible, but if you don't like those memento, requiem for a dream, batman beyond return of the joker, unbreakable and american psycho came out as well.
I think any complaints of this movie being a bit underwhelming are valid, but I do love it for pretty much all the reasons Oliver listed. It respected the source material and cared about the characters, giving just as much depth to the villains as the heroes (if not more). X2 will always be my favorite but this is a close second
I think it was a very much 'hold your hand' back in to the superhero franchise after the terrible damage Batman & Robin did. If this succeeds then it will expand and become more larger in scale. Love X2 to this day especially that Phoenix end scene which got me massively hyped for X3. Alas it ended in disappointment. I'll always hold a grudge against Superman returns for that 😂
I'll never forget how amazing it was going to see this in the theater when I was a a kid. My 10-year-old mind was blown. I still love this movie to this day. It's in my top 3 X-Men films of all time.
I don’t know what it is about your videos but they’re so engaging. Your delivery is brilliant despite the fact that you speak ordinarily yet informatively. It’s a great channel and you should be proud of your work.
I still remember seeing this in the cinema and was so blown away at the time. It has since settled down for me and not as explosive as when I first saw it. But I thought Hugh Jackman was great from the first moment. Back in the 90s me and my brother argued who would play what. Patrick Stewart was always gonna play Xavier. I thought Brad Pit (Pre Seven or Fight Club) would have been good as Cyclops. Can't remember who else we picked. I think Dolph Lungdren as Collosus. No one came to mind for Wolverine. But this was the rare instance where once I saw the cartoon, I wanted a live action movie.
Mel Gibson would’ve been a great Wolverine. In a perfect world, a Bad Lieutenant era Harvey Kietel would’ve been the ideal Logan. But neither would have taken it. Temura Morrison would’ve been good. All would’ve been better than a 6’3 pretty boy with no edge or grit.
Hugh jackman was a great actor but was too much of a traditional leading man to be the perfect choice for wolverine plus his cockiness was too subtle in the comics he’s short and bulky and super hairy not particularly the traditional stud
@@arthurrimbaud7287 I got my reboot cast. However we would have to go back and pretend the first film comes out in 1987 Cyclops: Dennis Quaid Jean grey : Linda Hamilton Professor X: Ben Kingsley Ice man: Corey Haim Angel: Steve Gutenberg Beast: Jeff Goldblum Magneto: rugter hauer Pyro: Paul Hogan Toad: the guy who played evil in fright night. Senator Kelly: Roy shrieder Stryker: R. Lee. Ermy. The second film 1989, is where we bring wolverine in and he’s a secondary character. Played by Fred Ward. Sabretooth played by Clancy brown Mr sinister player by Chris Sarandon Apocalypse: Michael ironside
@@GringoXalapeno Exactly. I like Jackman, but he's too nice to be Wolverine. Good actor, but no edge. Wolverine's the type of character that the actor playing him should be a little bit like. The best James Bonds are a little like James Bond. Swagger, charm, etc. etc... Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Russell Crowe...I'm not saying that all of these guys could've been Wolverine, but that's the type of guy Wolverine's always been in the comics.
I have a tremendous amount of loving nostalgia for this movie. I think 21 years later it's a solid movie with plenty of great moments. While there would be superior follow ups, (X2: X-Men United, and X-Men: Days of Future Past), this movie is important entry into the comic book/superhero movie genre.
Favourite parts: George Buza’s cameo (a.k.a. Hank McCoy/Beast in the X-Men 1990s cartoon) as the truck driver that helps Rogue, the Wolverine/Cyclops banter at the end: “You’re a dick!” “Okay.”
Way TOO premature. A movie like the first X-Men has sinked into the public consciousness enough for people to really give a subjective view on it over the years.
29:19 Sadly it ended becoming a re-occuring issue in the Fox X-men franchise were outside of a few core people (Ex. Logan, Xavier, Magneto), the characters were largely defined by their powers and not their personalities. I feel like the series never quite mastered the art of balancing multiple characters at once, relegating many to short scenes that just exist to showcase their powers.
Joss Whedon’s script got mostly scrapped, they kept the toad struck by lighting line though for some reason. (Not defending either of the people you mentioned though lol)
I can still remember the day my dad and me watched this movie on DVD, when it was in that cool sleek case. It still may be my favorite one. And I have no clue why, but growing up, I thought Matt Damon was Cyclops.
24:44 I'm surprised the animated series theme hasn't been used yet. Even as just a credits song, or some orchestral version. Seems like really easy fan service. And it isn't like the song is bad and would only be appreciated by old fans. I didn't even really watch that much xmen and know its a badass theme.
Man that hit a wave of nostalgia in this. I remember when I was young I had a huge crush on Halle berry with her suit with that silver Cape. Cat believe it has been 20 years!
Your conclusion was spot on. While now, the movie seems really underwhelming after 2 decades of other super hero movies being big and huge, something so subdued seems weird, but without this movie being the success it was, Spider-Man doesn't quite have that hype behind it, WB is maybe less inclined to revisit Batman, and Marvel is arguably unable to get the MCU off the ground. X-Men really did pave the way and for that reason alone, it should never ever be overlooked.
X-Men walked so the rest of superhero movies could run. The things done in X-Men are common in movies now. Director known for indie drama given the reigns of a huge franchise, the feel that this could take place in the real world, the seriousness given to the comic backstory, all were established in this movie. I remember when this movie first came out. It didn't feel like a big blockbuster. It just felt, cool.
Rogue didn't accidentally use her powers on Wolverine. He had a nightmare and clawed her in the stomach. She took his healing ability but, it took too much if I recall correctly.
Wow, I didn't know we almost had Sir Christopher Lee as Magneto, while I think Ian was definitely the right choice due to his real life friendship with Patrick Stewart that you can feel in their performance, I do wonder what Lee would have done with the role too.
I was living in rural Sweden for a summer holiday and like many 90s lads was really looking forward to this film. I rode a bicycle several kilometres to the nearest town with a cinema and made an evening of it. I thought it was OK... Then I booked it back. The bicycle ride in the fading sunlight along winding roads felt much more exciting. Still, X-men was a fine effort, and launched H. Jackman's and his physique's respective careers. Never understood why Famke Jansen's career didn't rocket, as she had the look and good talent.
I've never understood the hate for Storms line to Toad. Admittedly I was a young human when I first saw the film, but to this day I find it fine and a little funny. It's blunt and a statement of fact, but it also softened the fact that she killed a guy which is the job of a pre-homicide one liner. Realistically what else was she going to say? Storm in the film wasn't super jokey, more earnest. She didn't grow up in the US, probably saw a few Schwarzenegger movies and thought that's how all Americans murder. I'd like to see any of y'all come up with a better toad/lightning line on the spot under the stress of stopping a super-villain and having just narrowly survived a life or death fight. I'd have probably just said "Sorry dude!"
So many films tried to get that Matrix-y feel. Really gives the early 2000s a specific style. Even my friends and I tried to get away with long leather jackets and shades. We did not pull it off.
X-Men looking back, kind of strikes me as a superhero movie that's sort ashamed that it was based on a comic book. Admittedly, this was not too long after Batman & Robin and well before the start of the MCU and even Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man movie. So there was a general worry of being too "colorful" or campy.
In my opinion, and everybody I know, this movie was absolutely amazing. We loved everything about it at the time. Even the black leathersuits😉 Watching it 22 years later, it holds up incredibly well. An absolute masterpiece. I’ll take the X-men trilogy over anything Marvel since Ironman.
I remember interviews with Ian M where he said he enjoyed working with her. She would require hours of makeup so they used the time to rehearse together. The fact he is not interested in women at all seemed to help since she had to be naked during the makeup process.
Idk man the score for this movie was brilliant. Definitely evokes something in me. Feels like the primordial birth of mainstream superhero films. Those sweeping high strings *chefs kiss*
Famke Janssen incidentally, worked with Patrick Stewart at least once before X-Men. She guest starred on Star Trek: The Next Generation in an episode from the fifth season entitled "The Perfect Mate".
When I was growing up The X-Men movies and cartoon is one of the things that gave me my love of superheroes. With Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan they play the parts perfectly. Jean-Luc Picard and Gandalf who couldn't love this movie. Hugh Jackman also portrayed Logan so well I had no idea he was Australian till I was 7. Halle Berry also plays storm so perfect its like she was born for the role. The special effects are mind blowing at least for the time they were made. This isn't a perfect movie or adaptation but it changed the movie industry and showed mainstream audiences that superheros aren't just for kids but the writing is just as good and adaptable as a novel. Without this movie the Marvel cinematic universe wouldn't exist. Also Roger Ebert should have laid off the fatty foods
Patrick Stewart always seemed like he was born to play Charles Xavier, much like how Robert Downey Jr. was destined to become Tony Stark, J.K. Simmons was destined to become J. Jonah Jameson, Christopher Reeve was destined to become Superman, or Ryan Reynolds was destined to play Deadpool. I mean, he pretty much already built up his career playing a strong, thoughtful, dignified leader on Star Trek.
More than any other superhero fulm, to me this one is the one that really kicked off and signifies the start of the current 20 years trend of superhero films... To me this one is the one that really got it going and kicked off a new era of these films..
I think that, given the budgetary constraints and a director at the time inexperienced in the blockbuster CGI arena, the first X-Men movie is actually pretty good. Surely, it could be more spectacular or grandiose, but I believe it is the movie that we neeeded at that time: Restrained, with more focus on character and world-building, and almost completely without a whiff of Batman & Robin's campiness. It had to be this way, otherwise the comic-book movie as a subgenre would die for sure, at least for a very long time. I certainly like it better than later entries in the franchise, who were more colorful and had more action and nods to the comics.
I think people often overstate this movie's influence on superhero movies becoming popular. Sam Raimi's Spider-Man was already in production, so it would have come out even if this had flopped or something, and you can trace far more of its DNA from today's superhero movies than X-Men's.
Can't say I agree, X-Men was the first mainstream comic book property since Batman to be adapted and had it failed it audiences might not have cared for another comic book movie afterward. Spider-Man might be more faithful, but was definitely just a natural successor to X-Men more than the film that defined the current comic book era. Without X-Men I doubt we'd be here today with Marvel dominating the BO, Spider-Man helped it along immensely though.
I think blade x men and Spider-Man All comtribued of starting the comic book genre it was more x men that started the comic book genre but that movie was ashamed of its comic book routes but Spider-Man inbrased its routes it looked like a comic. Spider-Man broke box office records and he had the most popularly it marvel box office gold changed everything for superhero’s films
7:32 I totally heard this wrong. "...had been given a number of back issues by a member of the staff." For a minute I was like, "how did this guy injure her back and what does this have to do with anything?"
I really love and appreciate your style to these retrospectives. It’s perfect for someone like me who watches a lot of older movies and really enjoys them even if they weren’t necessarily great movies. I loved this movie but in general I think there are so many movies out there that are valuable just from a history of filmmaking perspective. It’s also great to celebrate to product of something so many people worked so hard on. Keep up the great work!
i remember seeing this back when it first came out. I was 23 ...i remember loving it because it was the first decent popular super hero movie... im not discounting blade he just wasnt super known.... i revisited it about 10 years later .... wooo it didnt age well at all neither did 2... to be honest i liked 2 but i never got the love for it
I saw this movie when it premiered in America on July 14, 2000. I was 13 and this movie blew me away. Easily one of the greatest superhero films ever made.
Thank you for this. I started reading X-Men when I was a early teenager in the 80's and was very happy to see them treated with respect. It wasn't a perfect movie, but far better than any other superhero movie we had been given by the time it was released, even Blade in my opinion.
This movie also helped changed the direction of the x men comics in the 2000s were going and pretty much took what the movie did expanded on it:new x men and ultimate x men.
I honestly have no clue to this day why Bryan Singer is considered such an awesome director. He's the definition of bland and vanilla. Aside from The Usual Suspects and two out of the four X-Men films he's directed, the guy's done very little that's actually worth watching.
X1,X2 and days of future past were great along with apt pupil being a decent film. Leaving usual suspects out because I haven't seen it. The man did manage to make a 2000's superman film with more advanced special effects...... boring. Still fighting Lex Luthor and no villains to match him in strength. We just got a boring film about Superman being a twat for leaving earth and stalking Lois Lane and her family.
FINALLY!! Only took you 20 years.... 😄😄😄😄 For me that movie was never as great as people wanted it to be when it came out; and was never as bad when the sort-of backlash kicked in a couple of years later. An entertaining, servicable flick with some LGB allegory for good measure, decent FX and a cool Wolverine. But to this day I am waiting for the films that gets that fact that Cyclops is actually the leader. And Ray Park as Toad was under-used.
I think I was disappointed in Wolverine because I didn't think he was tough enough, when I found out that Russell Crowe passed on the role I thought he would've done a better job but I was satisfied with Logan.
@@Woozlewuzzleable Some 20 years later, I think it's fair to say that Jackman pulled it off... :) :) :) It's still a bit weird hat a character who is 5"4 in the comics is played by a 6"3 Aussie, but if they get the character right, I honestly don't care.
As I get older, I appreciate the somber tone and understated displays of power of the first X-Men movie. They were really trying to keep in line with the Superman vein of movie-making: ground the fantasy in a reality but still have fun. I thought this was the one that struck that balance perfectly.
I'm sure if and when the X-Men are rebooted under Disney, they'll have Mystique wearing clothes for once. In the comics, she wears a white three slit dress, white thigh high boots and a belt with golden skulls.
@@shadowleon659 On that point, I, sir 100% agree with you. I think the tone is a bit more mature than the MCU movies, less family friendly, a bit darker and takes itself more seriously, all good things IMHO.
@@JosesAmazingWorlds True, I only like a few of the MCU movies because they keep it simple(infinity war is my favorite) but you have give credit to the brilliant execution of the shared universe.
Cyclops is pretty much the Captain America of the X-Men. After seeing Chris Evans' portrayal in the MCU, it makes you wonder how the X-Men filmmakers could've made a Boy Scout type of character like Cyclops more fascinating.
I have *such* a fondness for this movie. It’s the perfect first X-Men film. Simple, effective, powerful, and super handsomely made. It feels like a real adult thriller but still is a fun X-Men adaptation.
"Patrick was not a fan of Science Fiction" lol, even years before Star Trek TNG he played a major role in David Lynch's 1984 Dune. One of the biggest Sci Fi titles (in books).
I think the "X-Men" Franchise needs to be rebooted. Full stop. Introduce your core characters, like Professor X, and Magneto in solo films, then introduce the team of the first five X-Men first, then go from there. Great video, Oliver.
He was good as a sexy, tall, shaved leading man version of Logan, but otherwise not very accurate to the comics. Second-for-second, he was most accurate in First Class.
An interesting take about this film is that every single one of the cast has aged pretty gracefully in the last 20 years. Even Patrick Stewart.
Especially Patrick Stewart!
Think they’re real mutants perhaps??
Rebecca Romijn was awesome as Mystique. The way she carries herself, the way she moves is brilliant. Really enjoyed this film in the cinema.
I'm surprised she didn't get any major roles before X-Men. She's a good actress.
@@lilpenny1982 Rebecca Romijn was on Ugly Betty, The Librarians, and more recently, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. So it isn't like she hasn't been hard up for work. She was also the title character on the short-lived WB show Pepper Dennis, during that network's final days.
@@lilpenny1982 I think that I said before that had Tim Burton made his Batman movie maybe 10 years later, then Rebecca Romijn is who I would first imagine playing Vicki Vale.
How many of us went as Mystique for Halloween? Hands up…
Funniest line;
"What do they call you? Wheels?"
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha definitely
Line was pure gold!
This is the very first review of yours that completely hits home on nostalgia for me. I had everything with X-Men the movie: I felt the hype, I had the trading cards, the figures, the statue of liberty head, the video cassette. I can't believe I'm watching Oliver Harper do a 20 year retrospective on a film that feels so personal.
Thanks for your feedback, Drew!
I remember getting on the school computers to find any little nugget of news about this movie.
Man I wish I could find some of those old pics leaked from back then.
Oh yeah Charles, we got ourselves an X-Men fan
And he LIVES. IN A VAN. DOWN BY THE RIVER!
"Do you know what happens to a toad when it's struck by lightning?"
It croaks.
It gets fired from Star Wars for leaking sexy videos, PARA PUM PUM! Thank you , thank you i'll be here all week
Might as well been followed by “what killed the dinosaurs? The ice age!”
A whole lot better!
Or, in this case, groans full facepalm.
That line sounded very corny & didn't land a very good punch when Storm said that dialogue I was like "What?"
Man, this made me so nostalgic. This movie came out after my Freshmen year in college. I really miss those early 2000s superhero movies, when they were trying to find their footing. They really got me into comics for a while too, especially the Ultimate line (X-Men, Spider-man, Ultimates). Good times...
Same, but I was a kid when they came out. I miss those early 2000's superhero movies too. They were fun.
thats crazy man. this came out the year i was born.
@@thievingcthulhu8632 I always find that even more incredible to wrap my head around, as an early 80's baby anyways. Like I am currently roofing with a guy who was born when I graduated High School. Craziness
@@miab-p6874 yeh this f8l was my first exposure to x men
I was 17 when this came out. Good times.
Oliver Harper's mutant power is providing great retrospective videos.
Facts
He's the best at what he does and what he does is making perfect retrospectives of films.
He's the very best at it.
Thanks very much!
@@OliverHarper sometimes I wonder what would the CGI effects would've looked like, had the guys from Industrial Light-&-Magic had worked on this franchise. the closest this came was in "X-Men: Apocalypse", as the visual effects supervisor, John Dykstra, had not only worked on the film, but was one of the original founders of ILM.
Having Terence Stamp play Magneto would’ve been interesting. Could you imagine a scene of extended dialogue between him and Patrick Stewart. How amazing would that be?
"I could break you, Charles...in two pieces, over my knee. My followers could outnumber your pupils six times over....I could take the metal out of your chair, just to burn your arse!"
Agreed one actor who could have portrayed Magneto is Rutger Hauer R.I.P.
@@johnashton4776 So true. I remember that at the time people were making casting suggestions online, his name came up often. He would have been perfect in the role.
Yeah it would've been pretty awesome to see!
Terence Stamp as Magneto would've been phenomenal; he was my personal casting choice back then.
Cyclops “how do we know its really you?”
Logan “you’re a dick”
*o k*
loved that
Without Cyclops there is no X-MEN and Wolverine was the dickhead not Scott Summers
@@InYourHeadChangedMan well it's not like cyclops is a douchebag
I remember an audible gasp! from my theater audience when Logan stabbed Rogue. This movie really clicked for people at the time.
I love X-Men, warts and all, but I'm a particular big fan of the first 15 minutes or so. (The concentration camp, the Senate hearing, Wolverine's introduction) For 80s and 90s kids who waited their whole lives to see an X-Men movie, those opening scenes were special. It felt so realistic!
@Comic Lover cringe. 🙄
Exactly man...X-Men has always been by favorite comic book characters...and I always loved how weighty the themes were in the writing.
You said it, Rob.
I still remmeber my theather experience with this as well. It's funny to think back to the humble origins of the comic book film craze (Marvel specifically - I know Batman, Superman, whatever, but Xmen really sparked the crazy pivot in Hollywood to just snap up and put out comic IP left and right).
I saw it in theaters like 10 times that summer it came out. Loved it. Hugh Jackman was like Harrison Ford as Han Solo. Immediately owned the Wolverine part before he even said a word.
If the name "David Hayter" sounds familiar, the very same guy played "Solid Snake" in the Metal Gear Solid series.
To me Solid Snake was played by that guy that starred in Guyver:Dark Hero 😊
Snaaake?! SNAAAAAAAKE!
Whoa! You're telling me that THE David Hayter, voice of Solid Snake, wrote the screenplay of the 2000 X-Men movie? I didn't know that! That's so cool!
We pretty much have Solid Snake to thank for the output of superhero movies for the past 22 years. This movie was such a watershed moment that, without it, superhero movies would have fizzled out entirely because of Batman and Robin wetting the bed.
I'm glad to hear you're also a fan of cyclops. He was my favourite in the cartoon as a kid and was quite miffed how he got treated in the films.
Hugh Jackman was a last minute replacement for Logan/Wolverine as original actor Dougray Scott had to drop out due to MI2 overrunning. So Jackman really owes his career defining role to Scott.
He also owes it to Tom Cruise lol, sounds like he wouldn't let Dougray Scott leave early to go film this movie
@@johnwells5414Funny enough Tom Cruise was also in line to role as Iron man, until they replaced his him with Robert Downey.
@@johnwells5414 Tom Cruise: Career Cockblock. One to Scott and the other to Henry Cavill's facial hair
@@SuperWolsey well Tommy surely likes to have his own way and the world was actually better for that.
@@fielalmanga, we can also thank Tom Cruise for the Snyder cut of Justice League. If Cavill had cut his mustache for reshoots, there wouldn’t have been a glaring problem with his scenes that set the bad publicity in motion that caused the movie to flop.
Jeez i can't believe its been 20 years now.
Gladiator, Shaft, U571, Scary Movie, Shanghai Noon and MI2 were that year as well. :')
Great coverage as usual Oliver
What are you talking about?? The only worthwhile movie in your list are Gladiator. Shaft is forgettable, U571 was nice but nothing special, Scary Movie was dumb and had lots of dumb milked out sequals and MI2 is kinda considered the dumbest of the series.
@@flybeep1661 cry me a river.
People are allowed to like whatever they want.
@@flybeep1661 well i don't think those movies are horrible, but if you don't like those memento, requiem for a dream, batman beyond return of the joker, unbreakable and american psycho came out as well.
Scary Movie was funny. It's definitely a product of its time, but wasn't bad. Memento is a masterpiece. Still Nolan's best film in my book.
@@flybeep1661 MI2 is so bad it's hilariously good. Motorcycle duel anyone?
23:42 "Music composed and conducted by Michael K-Men" hahaha
I think any complaints of this movie being a bit underwhelming are valid, but I do love it for pretty much all the reasons Oliver listed. It respected the source material and cared about the characters, giving just as much depth to the villains as the heroes (if not more). X2 will always be my favorite but this is a close second
I think it was a very much 'hold your hand' back in to the superhero franchise after the terrible damage Batman & Robin did.
If this succeeds then it will expand and become more larger in scale.
Love X2 to this day especially that Phoenix end scene which got me massively hyped for X3. Alas it ended in disappointment.
I'll always hold a grudge against Superman returns for that 😂
26:42,
Wolverine: hey, it is me.
Cyclops: prove it.
You know the rest. :)
I'll never forget how amazing it was going to see this in the theater when I was a a kid. My 10-year-old mind was blown. I still love this movie to this day. It's in my top 3 X-Men films of all time.
I don’t know what it is about your videos but they’re so engaging. Your delivery is brilliant despite the fact that you speak ordinarily yet informatively. It’s a great channel and you should be proud of your work.
Thank you very much!
I still remember seeing this in the cinema and was so blown away at the time. It has since settled down for me and not as explosive as when I first saw it. But I thought Hugh Jackman was great from the first moment. Back in the 90s me and my brother argued who would play what. Patrick Stewart was always gonna play Xavier. I thought Brad Pit (Pre Seven or Fight Club) would have been good as Cyclops. Can't remember who else we picked. I think Dolph Lungdren as Collosus. No one came to mind for Wolverine. But this was the rare instance where once I saw the cartoon, I wanted a live action movie.
Mel Gibson would’ve been a great Wolverine. In a perfect world, a Bad Lieutenant era Harvey Kietel would’ve been the ideal Logan. But neither would have taken it. Temura Morrison would’ve been good. All would’ve been better than a 6’3 pretty boy with no edge or grit.
always thought wolverine would be played by clint eastwood and yul brenner for xavier. boy am I old.
Hugh jackman was a great actor but was too much of a traditional leading man to be the perfect choice for wolverine plus his cockiness was too subtle in the comics he’s short and bulky and super hairy not particularly the traditional stud
@@arthurrimbaud7287 I got my reboot cast. However we would have to go back and pretend the first film comes out in 1987
Cyclops: Dennis
Quaid
Jean grey : Linda Hamilton
Professor X: Ben Kingsley
Ice man: Corey Haim
Angel: Steve Gutenberg
Beast: Jeff Goldblum
Magneto: rugter hauer
Pyro: Paul Hogan
Toad: the guy who played evil in fright night.
Senator Kelly: Roy shrieder
Stryker: R. Lee. Ermy.
The second film 1989, is where we bring wolverine in and he’s a secondary character. Played by Fred Ward.
Sabretooth played by Clancy brown
Mr sinister player by Chris Sarandon
Apocalypse: Michael ironside
@@GringoXalapeno Exactly. I like Jackman, but he's too nice to be Wolverine. Good actor, but no edge. Wolverine's the type of character that the actor playing him should be a little bit like. The best James Bonds are a little like James Bond. Swagger, charm, etc. etc...
Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Mel Gibson, Bruce Willis, Russell Crowe...I'm not saying that all of these guys could've been Wolverine, but that's the type of guy Wolverine's always been in the comics.
I have a tremendous amount of loving nostalgia for this movie. I think 21 years later it's a solid movie with plenty of great moments. While there would be superior follow ups, (X2: X-Men United, and X-Men: Days of Future Past), this movie is important entry into the comic book/superhero movie genre.
Favourite parts: George Buza’s cameo (a.k.a. Hank McCoy/Beast in the X-Men 1990s cartoon) as the truck driver that helps Rogue, the Wolverine/Cyclops banter at the end: “You’re a dick!” “Okay.”
11:50 “Hugh had tobulk up fast” the transformation in every sequal is stunning
Yes all enhanced with el juice 💊💉
I would love to see you do a retrospective for Logan in the future
Do an Origin story from the mini-series from the 2001 great novel also too much emphasis on wolverine.
It would be difficult to do it in the past.
Way TOO premature. A movie like the first X-Men has sinked into the public consciousness enough for people to really give a subjective view on it over the years.
@@AmbientMess he could do X-2
29:19 Sadly it ended becoming a re-occuring issue in the Fox X-men franchise were outside of a few core people (Ex. Logan, Xavier, Magneto), the characters were largely defined by their powers and not their personalities. I feel like the series never quite mastered the art of balancing multiple characters at once, relegating many to short scenes that just exist to showcase their powers.
Bryan Singer and Joss Whedon both worked on this.
Boy, that didn’t age well.
Ruh roh. I'm not up to speed on stuff. What happened with these guys?
Joss Whedon’s script got mostly scrapped, they kept the toad struck by lighting line though for some reason. (Not defending either of the people you mentioned though lol)
Oh man... thats right.. i never pjt that together, yikes!!!!
Whedon is awesome. Singer is a twat.
How does that affect the quality of the film? Bad people often make great art, so learn to separate the two.
I can still remember the day my dad and me watched this movie on DVD, when it was in that cool sleek case. It still may be my favorite one. And I have no clue why, but growing up, I thought Matt Damon was Cyclops.
24:44 I'm surprised the animated series theme hasn't been used yet. Even as just a credits song, or some orchestral version. Seems like really easy fan service. And it isn't like the song is bad and would only be appreciated by old fans. I didn't even really watch that much xmen and know its a badass theme.
This movie will always be my favorite X-Men movie.
When Wolverine first pops those claws in the bar, can't be beat.
Man that hit a wave of nostalgia in this. I remember when I was young I had a huge crush on Halle berry with her suit with that silver Cape. Cat believe it has been 20 years!
That line about toads and lightning is actually very apt, Storm is literally saying how insignificant the other character is!
It is still, to this day, one of my all-time favorite superhero films. I love that movie.
Your conclusion was spot on. While now, the movie seems really underwhelming after 2 decades of other super hero movies being big and huge, something so subdued seems weird, but without this movie being the success it was, Spider-Man doesn't quite have that hype behind it, WB is maybe less inclined to revisit Batman, and Marvel is arguably unable to get the MCU off the ground. X-Men really did pave the way and for that reason alone, it should never ever be overlooked.
I'm 39... I was 20 I think when this came out.. it was beautiful.. the graphics and especially the story
X-Men walked so the rest of superhero movies could run. The things done in X-Men are common in movies now. Director known for indie drama given the reigns of a huge franchise, the feel that this could take place in the real world, the seriousness given to the comic backstory, all were established in this movie. I remember when this movie first came out. It didn't feel like a big blockbuster. It just felt, cool.
Rogue didn't accidentally use her powers on Wolverine. He had a nightmare and clawed her in the stomach. She took his healing ability but, it took too much if I recall correctly.
I was 9 when this film premiered. Chilling soundtrack.
Wow, I didn't know we almost had Sir Christopher Lee as Magneto, while I think Ian was definitely the right choice due to his real life friendship with Patrick Stewart that you can feel in their performance, I do wonder what Lee would have done with the role too.
For me personally, this is the best X-Men film
Magneto walking on those metals plates to senator Kelly’s prison cell still blow my minds.
For the time it was a very popular movie! X2 and future past are definitely the best ones
Ooh I hope you'll do X2 as well. It's my favorite from the entire franchise.
Days of future past and first class are mine
Im with you on that one Alex. X2 was really great.
The first two of the old and new trilogy are the best, X-men,X2, X-men FC & X men DOFP
Yeah I will get around to X2! Great flick.
@@OliverHarper for me, "X2" and "Days of Future Past" are my favorites of the sequels
I was living in rural Sweden for a summer holiday and like many 90s lads was really looking forward to this film. I rode a bicycle several kilometres to the nearest town with a cinema and made an evening of it. I thought it was OK... Then I booked it back. The bicycle ride in the fading sunlight along winding roads felt much more exciting. Still, X-men was a fine effort, and launched H. Jackman's and his physique's respective careers. Never understood why Famke Jansen's career didn't rocket, as she had the look and good talent.
I've never understood the hate for Storms line to Toad. Admittedly I was a young human when I first saw the film, but to this day I find it fine and a little funny. It's blunt and a statement of fact, but it also softened the fact that she killed a guy which is the job of a pre-homicide one liner.
Realistically what else was she going to say?
Storm in the film wasn't super jokey, more earnest. She didn't grow up in the US, probably saw a few Schwarzenegger movies and thought that's how all Americans murder.
I'd like to see any of y'all come up with a better toad/lightning line on the spot under the stress of stopping a super-villain and having just narrowly survived a life or death fight.
I'd have probably just said "Sorry dude!"
This movie seems more grown up now 20 years later than the superhero franchises of today.
It is a decent movie. So is the 2'er.
So many films tried to get that Matrix-y feel. Really gives the early 2000s a specific style. Even my friends and I tried to get away with long leather jackets and shades. We did not pull it off.
I tried the whole lone leather jacket thing when I was like 14. Embarrassing!
X-Men looking back, kind of strikes me as a superhero movie that's sort ashamed that it was based on a comic book. Admittedly, this was not too long after Batman & Robin and well before the start of the MCU and even Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man movie. So there was a general worry of being too "colorful" or campy.
In my opinion, and everybody I know, this movie was absolutely amazing. We loved everything about it at the time. Even the black leathersuits😉
Watching it 22 years later, it holds up incredibly well. An absolute masterpiece. I’ll take the X-men trilogy over anything Marvel since Ironman.
Damn, I actually feel sorry for Rebecca when she said she felt isolated from the rest of the cast and crew.
Maybe that informed her character, because she's great in these movies
I remember interviews with Ian M where he said he enjoyed working with her. She would require hours of makeup so they used the time to rehearse together. The fact he is not interested in women at all seemed to help since she had to be naked during the makeup process.
I love so much the dark tone of the score.
I've read the pre-Hayter script and I would say Hayter's contributions were about a third of the overall film.
I'd love to see you do a retrospective on The Silence of The Lambs, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary
Idk man the score for this movie was brilliant. Definitely evokes something in me. Feels like the primordial birth of mainstream superhero films. Those sweeping high strings *chefs kiss*
I love how you tried to hide your laugh when talking about Famkie Jennsens role in Goldeneye 😂
Famke Janssen incidentally, worked with Patrick Stewart at least once before X-Men. She guest starred on Star Trek: The Next Generation in an episode from the fifth season entitled "The Perfect Mate".
When I was growing up The X-Men movies and cartoon is one of the things that gave me my love of superheroes. With Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan they play the parts perfectly. Jean-Luc Picard and Gandalf who couldn't love this movie. Hugh Jackman also portrayed Logan so well I had no idea he was Australian till I was 7. Halle Berry also plays storm so perfect its like she was born for the role. The special effects are mind blowing at least for the time they were made. This isn't a perfect movie or adaptation but it changed the movie industry and showed mainstream audiences that superheros aren't just for kids but the writing is just as good and adaptable as a novel. Without this movie the Marvel cinematic universe wouldn't exist.
Also Roger Ebert should have laid off the fatty foods
Patrick Stewart always seemed like he was born to play Charles Xavier, much like how Robert Downey Jr. was destined to become Tony Stark, J.K. Simmons was destined to become J. Jonah Jameson, Christopher Reeve was destined to become Superman, or Ryan Reynolds was destined to play Deadpool. I mean, he pretty much already built up his career playing a strong, thoughtful, dignified leader on Star Trek.
Aside from Logan this is my favorite X-Men film. I wish the universe they set up stayed in this vein.
More than any other superhero fulm, to me this one is the one that really kicked off and signifies the start of the current 20 years trend of superhero films... To me this one is the one that really got it going and kicked off a new era of these films..
I think that, given the budgetary constraints and a director at the time inexperienced in the blockbuster CGI arena, the first X-Men movie is actually pretty good. Surely, it could be more spectacular or grandiose, but I believe it is the movie that we neeeded at that time: Restrained, with more focus on character and world-building, and almost completely without a whiff of Batman & Robin's campiness. It had to be this way, otherwise the comic-book movie as a subgenre would die for sure, at least for a very long time. I certainly like it better than later entries in the franchise, who were more colorful and had more action and nods to the comics.
I think people often overstate this movie's influence on superhero movies becoming popular. Sam Raimi's Spider-Man was already in production, so it would have come out even if this had flopped or something, and you can trace far more of its DNA from today's superhero movies than X-Men's.
Can't say I agree, X-Men was the first mainstream comic book property since Batman to be adapted and had it failed it audiences might not have cared for another comic book movie afterward. Spider-Man might be more faithful, but was definitely just a natural successor to X-Men more than the film that defined the current comic book era. Without X-Men I doubt we'd be here today with Marvel dominating the BO, Spider-Man helped it along immensely though.
I think blade x men and Spider-Man All comtribued of starting the comic book genre it was more x men that started the comic book genre but that movie was ashamed of its comic book routes but Spider-Man inbrased its routes it looked like a comic. Spider-Man broke box office records and he had the most popularly it marvel box office gold changed everything for superhero’s films
I have to disagree, for the same reasons stated above. If X-Men failed at the box office, that would certainly have hurt the reception of Spider-Man
I feel that X-Men set the stage for the ultra-serious DC movies, which upped the darker elements.
your nuts man lol
I was 13 when this came out and I was at my absolute peek of discovering and falling in love with superheroes. Love this film warts and all.
I put this movies in my personal "Humans are horrible monsters" category, alongside Transformers 4.
Another great Retrospective/Review, Oliver
I haven't watched this movie in years. Great retrospective as always ya legend! I am very excited for the X2 retrospective!
7:32 I totally heard this wrong. "...had been given a number of back issues by a member of the staff." For a minute I was like, "how did this guy injure her back and what does this have to do with anything?"
Does anyone remember that Halle Berry's accent from the first movie was non existent in X2?
Always wondered that as well...lol
I think it was for the best
@@mr.fettesq.7705 yeah I belive Halle berry improvised the accent herself the accent I beliver was her idea
Remember when she was a big pain in the ass?
I’ve always wanted to ask. Is the ending theme from streets of rage?
No Superman on the Sega Mega Drive.
I really love and appreciate your style to these retrospectives. It’s perfect for someone like me who watches a lot of older movies and really enjoys them even if they weren’t necessarily great movies. I loved this movie but in general I think there are so many movies out there that are valuable just from a history of filmmaking perspective. It’s also great to celebrate to product of something so many people worked so hard on. Keep up the great work!
This movie was so good, and it still holds up. Don't give a fuck what anybody says. I love X-Men, and always will.
never liked Bryan Singer's work, but the X-Men saga is probably the best he's ever done
i remember seeing this back when it first came out. I was 23 ...i remember loving it because it was the first decent popular super hero movie... im not discounting blade he just wasnt super known....
i revisited it about 10 years later .... wooo it didnt age well at all neither did 2... to be honest i liked 2 but i never got the love for it
Playing Cyclops must’ve been a blast
I saw this movie when it premiered in America on July 14, 2000. I was 13 and this movie blew me away. Easily one of the greatest superhero films ever made.
I always love your retrospectives Oliver you have some of the best content on RUclips
Thanks a lot!
Thank you for this. I started reading X-Men when I was a early teenager in the 80's and was very happy to see them treated with respect. It wasn't a perfect movie, but far better than any other superhero movie we had been given by the time it was released, even Blade in my opinion.
This movie also helped changed the direction of the x men comics in the 2000s were going and pretty much took what the movie did expanded on it:new x men and ultimate x men.
Finally I’ve been waiting for u to review this film. This is my all time favourite X men film. Thanks Oliver 🙏🏾🙌🏾
Fun Fact: David Hayter is Solid Snake.
I honestly have no clue to this day why Bryan Singer is considered such an awesome director. He's the definition of bland and vanilla. Aside from The Usual Suspects and two out of the four X-Men films he's directed, the guy's done very little that's actually worth watching.
I agree
What have you directed?
X1,X2 and days of future past were great along with apt pupil being a decent film. Leaving usual suspects out because I haven't seen it.
The man did manage to make a 2000's superman film with more advanced special effects...... boring. Still fighting Lex Luthor and no villains to match him in strength.
We just got a boring film about Superman being a twat for leaving earth and stalking Lois Lane and her family.
Days of Future Past is one of the greatest superhero movies of all time, so yeah the dude deserves respect.
So by your account he's done three films worth watching. That's more than most.
Kamen’s score for the first film is underrated.
An expanded release of Kamen's score has recently been released by La-La Land Records, by the way.
This is just what i needed on a Saturday evening. Love the retrospectives, nice one Oliver!
Thanks dude!
FINALLY!! Only took you 20 years.... 😄😄😄😄 For me that movie was never as great as people wanted it to be when it came out; and was never as bad when the sort-of backlash kicked in a couple of years later. An entertaining, servicable flick with some LGB allegory for good measure, decent FX and a cool Wolverine. But to this day I am waiting for the films that gets that fact that Cyclops is actually the leader. And Ray Park as Toad was under-used.
I think I was disappointed in Wolverine because I didn't think he was tough enough, when I found out that Russell Crowe passed on the role I thought he would've done a better job but I was satisfied with Logan.
@@Woozlewuzzleable Some 20 years later, I think it's fair to say that Jackman pulled it off... :) :) :) It's still a bit weird hat a character who is 5"4 in the comics is played by a 6"3 Aussie, but if they get the character right, I honestly don't care.
As I get older, I appreciate the somber tone and understated displays of power of the first X-Men movie. They were really trying to keep in line with the Superman vein of movie-making: ground the fantasy in a reality but still have fun. I thought this was the one that struck that balance perfectly.
Always love your work, Oliver. Really neat to see you covering a franchise from the 2000s!
I'm sure if and when the X-Men are rebooted under Disney, they'll have Mystique wearing clothes for once. In the comics, she wears a white three slit dress, white thigh high boots and a belt with golden skulls.
The action of X-Men was not handled by Ke Huy Quan but by Corey Yuen. Ke was part of his team back then.
Excellent video! I love those retrospectives so much.
I need to re-watch it for sure. It has that comfy early 2000s feel.
I actually enjoy this movie. But its definitely not one of my favourite Marvel films and thank you once again for the retrospective.
Technically it is a Fox movie, not real Marvel production
@@JosesAmazingWorlds I understand. But its better than most of the recent MCU films.
@@shadowleon659 On that point, I, sir 100% agree with you. I think the tone is a bit more mature than the MCU movies, less family friendly, a bit darker and takes itself more seriously, all good things IMHO.
Honest question: what tf do u enjoy about it?
@@JosesAmazingWorlds True, I only like a few of the MCU movies because they keep it simple(infinity war is my favorite) but you have give credit to the brilliant execution of the shared universe.
One of the front runners of the comic book movie boom.
This film has been unfairly forgotten.
Cyclops was criminally underused and misrepresented.
Cyclops is pretty much the Captain America of the X-Men. After seeing Chris Evans' portrayal in the MCU, it makes you wonder how the X-Men filmmakers could've made a Boy Scout type of character like Cyclops more fascinating.
Rip in pieces, Michael Kamen.
You did pretty good.
LOL 'rest in pieces'
I have *such* a fondness for this movie. It’s the perfect first X-Men film. Simple, effective, powerful, and super handsomely made. It feels like a real adult thriller but still is a fun X-Men adaptation.
Your vids are getting me thru my depression.
I hope you're feeling better! :D
"Patrick was not a fan of Science Fiction" lol, even years before Star Trek TNG he played a major role in David Lynch's 1984 Dune. One of the biggest Sci Fi titles (in books).
Money talks and bullshit walks.
I think the "X-Men" Franchise needs to be rebooted. Full stop. Introduce your core characters, like Professor X, and Magneto in solo films, then introduce the team of the first five X-Men first, then go from there. Great video, Oliver.
There was nothing hotter on planet Earth than Famke Janssen when this movie came out
@@titaniumman02 Famke was hotter, HOWEVER Halle has been hotter in other films
Hugh Jackman is basically perfect as Wolverine, I guess some things are just meant to be 🐺
Xaiver wolverine magneto were the only chracters the movie did right rouge is okay mystique is good
He was good as a sexy, tall, shaved leading man version of Logan, but otherwise not very accurate to the comics. Second-for-second, he was most accurate in First Class.
Yeah, except he needs to be 5'3" and even hairier.
You would say that no matter who got the role. It's conditioning.
I remember being upset at the casting and calling him Huge Jackass because of his height. I would be lying if I said he did bad tho.
Your review is just like reading my mind .Amazing review as always. .You are Professor Harper
the score in this film is absolutely incredible