X-Men 2

Some movies make me yearn to be a teenage boy again, to immerse myself fully in their shiny glamour, their unmistakable 'coolness', and forget about plot holes and wooden acting. And you don't get much cooler than X-MEN 2.

This second edition is a lot fuller and more complex than the first movie which, though flashy, was fairly insubstantial. In the film the X-Men must join forces with their arch-enemy Magneto to stop a deranged general from destroying all the mutants on earth. Along the way we meet a number of new mutants, both good and evil, and we explore the depth of the stock characters (in particular Wolverine) more fully.

Director Bryan Singer was granted a substantial budget increase for this edition after the success of the first film, and it shows. The film serves up a lavish feast of special effects that should impress even the most cynical of film goers.

Singer has also remained largely faithful to the origins of the series. His respect for his source is canny - he knows that the legions of comic book fans will make the movie a success, as long as the material is properly handled.

Both the plot and the acting are generally unexceptional, but are more than good enough to complement the main purpose of the film - to dazzle us visually. A brilliantly convoluted plot structure or stellar acting performances would probably only distract from that purpose.

If you're looking for realistic human drama or superb dialogue then X-MEN 2 is going to disappoint you. On the other hand if you're looking for a highly polished and seamless piece of entertainment, you can't do better.