Credits:

Cast:  Hugh Jackman as Logan (Wolverine),   Anna Paquin as Marie (Rogue),  James Marsden as Scott Summers (Cyclops),  Famke Janssen as Dr Jean Grey, Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Francis Xavier (Professor X),  Halle Berry as Ororo Munroe (Storm), Bruce Davison as  Senator Robert Kelly,  Ian McKellen as the evil doer Erik Magnus (Magneto), Tyler Mane as Victor Creed (Sabretooth), Ray Park as Mortimer Toynbee (Toad) and last but not least Rebecca Romijn-Stamos as Raven Darkholme (Mystique).

Director: Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil)
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Genre: Action / Adventure, Fantasy, Science-Fiction
Release Date: July 14, 2000

Plot:
          X-Men The Movie  takes place in the near future, with ultra-conservative Senator Robert Kelly (Bruce Davison) campaigning for the Mutant Registration Act, which would allow the government to keep tabs on any citizen with mutant DNA. While Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) of the X-Men tries to reason with the self-righteous politician at a Senate hearing, Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) senses the presence of an old friend in the chamber. The mutant known as Magneto (Ian McKellan) does not share the guarded optimism of Xavier. A Holocaust survivor, Magneto sees the hearings as the first step towards a genetic war, and the master of magnetism is ready to make a preemptive strike.
          The battle lines are drawn. Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants: the shapeshifting Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), man-beast Sabretooth (Tyler Mane) and Toad (Ray "Darth Maul" Park), an incredibly agile creature with a tongue that would make Gene Simmons weep with envy, versus Xavier's A-Team: Cyclops (James Marsden), who shoots laser  blasts from his eyes, weather witch Storm (Halle Berry) and Jean Grey,  who has a major in telekinesis and a minor in telepathy. Joining the trio are two newcomers: Rogue (Anna Paquin), a teen who temporarily drains the life force from anyone she touches, and Wolverine (Hugh Jackson), a skilled athlete with amazing healing powers and retractable, razor sharp claws that spring from the top of his hands.
            The story revolves around Wolverine, with Aussie actor Hugh Jackson giving a knockout performance as the Canuck loner (asked if it hurts when his claws come out, he quietly answers "Every time."). Although the onscreen Rogue is significantly different from her comic book counterpart, Anna Paquin beautifully conveys the angst of a girl who cannot ever enjoy the touch of another person. And, thanks to a heart-wrenching prologue, we see the damaged child beneath Magneto's regal persona. As expected, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are wonderful, particularly during their scenes together.
            For this fan, the film was a very pleasant surprise. I suspect that those unfamiliar with the comic book will have quite the good time as well.