Bryan Singer makes up for most of the SFX damage in the first part with this redeeming and far better sequel that has a lot in common with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (add to that (a) the connection Patrick Stewart has with the Trek universe, and (b) the presence of a cast member called James Kirk (as Ronay Drake), and you may take a moment to get your breath back). HINT: the opening and closing voiceovers and a third-act plot point (spoiler!). Smart viewers will note the importance of T. H. White's The Once and Future King. Two sequences I liked were: (a) Senator Kelly changing into Yuriko (eventually Mystique) while walking past pillars (a nice use of edits?) (b) the low angle shot of the base of the drugged beer glass (a similar shot occurs later for a fridge interior). Also liked the (ab)use of N'Sync's Bye, bye, bye.
I'd love to go back and read more of the X-Men comics. If only for the undercurrent of alienation, McCarthy-ism, and a desire to belong. Who said comics were supposed to be mindless entertainment anyway?
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