Director: Bryan Singer
Stars: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Anna Paquin, Alan Cumming
Certificate: 12A

Following up the success of X-Men is no easy feat, as director Brian Singer (The Usual Suspects) set a benchmark by which any X-Men sequels (as if a sequel was unlikely!) would have to measure up to. The good thing with sequels is that much of the setting-up story can be put to one side, as the previous film has dealt with that, and this is a prime example of that.

The story of this sequel begins with an assassination on the President of the United States by a mutant, and General William Stryker, played by a nasty and remorseless Brian Cox, initiates a war on mutants, and on the X-Men in particular. As a result, the X-Men must now join forces with their enemy, Magneto, in order to survive the threat.

There is an all-star cast on show, with the original crew back on board, and a few new additions to the mutant cast.

Hugh Jackman reprises the role of Logan, better known as Wolverine, a one-man indestructible fighting machine. Halle Berry, fresh from making a splash in Die Another Day, plays Ororo Monroe, better known as Storm, a mutant who has control of the weather. Another Bond-girl, Famke Janssen (Goldeneye) is the telepathic, and troubled Jean Grey. Patrick Stewart (best known for his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation) plays Professor Charles Xavier, the man who runs the "School for the Gifted", which helps mutants to harness their powers. Ian McKellen is also back as Erik Lehnsherr, better known as the villainous Magneto. The likes of James Marsden, Anna Paquin, and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos reprise their roles from the first film, and some newcomers provide a welcome boost to what's on show.

Alan Cumming is superb as Kurt Wagner, also known as the teleporting Nightcrawler. Aaron Stanford is rebellious as the tormented Pyro, and is set-up nicely for a feud with Shawn Ashmore's Iceman in any future instalments. Kelly Hu plays Lady Deathstryke, the assistant to Brian Cox's General Stryker.

Brian Singer seems to have evolved and now handles large-scale action sequences with ease, and makes the film very enjoyable and a worthy successor to the first film. This is a superbly enjoyable film, and is well worth a visit to your local cinema to see.