FRANCHISE RANKING: The "X-MEN" Movies
Below is my ranking of the four "X-MEN" movies from my favorite to my least favorite. Here they are:
FRANCHISE RANKING: The "X-MEN" Movies
1. "X-MEN 2: X-Men United" (2003) - Bryan Singer directed the second film in the series, in which Colonel William Stryker (Brian Cox) brainwashes and questions the imprisoned Magneto (Ian McKellen) about Professor Xavier's (Patrick Stewart) mutant-locating machine, Cerebro. Stryker attacks the X-Mansion, and brainwashes Xavier into locating every mutant on the planet to kill them. The X-Men must team up with Magneto's Brotherhood and prevent Stryker's worldwide genocide. An epic-like saga that took the X-Men from New York, to Boston and later Alaska. Singer did wonders with Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris and David Hayter's screenplay.
2. "X-MEN: The Last Stand" (2006) - With Bryan Singer helming "SUPERMAN RETURNS", Brett Ratner took over the directorial reigns for this third film in the series that revolved around a "mutant cure" that causes serious repercussions among mutants and humans; and on the mysterious resurrection of a more powerful Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), who appeared to have died in "X-MEN 2". Although not as good as the second film, this entry had an operatic tone that seemed to have an emotional punch for me. Most fans hated this film, because Singer did not direct it. I did not miss Bryan Singer's direction.
3. "X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE" (2009) - Gavin Hood directed this prequel to the other three movies that focused on the violent past of the mutant Wolverine aka James Logan (Hugh Jackman) and his relationship with his half-brother Victor Creed aka Sabertooth (Liev Schreiber). The plot also detailed Wolverine's early encounters with Colonel William Stryker (Danny Huston), his time with Team X, and the bonding of Wolverine's skeleton with the indestructible metal adamantium during the Weapon X program. This movie proved to be surprisingly entertaining for me.
4. "X-MEN" (2000) - Directed by Bryan Singer, this first film in the franchise introduced Wolverine aka Logan (Hugh Jackman) and Marie aka Rogue (Anna Paquin) into the conflict between Professor Xavier's (Patrick Stewart) X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants, led by Magneto (Ian McKellan). Magneto tried to mutate world leaders at a United Nations summit with a machine he has built to bring about acceptance of mutantkind, but Xavier realized this forced mutation will only result in their deaths. Although an entertaining film, I have always found David Hayter's script to be rather vaque and more suited as a television movie.