Starring Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, James Marsden, Famke Janssen, Bruce Davison.

It may look like it, but X Men isn't just a special effects movie. The effects are amazing but the underlying theme of tolerance, retained from the comic series, is the most impressive thing about the movie.

Mankind just doesn't understand mutants (superior to humans, they are born with a unique mutation) and US Senator Robert Kelly (Davison) wants mutants named and exposed. Charles Xavier (Stewart) runs a school for young (and amazing looking) mutants to control their powers and use them for good. These students become X Men (Berry, Marsden and Janssen) and, although they are feared and hated by them, they must save mankind from mutant supremist Magneto (McKellan) who wants to eliminate mankind because he believes that mankind and mutants can't live together.

Things really get nasty when Xavier takes in Wolverine (Jackman) and Rogue (Paquin) and Magneto wants them for his own evil plan. Jackman is impressive as the tough Wolverine and Patrick Stewart is, well, Patrick Stewart. McKellan is perfect as Magneto, who has just had enough of humans.

The X Men are suitably gorgeous but the usually dependable Berry is a bit wooden. Maybe the effects stunned her and she just wanted to be in a big budget movie. The movie looks fantastic (and expensive) and the message is for minorities to hold out for hope because the ignorant people in power will come around eventually and everyone will be united. If only....