# Just saw X-Men 2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 15, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020 "2003-06-15T15:20:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/41 "2003-12-04T14:52:06Z")
I thought Daredevil was a stinker, although I never saw the Hulk. (I was excited to see Ang Lee directing it, but I was put off by the completely CG Hulk. I was missing the days of Lou and Bill at that point. :)) As for sequels, I kinda always liked Lethal Weapon 2 and Beverly Hills Cop II. (Although mad props goes out to “The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter” for the title alone.) ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Interior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@Lux\_Interior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Interior)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/42 "2003-12-04T19:01:49Z")
Just watched the DVD last night. The only problem I had was how stupid they were when being pursued by the F-16s. “They’re dropping back” “Hey! They’re trying to shoot us!” Well, duh! ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/43 "2003-12-04T23:57:01Z")
I watched it just the other night (I saw it in the theatre twice) and I loved it again. Everyone was very good, thought I’ll admit I was slightly annoyed by Halle Berry just based on the news of her dissatisfaction with her role and desire to get out of the third one. Irrational, but there you go. I very much enjoyed the Colossus part; it just was so…I dunno, heroic. However, I noticed the lack of an accent as well, which raises the question: does he have one in the comic? I know he speaks Russian, but couldn’t he simply be bilinguial and not have a Russian accent? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/44 "2003-12-05T02:26:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number Six \* > \*\*The best movie adapted from a comic book is _Ghost World_. \*\* I admit I haven’t seen it yet, but I read the graphic novel. And my vote for best comic-to-movie would be The Rocketeer. I love that movie way too much. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/45 "2003-12-05T02:31:30Z")
In the mainstream Marvel comic, it was implied that he had a thick Russian accent, his English was overly formal, and he peppered his speech with Russian words and phrases, sort of like Tonto in the old Lone Ranger series. In Ultimate X-Men, it’s implied that he’s far more fluent, and may speak with little to no accent. He’s also quite a bit more powerful, able kick Thor’s ass one on one (Ultimate War 4). ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/46 "2003-12-05T02:45:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number Six \* > **In the mainstream Marvel comic, it was implied that he had a thick Russian accent, his English was overly formal, and he peppered his speech with Russian words and phrases, sort of like Tonto in the old Lone Ranger series.** Tonto was Russian?!? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/47 "2003-12-05T03:01:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\*If Johnny Depp played Gambit I’d pass out. It’s funny, I don’t really find Johnny Depp attractive, but I lust for the characters he portrays (well, Ichabod Crane, the Inspector in _From Hell_, and Captain Jack Sparrow, at least - only Johnny Depp characters I’ve sene recently). \*\* You MUST see Once Upon A Time In Mexico when it comes out on DVD, then. Trust me on this one. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BMalion \* > **and why is Gambit such an important charactor for you young 'uns? I saw him once or twice and I’ll be honest, I did not see much apeal in his chractor or powers or look. Clue me in please.** I’ve read all of the Claremont/Cockrum/Byrne era of X-Men (thanks to the black and white Essentials TPBs), and I can truly say that Gambit, a creation of the early '90s, is just one of the coolest characters to ever grace the team. He is a gentleman and a rogue, a charming Cajun from the mean streets of New Orleans, with a past shrouded in mystery. He came from a “guild” of thieves and assassins, but he still fights alongside the good guys despite his amoral background. He looks super-cool in a trench coat, and his main attack, throwing playing cards charged with kinetic energy, is just… bad-ass. I think I like the essence of the character (what he could be if written to his full potential) more than what any writers have actually done with him, but he is one of the few enduring creations of the hated early '90s for good reason. Like Wolverine, he’s one of those characters that women want and men want to be. And that would translate very well to film. It would look too cool to have Johnny Depp decked out in the trench coat on film, speaking in a Cajun accent and tearing through Sentinels with style. I also think that like Wolverine, he has a lot of crossover potential, to be a heavily-merchandised character (multiple action figures, candy, bed-sheets, T-shirts, Halloween costumes, etc). ---
**Author:** ![coffeecam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bc8723/32.png) [@coffeecam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecam)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/48 "2003-12-05T03:39:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dewey Cheatem Undhow \* > \*\*No, no, the idea is to think of _good_ sequels. 😃 \*\* Matrix 2 was a very very good 2nd movie in a trilogy. As such it set the stage beautifully for a third movie. (I just think it’s tragic that the directors and Keanu died in that horriable explosion, now we’ll never know the wonderful vision that they must have had for the third movie. I’m just glad that I managed to get there in time to pull Carrie Anne Moss from the rubble, before the smoke engulfed her. Carrie Anne, who [50 kb censored at the request of people who don’t like reading such things]. And that’s the reason I didn’t go back in for a copy of the script.) RE: Aliens good action movie, not as good as the first one, which was a horror movie. Having seen the alien, things can only go down hill, from a scared of it sense. Best 2nd movie (in trilogy, series or whatever) was empire. if we specifically discount trilogies (or planned trilogies anyway) Terminator 2 gets my nod. Still haunted by an action movie with a soul. CC ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/49 "2003-12-05T06:36:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number Six \* > **I think you’re forgetting _Superman 2_ here, which also belongs on the list of sequels that surpassed their high quality predecessors.** You’re kidding, right? You think that “You **will** bow down before me, Son of Jor-El-who-doesn’t-even-appear-in-this-movie” was better than the original? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/50 "2003-12-05T06:44:00Z")
Actually, it was “Son of Jor-El, kneel before Zod!” Snootchie bootchies. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/51 "2003-12-05T09:28:53Z")
I’ve never understood the fascination with Gambit, either. He seems about as “deep” as an Anne Rice character, or Jean-Claude Van Damme. And I really, really don’t get what’s so cool about being able to throw around super-powered playing cards. You’ve got a guy who can climb walls and teleport, a woman who can control the weather, a guy with a super-powerful eye beam, an indestructible guy with razor-sharp claws, and… a guy who can make playing cards explode and annoy you with a fake Creole accent. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Big Bad Voodoo Lou \* > **Actually, it was "Son of Jor-El, kneel before Zod!"** I believe **tracer** was quoting the MST3K version of that line. (“You **will** bow down before me, Jet Jaguar!”) Or is that from _Dune_? > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Number Six_ > \*\*I think you’re forgetting Superman 2 here, which also belongs on the list of sequels that surpassed their high quality predecessors. I’d also add Bride of Frankenstein to that list. > > The best movie adapted from a comic book is Ghost World.\*\* I _was_ forgetting _Superman 2_, which is a sign that it’s not a very good sequel. It wasn’t particularly bad, I just thought it was forgettable. Definitely a hell of a lot better than 3, though. (Although without 3 we would never have had _Office Space_, so it’s not all bad.) And _Ghost World_ is a good movie, yes, but I don’t think of it as a comic book movie. And for the record, I liked the movie but _hated_ the book. Enid was completely unsympathetic in the book; I just wanted her to shut the hell up. I thought the character was better in the movie – still annoying, but in the way she was supposed to be (self-absorbed teenager). ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/52 "2003-12-05T13:37:10Z")
Since we’ve brought up the general… [KNEEL!](http://www.generalzod.net/) ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/53 "2003-12-05T13:48:33Z")
> [@](#): > > He seems about as “deep” as an Anne Rice character, or Jean-Claude Van Damme. And he doesn’t need to be. He doesn’t really have a mysterious background, when it comes down to it - excepting a few relations with Mystique and Sabertooth. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he is exactly wat he pretends to be: a wily and rather likable rogue. People don’t like him because he’s “deep” and meaningful but because he’s a decent person whose life and character is just a little bit out of the ordinary. Yeah, he doesn’t have the greatest powers, either, but that’s not the point. He’s a true **Smiling Bandit** , who’ll cut your purse, dodge the coppers, and then go save your life, just 'cause that’s what he does. He’s as smooth as silk and slick as Willy. ---
**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/54 "2003-12-05T15:31:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tracer \* > \*\*You’re kidding, right? You think that “You **will** bow down before me, Son of Jor-El-who-doesn’t-even-appear-in-this-movie” was better than the original? \*\* Yes. I don’t see what the presense or absense of Jor-El in Clark’s holographic lessons has to do with Zod’s desire for revenge upon his son. Brando’s overwrought Jor-El was one of the worst things about the original. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by SolGrundy_ > **And Ghost World is a good movie, yes, but I don’t think of it as a comic book movie.** _Ghost World_ is a movie adapted from a comic book. It is therefore a comic book movie. There’s hardly a leap of logic involved here. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/55 "2003-12-05T16:37:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \* > \*\*You’ve got a guy who can climb walls and teleport, \*\* And is an olympic-level gymnast, has a German accent, is an expert fencer, an accomplished ballroom dancer, and has skin covered in velvet-like fur. IMHO Nightcrawler’s musketeer chic beats the stuffing out Gambit’s dashing rogue chic. ---
**Author:** ![criminalcatalog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@criminalcatalog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminalcatalog)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/56 "2003-12-05T16:41:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \* > **I’ve never understood the fascination with Gambit, either. He seems about as “deep” as an Anne Rice character, or Jean-Claude Van Damme. And I really, really don’t get what’s so cool about being able to throw around super-powered playing cards. You’ve got a guy who can climb walls and teleport, a woman who can control the weather, a guy with a super-powerful eye beam, an indestructible guy with razor-sharp claws, and… a guy who can make playing cards explode and annoy you with a fake Creole accent.** Actually his powers allow him to “charge” other things as well, not just playing cards. He’s kind of like the Crazy Ivan character from the Command & Conquer game. I’m not sure what his limitations are, but if he wants to explode a tank or a door or a bad guy, all he has to do is touch them. Probably. Also, his reason for using cards is that they throw well and he can carry them easily and they have style. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020/57 "2003-12-05T20:06:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \* > **I _was_ forgetting _Superman 2_, which is a sign that it’s not a very good sequel. It wasn’t particularly bad, I just thought it was forgettable.** Likewise. I don’t **care** that Brando weighed 900 pounds in the first movie, he was still **Brando!** > [@](#): > > **Definitely a hell of a lot better than 3, though. (Although without 3 we would never have had _Office Space_, so it’s not all bad.)** And more importantly, without _Superman 3_, we would never have had _Superman 4: The Quest for Peace_. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-saw-x-men-2/182020.md?page=2)