X2: X-Men United

Comic books are about to reach a whole new level. On Tuesday , November 25, the new X2: X-Men United DVD hits the stores with what promises to be the new benchmark in comic book-based entertainment.

X2 is one of those sequels that truly outdoes the original. With the addition of prolific new characters, a fast-paced plot that focuses on action without detracting from the characters and some of the most impressive special effects to date, X2 makes the original look like a mere introduction. Look out Spiderman, the X-Men are taking over. And with the seemingly endless supply of future story lines and new characters, the X-Men could become the next dynasty in Hollywood.

But enough about that. Let’s get down to what DVDs are all about – special features, a whole disc full of them. Of course there are the usual deleted scenes, trailers and basic art galleries, none of which are overly impressive, but X2 comes with a whole lot more. From a history of the X-Men to highlights from the post-production webcast, the special features cover every step of the production process – scene and stage selection, costume creation, the special effects and make-up process, even the post-production recording of the musical score – its all there. They even included a full-on “making of” documentary with interviews with the cast and crew. Nightcrawler takes center stage in this special features section with an interactive rendering of the opening scene. Wolverine makes an impressive appearance also, but I do not want to ruin the surprise. Let me just say that there are some special features that you will watch more than twice.

X2: X-Men United is a must own for all X-Men fans and includes enough background information for anyone who wants to become one. If you have not seen the movie it is about time you did, it is not to be missed, and if you have already seen it, there is still a lot more to see.

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