Customer Reviews

X-Men

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This novel adapted from the soon to be released 20th Century Fox movie is a wonderful book and is sure to be a delight to even the die-hard X-Men fan. The character development of Wolverine is especially well done, although I would have liked to have had more information on Sabretooth, Toad and Mystique.

I had one small problem with the book in the fact that the writers need to get their technical information correct before putting their books in print. Wolverine has three claws per hand for a total of six, and each claw measures 12 inches in length not nine. He does not have four claws per hand as was described on page 39 as follows.

"Nine inches of metal shot from each knuckle. Eight razor sharp claws stabbed through cloth, skin and muscle ..........."

And on page 215 where it says, "Then, gauging exactly how much force he dared use, he stuck all four claws from his left hand..."

These may seem trivial to the average person, but to a true X-Men fan they are important.

In closing I would like to add that I am even more anxious to see the movie and my money is on X-Men to be the summer blockbuster of 2000.

Long Live the X-Men (and decent non-Batman like sequels)!

"X-Men: A Novelization" is a novelization from the 2000 action packed movies starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellan. Genetic mutants are very real in the 'not too distant future'. Made outcasts from societies, these mutants are rejected, feared, and hated for their superhuman powers. Some mutants want to strike out against mankind, these mutants being led by the powerful Magneto. But then again, there are some mutants who uses their special abilities for the greater. They battle against prejudice and agents of intolerance to save mankind, these mutants are... the X-Men.

First off I would like to say that I've never been an X-Men fan, never even have read any of the comics. It was only recently that I saw the movie "X-Men". I absolutely loved it and found the movie an amazing movie! So naturally I wanted to pick up the novelization. A great read I must say!

The basic plot is the same as the movie though there are some extra 'missing scenes' that were never in the movie. For example, I would have like to see some more of the friction between Wolverine and Cyclops in the movie like they had in the book. The characters are more realistic as we are able to go into their minds. The main character is that of Logan, or otherwise called Wolverine. He is a fascinating character as he at first tries to reject any help from anyone. That is until he meets up with first Marie (also called Rogue) then the X-Men. The writing is well-done, all the descriptions are done very nicely making you 'see' each scene.

Overall, I can highly recommend this book for all "X-Men" movie fans. I'm not sure if "X-Men" comics fans might enjoy this, since I don't know if the characters are very different from the comics. The movie was rated PG-13 so I guess this book is more for older teens and adults because of some swearing and the action is sometimes a bit violent.

All those fears I had of the x-men movie being the next bad comic book movie have been purged with the release of the movie tie in. The novel brings all those characteristics the film can't: by going in the minds of the characters, their emotions etc. I really don't want to ruin the plot for anyone, but if you're like me and you're waiting for the film to be released(not until July for goodness sake)The book has most of the great characters from the comics with some missing, I heard that all missing will probably show up in the next film. There are some really intriguing storylines in the book involving Logan and Rogue, as well as a couple of interesting twists that I sure didn't see coming. So, if you thinking x-men was going to be the next batman and robin, think again. The book is surely worth a read(I read in a day! ) If you're looking for a great book to take to the beach or just veg and read, remember X marks the spot!

X-Men, the long-awaited big screen debut of the world's most popular comic book series, was a great film. It succeeded largely because it remained so faithful to its successful source material. Ironically, the novelization by Rusch and Smith fails largely for the same reason: it so faithfully reproduced the film that there is little reason to read the novel.

The X-Men film brought familiar pulp characters to new visual heights and presented an entirely original story. Utilizing the strengths inherent in the medium of film, it brought viewers a new, rewarding experience. But the film's novelization does very little to draw on the potential strengths of a novel. Unlike novelizations which are compelling literature, such as Greg Bear's Star Wars: Episode One: The Phantome Menace or Orson Scott Card's The Abyss, Rusch and Smith's X-Men adds very little depth, insight or background. This novelization seems to be little more than a prose-form screenplay with some set and costume descriptions thrown in. There are three or four short scenes in the novel which weren't in the movie, but those were probably part of the screenplay, and simply ended up on the cutting room floor. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if every additional scene and bit of dialog found in the novel will be found in the director' cut DVD release.

The degree to which the novelization simply describes what the reader has already seen on screen begs the question: Why bother to read the book?

Well, if you're a big fan of the film and can't get enough of it, by all means, read this novelization. It's a fairly quick read -- 240 pages of moderately large typeface. It's not a big investment of time. But if you're an X-Men fan in general (not just a fan of the film), you'll probably find more reading pleasure in one of the original novels.

Most of the few "new" scenes in the X-Men novelization are soap operatic discussions between the main characters: Logan and Jean, Jean and Scott, Scott and Logan. There's little there that Days of Our Lives doesn't do better. The only significant extra scenes detail the emergence of Storm's and Cyclops's powers as young people. These are moderately interesting. The book provides some additional understanding about Scott's character, explaining how even with his ruby quartz glasses his power requires him to maintain constant physical and mental control. This color his whole personality and helps explain his somewhat stiff demeanor.

But characterization generally seems like a missed opportunity in this novelization. Even characters as fascinating as Magneto and Charles Xavier are rendered almost one-dimensionally. Mutant-hating Senator Kelly actually comes off less interesting in the book, which strips him of some of his onscreen complexity and paints him as a stock character: a simple bigot and political opportunist without realistic nuance or worthwhile motivation. The comic book version of Senator Kelly is much more readable and compelling.

The novelization even has some bizarre and annoying gaffes. Wolverine is frequently referred to as having four adamantium claws on each hand, instead of three. The location designated for the Canadian scenes is "British Columbia, Alberta." What is that supposed to mean? British Columbia and Alberta are both Canadian provinces. This makes no more sense than saying Rogue was born in "Georgia, Alabama."

If you've seen the X-Men film, then you pretty much know what you'll encounter if you read the novelization. Plotwise, there's not much more, and not much less.

This book was OK, it was not what I expected it to be. I amsure the movie will be SO much better. I was expecting more fromMystique. In the preview there seems to be a big showdown between Mystique and Wolverine, but in the book Wolverine punches her in the nose. It was a waiste of my time and money. I advise everyone to just wait for the movie to come out! I am not saying it was a bad book, because it wasn't. I was impressed by the storyline, character development, and dialouge. But other than that it wasn't that great. It was an easy read and I finished it within 7 hours... It was OK...

I loved this novelization of X-Men the Movie. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT a scene-by-scene version, but rather a combination of earlier versions of the script and the one that was ultimately used for filming. One of the key differences is the scene where Logan and Marie (Wolverine and Rogue) first meet. A great read and a MUST for any X-Men fan -- Highly recommended!

I am a reader of the Xmen comics from way back when the comic first came out, and a diehard Wolverine fan. I realize that this is not the comic version of how these characters first met, so of course, I was worried about the authors keeping true to the original characters. They are already well known to "true believers" and we sort of take unkindly to them being twisted into something they are not, (something that is common practice when the make a movie out of a book). But to my suprise I enjoyed the book (and the movie). The part of the story that focused on Wolverine's character was right on. A basically good and honorable man mixed with a vicious beast, tormented by a terrible forgotten past. Magneto is also done well, self-rightious and mad with revenge. Jean and Cyclops and Wolverine and Cyclops' inter-play was right on. Mind you they could have done better. The Professor is not as developed as he could have been. They made Storm an original team member, they mixed Jubilee with Rogue, got the claw count on Logan wrong a couple of times, made a mistake with Cyclops powers. Sabretooth seems not to remember Logan. Annoying mistakes but I found myself forgiving them because the story is good. A good read, but next time guys, read the comic version first.

When I started this novel, I wasn't sure what to expect. I've never read any of the X-Men comics, but I'm into science fiction and the trailer looked good. Anyway, I really enjoyed this novel, and I'm looking forward to the movie. There really isn't much point in summarizing the book since most of you probably already know the plot, at least to some degree. My favorite character is Rogue, probably because she's only a little older than me, so I could sort of relate to her (although I'm glad I don't have her power, since it sounded awful). I'm looking forward to seeing the movie a lot more after reading the book.

I'm not a science fiction fan, nor do I read comic books, but I've heard a lot about the movie, so I thought reading the book might give me some background. I got so caught up in the story that I read it in one sitting.

Different from the rest of the world due to a damaged/evolving gene, a group of 'mutants' must battle prejudice and most struggle to survive.

Normal humans persecute the mutants, not because they hate them, but because they do not understand their gifts.

Professor Charles Xavier, a mutant himself, is on a mission to seek out these outcasts and provide them with a nuturing environment in which they can flourish and come to terms with their powers.

A former colleague, known as Magneto, is set on an altogether different path -- one that will destroy the world unless the Professor and his X-Men foil Magneto's demented plans.

Lurking just below the surface of this story are some very good life lessons on tolerance, acceptance, and self-worth.

This classic battle of good versus evil plays out with some great storytelling.

The authors did their job well because I liked the Professor's 'good guys' and I really detested Magneto and his bullies.

I can't wait to see the movie!

Enjoy!

I loved the movie and this book actually takes me through the movie as I'm reading the book! I have read this book abaut 20 times and loved it even more every time I read it! You just really need and want this book if you love X-Men as I do!!!!!!!!!