With the new X-Men Origins: Wolverine film hitting theaters, now is your chance to catch up on the exploits of your favorite heroes because the X-Men Trilogy is now available on Blu-ray! This new 9-disc release includes the three films as several discs of special features and a digital copy of each of the films for your computer or iPod enjoyment.
X-Men
The first X-Men film featured a strong cast of actors in the role of our favorite mutant heroes. The X-Men, lead by Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart), must rush against the clock to stop Magneto (Ian McKellen) from turning the rest of the world into mutants! A young mutant named Rogue (Anna Paquin) runs away from home after discovering her mutant powers and happens to meet Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). The two become friends but are soon attacked by a mysterious mutant named Sabertooth. Cyclops and Storm show up to save the two mutants and invite take them to the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. It is soon discovered that Magneto has put together a small group of evil mutants intent on becoming the rulers of Mankind. This film includes James Marsden as Cyclops, Famke Janssen as Jean Grey, Halle Berry as Storm, and Ray Park as Toad.
X-Men Special Features
-Commentary by Bryan Singer and Brian Peck
-Behind-the-Scenes Footage
-Poland Prison Camp
-Senate Chamber
-Cage Fight
-Battle in the Snow
-Xavier’s Office
-Logan, Jean & Scott/ Classroom (Extended Scene) with -Optional Commentary
-Mystique/Senator Kelly
-Magneto’s Lair
-Bedroom
-Senator Kelly Dangles
-Cerebro
-Train Attack
-Magneto vs. Cops
-Map of New York
-X-Jet
-Storm Vs. Toad / Wolverine Battles Mystique
-Statue of Liberty
-Sabretooth vs. Wolverine
-Plastic Prison
-Deleted/Extended Scenes with Optional Commentary by Bryan -Singer and Brian Peck
-Storm Teaching Class
-Logan Notices Jean and Scott/Rogue, Scott and Storm in -Classroom
-Extended Bedroom Scene with Logan, Jean and Scott
-Bobby Walks Rogue to Dorm/Xavier and Jean in Cerebro
-Xavier and Jean in Office
-Ready Room
-Easter Egg: Blooper
-Fox Special: “The Mutant Watch”
-Bryan Singer Interview
-Why He Made X-Men
-Bringing X-Men From Comic Book to the Big Screen
-Directing Actors
-Learning From Actors
-The Challenges of Making a Studio Film
-Character Design
-Production Design
-Three TV Spots
-Music Promo
-Enhanced for D-Box Motion Code Systems
-BD-Live: Wolverine Exclusive
-HD Marvel Universe Trailers
-Disc Intro by Bryan Singer
-The Uncanny Suspects
-Hugh Jackman’s First Reading
-Hugh Jackman’s Screen Test
-Character Still Gallery
-X-Factor: The Look of the X-Men
-Cyclops Costume Test and Visor
-Storm Costume Test
-Toad Makeup Test
-Image Gallery
-Hardware
-Locations
-Magneto
-Xavier’s School
-Production Documentary Scrapbook
-Multi-Angle Train Splitting
-Multi-Angle Fight Rehearsal
-The Prime Minister of Canada
-The Special Effects of the X-Men
-Senator Kelly Effects Breakdown
-Liberty Head (animatic/film)
-Toad vs. Jean Grey (animatic/film)
-Wolverine vs. Mystique (animatic/film)
-Wolverine vs. Sabretooth (animatic/film)
-Reflection of the X-Men
-Ellis Island Premiere
-Premieres Around the World
-Marketing the X-Men
-Three trailers in HD
-TV Spots
-Digital Copy
X2: X-Men United
When a teleporting mutant named Nightcrawler attacks the President of the United States, a man named William Stryker is given permission to do a raid on a mutant stronghold (which happens to be Xavier's School). Professor X and Cyclops go to visit Magneto in prison and are taken by surprise and taken prisoner by Stryker's forces. Meanwhile, the school is attacked and Wolverine must help the children escape (with a little help from Colossus, Rogue, Pyro and Iceman) but comes face to face with Stryker himself. Stryker reveals that he knows a lot of information about Wolverine and his past and offers to reveal information to him if he joins them. The conversation is interrupted when Iceman creates an ice wall between the men and convinces Wolverine that they need his help. The team reunites and realize they must work with Magneto and his Brotherhood if they want to defeat Stryker. Now the team must travel to an old Weapon X facility to save their teammates as well as discover more about Wolverine's mysterious past!
This movie proved to be the best in the series. It introduced more elements of Wolverine's past. It had more significant interaction with classic X-Men characters. It had a solid cast and a great story. The setup for the Phoenix storyline was handled perfectly (if only Brett Ratner has done a better job with X3…but that's a whole different topic). The only thing that could have made it better would have been the use of Sentinels by the human forces.
This movie has a direct tie in with the X-Men Origins: Wolverine as it includes a lot of information and backstory on Stryker and his relationship with Wolverine.
X2: X-Men United Special Features
-Commentary by Bryan Singer and Tom Sigel
-Commentary by Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris and David Hayter
-Generation X: Comic Book History
-Enhanced for D-Box Motion Code Systems
-BD-Live: Wolverine Exclusive
-HD Marvel Universe Trailers
-History of the X-Men
-The Secret Origin of X-Men
-Nightcrawler Reborn
-Pre-Production
-Nightcrawler Attack – Multi-Angle Study
-Evolution in the Details – Designing X2
-United Colors of X
-Production
-Wolverine/Deathstrike Fight Rehearsal
-The Second Uncanny Issue of X-Men – Making X2
-Introducing the Incredible Nightcrawler!
-Nightcrawler Stunt Rehearsal
-Nightcrawler Time-lapse
-FX2 – Visual Effects
-Post-Production
-Requiem For Mutants – The Score of X2
-X2 Global Webcast Highlights
-Deleted Scenes
-Extended Wolverine/Deathstrike Fight
-Wolverine Kills the Intruder
-Mystique in Stryker’s Files
-Nightcrawler BAMF to Save the Students
-Jean and Storm in the X-Jet
-Jubilee at the Museum
-Pyro Starts the Campfire
-One of the Children is Sick After BAMFing
-Rogue Helps the Children Escape
-Professor X and Cyclops Escape
-Arriving to an Empty School
-Galleries
-Characters
-Locations and Sets
-Alkali Lake Dam
-Cerebro
-Dark Cerebro
-Deathstrike’s Office
-Drake Residence
-Museum
-Mystique & Laurio
-Plastic Prison
-Stryker’s Base
-White House
-X-Jet
-X-Mansion
-Mutant X-Rays
-Nightcrawler Circus Posters
-On-Camera Graphics
-Museum
-Plastic Prison
-Ronny’s Room Posters
-Stryker’s Base
-X-Jet
-X-Mansion
-The Unseen X2
-Angel (Archangel)
-Danger Room Set Construction
-Danger Room Set Design
-Danger Room Storyboards
-Sentinels
-Three HD Trailers
-Digital Copy
X3: The Last Stand
The world will never be the same now that Worthington Labs offered a new "Cure" for mutants. While humanity believes they are helping their mutant brothers and sisters, they believe they are depriving them of their birthright. Magneto has raised a mutant army to stop Worthington from distributing this cure and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. His new team includes the Unstoppable Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones), Callisto (Dania Ramirez), Pyro (Aaron Stanford) and more classic X-Men villains! But the X-Men have made a few additions of their own: Colossus (Daniel Cudmore), Beast (Kelsey Grammer), Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page), and Iceman (Aaron Ashmore). Warren Worthington II has helped to develop this cure for his son, Warren III (aka Angel) who has been "cursed" with a pair of wings. Young Warren rejects his father's cure and eventually joins up with the X-Men. If that wasn't enough to deal with, both the X-Men and the Brotherhood race to find a certain mutant who has risen from the ashes and is now more powerful than ever (I will give you a hint: she died in the last movie).
The Good:
Kelsey Grammer was the best thing in this entire movie. He was the prefer choice for the Beast and really thrived in this role. We finally got to see the Danger Room (and a Sentinel…or atleast part of one). This movie has tons of cameos but the story was definitely lacking from the previous film.
The Bad:
The Phoenix story is rushed and goes straight into Dark Phoenix. Cyclops is "killed" off screen. Professor X may or may not be dead. Storm is now in charge of the school since thats "what Xavier wanted", but in reality its because Halle Berry wouldn't return as Storm if she didn't get a larger role. The film promoted Angel as playing a large part in the film but only appears on screen for maybe 10 minutes total.
X3: The Last Stand Special Features
-Director and Writer Commentary by Brett Ratner, Zack Penn and Simon Kinberg
-Producer Commentary by Avi Arad, Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter
-HD Deleted Scenes (Optional Director and Writer Commentary by Brett Ratner, Zack Penn and Simon Kinberg)
-Xavier Voice-Over for Main Titles
-Jimmy in Laboratory
-Alternate Version: Beast Meets Logan
-Pyro Tells Magneto About the Cure Announcement
-Alternate Version: Guard Yells at the President
-Extended Fight Sequence at Jean Grey’s House
-“Psychic Battle” Voices
-Alternate Version: Bobby & Kitty Skate
-Original Version: Jean Displays Her Power at the Encampment
-Plastic Weapons Manufacturing
-Hank Warns Trask of Magneto’s Plan
-Original Version: X-Men Board the Jet
-Jean Senses a Scared Little Girl
-Magneto Asks Jean To Help in the Battle
-Storm Creates a Wave
-Beast Breaks A Neck
-Bobby Freezes Phat
-Alternate Version: Here’s Juggy
-Magneto Tortures Logan
-Extended Dark Phoenix Destruction
-Alternate Ending: New School Year Begins
-Alternate Ending: Rogue Returns
-Alternate Ending: Logan Returns to Alberta, Canada
-Enhanced for D-Box Motion Code Systems
-HD Easter Eggs:
-Beast Recites Shakespeare
-X-Jet Lands in D.C.
-BD-Live: Wolverine Exclusive
-HD Marvel Universe Trailers
-Brett Ratner’s Production Diary
-X-Men: Evolution of a Trilogy
-X-Men Up Close – Interactive gallery with stills and video
-Generation X: Comic Book History
-Fox Movie Channel Presents: Life After Film School
-Fox Movie Channel Presents: Casting Session
-X3: The Excitement Continues in HD
-Anatomy of a Scene: Golden Gate Bridge in HD
-HD Vignettes
-Prophecies
-X-Men Politics
-Clothing vs. Costume
-Make-up Chair Confessions
-Weapons of Choice
-On Set Effects
-Learning to Fly
-HD Blogs
-Production Teaser
-Live From the Danger Room
-MARVELous Cameos
-Editing Magic
-Young Jean Grey
-The Danger Room
-Mystique’s Interrogation
-Jean Rises From the Lake
-Logan and Storm Look for Scott
-Jimmy Meets Mutant Playmate
-Angel Escapes
-Mystique’s Prison Break
-Jean Kills Xavier
-Angel Lands at School
-Magneto Talks to Jean in the Woods
-Logan Fights with Spike
-Multiple Man Decoy
-Magneto Moves Golden Gate Bridge
-Angel Joins the Battle
-Angel Saves His Dad
-Ash Burns Soldiers
-Omega Muties Break into Lab
-Juggernaut Chases Kitty
-Dark Phoenix Finale
-Galleries
-Character Stills
-Concept Art, Storyboards & Models
-Easter Egg
-Colossus Throws Logan Into the Camera
-Three HD Trailers
-Digital Copy
Overall
First I suggest you go see Wolverine in theaters and then watch all 3 movies in a row (that's what I did). With Wolverine being a prequel to the X-Men trilogy, it is a lot of fun to go back and watch the series in this new order. As you can see, there are tons of special features in this set. If you don't own these movies on DVD then this is the perfect collection for you!
ComicsOnline gives the X-Men Trilogy on Blu-ray 5 out of 5 X-Men Cameos.
