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The other mutants are lead by Eric Lensherr, also known as Magneto (Ian McKellen). A survivor of the Holocaust, Magneto takes a more forceful approach to achieving equality and freedom for mutants than Xavier does. Magneto does not care for humans, he is only concerned with mutants. He believes that mutants are the next evolution of mankind, and are destined to replace regular humans entirely. It's Darwinism in a way. The mutants are stronger and deserve to inherit the earth. Humans are of no consequence, and have only worked to persecute mutants. Magneto's plot to bring equality to mutants everywhere is original and genius, while still revealing his own cowardice. Magento's evil is revealed through his actions. His old friend Xavier must oppose him, risking his and his followers' lives for the sake of humans.

Senator Kelly (Bruce Davison) leads the third side, this one composed of humans. Humanity is rightfully afraid of mutants. They are people with powerful, dangerous abilities. They can do amazing things, things that would strike fear into any sane person. And just like regular humans, there are good and bad mutants. Should the good mutants suffer because of the bad? Kelly wants all mutants registered. While this is a stance we can all understand, is it worth the price? What kind of freedoms are guranteed to human beings, even if they are mutant? Registeration presents a slippery slop of morality. Where could this end up? These are deep, murky issues.

In the end, it is Xavier who we choose to support. His ideals of freedom and equality are optimistic, but they are also just. Magneto and Kelly are leading their followers down a twisted road, only Xavier takes the higher path. Xavier's followers are of course known as the "X-Men" and include Scott Summers (James Marsden) , also known as Cyclops, the team's field leader; Dr. Jean Grey (Famke Janssen); and Ororo Munroe (Halle Berry), also known as Storm. They are the body that carries out the crippled Xavier's ideas, fighting for both mutants and humans. In opposition is the Brotherhood of Mutants, lead by Magneto. They include Sabretooth (Tyler Mane), Toad (Ray Park), and Mystique (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos). They carry out Magneto's will, and are merely pawns in the greater scheme of things.

Despite so much going on in the very short film, the movie's main story, and heart, come not from these manueverings, but from two stranded characters, lost in the world. They are Logan (Hugh Jackman), or Wolverine, and Marie (Anna Paquin), or Rogue. The pair of loners meet early in the film and are eventually saved by the X-Men from the Brotherhood and become emersed in the coming war. They provide the emotion of X-Men.

The performances are strong all around. Patrick Stewart was born to play Xavier, and Jackman was made famous by his pitch perfect potrayal of Wolverine. Ian McKellen is superb as Magneto. James Marsden is slightly weak as Cyclops, but much of that could be attributed to his weakly written part. He gets a few good moments, but should have had much more. If any character gets shortchanged in X-Men, it is Cyclops. Halle Berry is terrible as Storm, in a part that is both poorly written and acted. The film could have benefited from a longer running time, with more focus placed on Cyclops and Jean and character development. These are minor quibbles however.

As an adaptation, Singer does an admirable job. He stays true to the characters and their world, while still making the necessary adjustments to create a believable fantasy. It is obvious that Singer cares about this world, and he creates not only a good film but also a good adaptation.

With X-Men, we are seeing only the beginning. The war has just begun, and based on the events here, it will not be an easy one.