While 'X-men (2000)' can be lacking in action and its age is starting to show in a couple of areas, this pioneer of the genre is still an entertaining experience with great character moments. It's at its sharpest when exploring themes of civil rights, those that were at the heart of the series since its inception, and the thematic elements can be surprisingly dark; I don't think anyone expected this big budget blockbuster to begin in a concentration camp. The film is a solid start to what would become a major franchise and it's easy to forget what a monumental task it had. Setting up its fantastical but grounded world and characters while making them digestible for a wide audience is no mean feat and the fact it pulls it off so effortlessly is commendable. Its fantastic casting helped, with most of the main cast sticking around for over ten years. While the series did get better - though it also got much worse, this feature is an enjoyable and engaging one from start to finish. 7/10