"X-Men" helped set the stage for all the good superhero movies that followed. I believe the X-Men films have resonated so well because they tried to do things differently. The core idea behind the X-Men moves away from what’s typical in superhero stories. If you go into these films expecting something like Superman, Spider-Man, or Batman, you'll be disappointed. What makes the X-Men unique is that humanity seems to be evolving, and a small number of people around the world are beginning to develop superhuman abilities linked to what’s called the “X” gene. Two mutant leaders, who used to be friends, end up with very different viewpoints: Charles Xavier establishes a school for young mutants in upstate New York, maintaining an optimistic outlook and aiming for positive outcomes. Eric Lensherr, or Magneto, is frustrated by the fear of those who aren’t mutants. He forms a "Brotherhood of Mutants" that displays a sense of superiority. Unfortunately, power can be corrupting, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. You could draw an interesting comparison between Xavier's approach and Martin Luther King Jr., while Magneto represents something like Malcolm X. While everyone has their favorites, I think the three films in the original series – "X-Men" (2000), "X2: X-Men United" (2003), and "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006) – are generally of a similar standard. The first film, “X-Men,” naturally introduces the main characters and explains the situation facing mutants. Wolverine and Rogue are presented and gradually develop a sort of big brother/little sister dynamic. They encounter both Magneto’s Brotherhood and Xavier's school, eventually choosing to join the latter. Magneto’s group includes Sabertooth, Toad, and Mystique, while Xavier’s team consists of Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Storm, as well as the younger mutants Iceman and Pyro. The two groups clash at Liberty Island in New York Harbor, which is the least compelling part of the movie, though it's not bad. When "X-Men" was released in 2000, it stood out as a strong adaptation of a comic book into a film since “Superman” (1978) and “Superman II” (1980). It paved the way for many of the great superhero films that appeared in the 2000s, although its appeal has lessened somewhat because of the quality of some of those later movies. The movie is an hour and 44 minutes long and includes several interesting deleted scenes. GRADE: A-

Source on TMDB