 Apt Pupil 1998  R, 112 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Ian McKellen, Brad Renfro, Bruce Davison, Elias Koteas, Joshua Jackson, David Schwimmer, Joe Morton, Mickey Cottrell, Jan Triska, Michael Byrne
Straight A student Todd Bowden (Brad Renfro) recognizes Kurt Dussander (Ian McKellen) as a former Nazi SS officer and proceeds to blackmail him in exchange for details about the holocaust. Tables are turned as Todd, himself, finds his life deteriorating as he becomes an apt pupil and, eventually, a menacing young man. From a Stephen King story.
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Asylum 2005  R, 92 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller / Romance
Director: David Mackenzie
Cast: Natasha Richardson, Ian McKellen, Hugh Bonneville, Marton Csokas, Gus Lewis, Joss Ackland, Judy Parfitt, Rhydian Jones, Wanda Ventham, Robert Willox, Maria Aitken, Sarah Thurston, Alwyne Taylor, Hazel Douglas, Anna Keaveney
While her husband, Max (Hugh Bonneville), is assigned to serve as deputy director of a psychiatric hospital, Stella (Natasha Richardson) crosses the path of inmate Edgar (Marton Csokas), becomes attracted to him, and enters into an affair. She helps Edgar escape and follows him despite the fact that she knows he murdered and disfigured his wife. It does not take Stella long to learn that Edgar's brutality does not lie only in his past.
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The Ballad of Little Jo 1994  R, 120 min.
Genre: Western
Director: Maggie Greenwald
Cast: Suzy Amis, Bo Hopkins, Ian McKellen, David Chung, Carrie Snodgress, Rene Auberjonois, Heather Graham, Sam Robards, Anthony Heald, Melissa Leo, Olinda Turturro, Ruth Maleczech, Jeffrey Andrews, Cathy Haase, Peadair S. Addie Sr.
Josephine (Suzy Amis) arrives in the West to escape the prejudices of the East (she had an illegitimate baby), and finds more problems in her new life. To escape the stigma of being a woman, Josephine disguises herself as a male and becomes "Little Jo." As such, she experiences life on the frontier as a male, which poses fewer problems.
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 Bent 1997 NC-17, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Sean Mathias
Cast: Clive Owen, Lothaire Bluteau, Brian Webber, Ian McKellen, Mick Jagger, Jude Law, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gresby Nash, Suzanne Bertish, David Meyer
This is the film version of Martin Sherman's play about Max (Clive Owen) and Horst (Lothaire Bluteau) who become homosexual lovers in the Nazi concentration camp, Dachau.
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Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 2000 G, 38 min.
Genre: Documentary
Director: Keith Melton
Cast: Ian McKellen
Cirque du Soleil performers are brought to the screen in this IMAX-3D documentary, which serves as an advertisement for the dazzling, live performances of its stars.
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Cold Comfort Farm 1995  PG, 105 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: John Schlesinger
Cast: Kate Beckinsale, Eileen Atkins, Sheila Burrell, Stephen Fry, Freddie Jones, Ian McKellen, Joanna Lumley, Rufus Sewell, Miriam Margolyes, Ivan Kaye
This is a good film based on Stella Gibbons' 1932 novel about a society girl, Flora Poste (Kate Beckinsale), who is orphaned at age 19. Unprepared for work, Stella contacts distant relatives, and her cousin, Judith Starkadder (Eileen Atkins), invites her to join her family on their run-down farm. Stella takes up the offer and proceeds to transform those living on the farm as well as the farm itself.
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 The Da Vinci Code 2006 PG-13, 150 min.
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Drama
Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jurgen Prochnow, Paul Bettany, Jean Reno, Etienne Chicot, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Seth Gabel, Jean-Yves Berteloot, Clive Carter
Dan Brown's best-selling–and controversial to many Christians– novel is brought to the screen by Ron Howard. Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a Harvard professor/symbologist, is visiting Paris when he is called to the Louvre after the curator is found murdered in the museum. A cipher found near the body begins Langdon's and cryptologist Sophie Neveu's (Audrey Tautou) thrilling race for the secrets of the cipher, which includes Leonardo Da Vinci's hidden meanings in his paintings and encounters with secret societies. This film version tiptoes around the more controversial parts of the novel.
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David Copperfield 1999 TV, 186 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Simon Curtis
Cast: Emilia Fox, Daniel Radcliffe, Maggie Smith, Trevor Eve, Bob Hoskins, Ciaran McMenamin, Michael Elphick, James Thornton, Alun Armstrong, Imelda Staunton, Zoe Wanamaker, Ian McKellen
This BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale relates the trials and tribulations of young David (Daniel Radcliffe) who grows up poor but builds a better life for himself in London. Ciaran McMenamin takes on the role of the adult David.
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Doogal 2006  G, 80 min.
Genre: Animation / Family / Adventure / Comedy
Director: Jean Duval, Frank Passingham, Dave Borthwick
Cast: Daniel Tay, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, William H. Macy, Chevy Chase, Judi Dench, Kylie Minogue, Ian McKellen, Kevin Smith, Cory Edwards, John Krasinski
An old legend relates the story of three magical jewels falling into the wrong hands and combining into a force so powerful that it could freeze the Sun. In this animated family adventure, candy-loving mutt Doogal (Daniel Tay) crashes into the magic carousel, and the accident releases the evil Zeebad (Jon Stewart) from his prison. Zeebad vows revenge by freezing the Earth forever, but first he must find the three magic jewels. Never fear, the good wizard Zebedee (Ian McKellen) tells Doogal about the jewels, and Doogal and friends Dylan (Jimmy Fallon), Brian (William H. Macy), and Ermitrude (Whoopi Goldberg) set out on a fantastic adventure to save the world.
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Emile 2003 R, 92 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Carl Bessai
Cast: Ian McKellen, Deborah Kara Unger, Theo Crane, Tygh Runyan, Chris Martin, Ian Tracey, Janet Wright, Frank Borg, Nancy Sivak
Years ago, Emile (Ian McKellen) abandoned his family, but now he is traveling back home to Canada to receive an honorary degree. As part of his journey, Emile visits his estranged niece, Nadia (Deborah Kara Unger), and her 10-year-old daughter, Maria (Theo Crane). Nadia has not forgiven him for leaving the family years before, but Emile does form a bond with Maria.
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 Flushed Away 2006 PG, 86 min.
Genre: Animation / Family / Comedy
Director: David Bowers, Sam Fell
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Winslet, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Jean Reno, Bill Nighy, Shane Richie, Kathy Burke, David Suchet, Miriam Margolyes, Susan Duerden, Miles Richardson
Roddy (voice of Hugh Jackman) is a mouse living the good life in a posh London apartment–until a sewer rat, Sid (voice of Shane Richie), arrives on the scene, lures Roddy into a "whirlpool," and flushes him down the toilet. From that drain pipe, Roddy enters London's sewer world of Ratropolis where he becomes involved in quite an adventure with rats, toads, and frogs that include scavenger Rita (voice of Kate Winslet) and the evil Toad (voice of Ian McKellen).
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Gods and Monsters 1998 N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Bill Condon
Cast: Ian McKellen, Brendan Fraser, Lynn Redgrave, Lolita Davidovich, Kevin J. O'Connor, David Dukes, Jack Betts, Arthur Dignam, Martin Ferrero, John Gatins
The last days in the life of British director James Whale ("Frankenstein" and "Bride of Frankenstein") are recounted in this campy tale of Whale's homosexual attraction to his tall, square-headed gardener–a fantasized reincarnation of Frankenstein's monster. Ian McKellen received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and Lynn Redgrave received a nomination for Supporting Actress.
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The Golden Compass 2007 PG-13, 114 min.
Genre: Adventure / Drama / Fantasy / Thriller
Director: Chris Weitz
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Dakota Blue Richards, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott, Eva Green, Christopher Lee, Tom Courtenay, Derek Jacobi, Ben Walker, Freddie Highmore, Ian McKellen, Ian McShane, Kristin Scott Thomas, Kathy Bates, Jim Carter
Her uncle, Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig) has made it possible for orphaned, young Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) to be raised at Jordan University. As an explorer, Asriel is often away, and he returns this time from the Arctic Circle with evidence that "Dust," which has properties that could unite the universe, exists. Asriel goes back on another expedition, and the evil Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman) takes Lyra under her wing. But, when Lyra's best friend Roger (Ben Walker) is kidnapped, Lyra acquires a golden compass that, when in the right hands, will reveal truth. Now, Lyra sets off into the frozen north to rescue Roger and other children who have been kidnapped by child-stealing "Gobblers." And adventures ensue. The film received an Academy Award for Best Visueal Effects and received one additional nomination.
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I'll Do Anything 1994  PG-13, 115 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: James L. Brooks
Cast: Nick Nolte, Whittni Wright, Albert Brooks, Julie Kavner, Tracey Ullman, Joely Richardson, Ian McKellen, Woody Harrelson, Robert Joy, Rosie O'Donnell
A not-so-very successful actor (Nick Nolte) suddenly is given custody of his daughter (Whittni Wright), a six-year-old who has never known her father. He gets a job as a chauffeur for a movie studio exec and finds time to fall in love with his daughter.
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Jack and Sarah 1995 R, 110 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Tim Sullivan
Cast: Richard E. Grant, Samantha Mathis, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Imogen Stubbs, Cherie Lunghi, Eileen Atkins, David(2) Swift
Set in London, this is the story of Jack (Richard E. Grant), a yuppie London lawyer, whose wife (Imogen Stubbs) dies in childbirth. Jack gets help from Amy (Samantha Mathis), an American who he hires as a nanny for his baby daughter, Sarah. The story then involves Jack's coming to terms with his new life as a father and trying to become a good parent.
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Last Action Hero 1993 PG-13, 122 min.
Genre: Action / Comedy / Adventure / Fantasy
Director: John McTiernan
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, F. Murray Abraham, Art Carney, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mercedes Ruehl, Tom Noonan, Anthony Quinn, Chevy Chase, Danny DeVito, Charles Dance, Frank McRae, Robert Prosky, Ian McKellen, Joan Plowright
Eleven-year-old Danny (Austin O'Brien) gets a magic ticket, once owned by Houdini, to meet his hero Jack Slater (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Danny enters the theater and is catapulted from the real world of the theater, through the movie screen, and into Slater's sports car. Slater is battling a trio of bad guys–Benedict (Charles Dance), Vivaldi (Anthony Quinn), and The Ripper (Tom Noonan)–and Danny becomes his assistant. Then, Benedict steals Danny's magic ticket stub and propels himself into the real world where he and The Ripper create havoc on Times Square. Their actions force Slater to leave his cinematic world and cross over into reality to stop the villains. Will Slater's heroic actions succeed in the real world? The film is filled with cameo appearances/voices.
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 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 2001  PG-13, 178 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Fantasy
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Andy Serkis, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Hugo Weaving
Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is the Hobbit who has been given the long-missing Ancient Ring of the Dark Lord of Sauron. Now that Frodo has the Ring in his possession, he has no choice but to find the Cracks of Doom in order to destroy the Ring and end the reign of the Dark Lords. This film received the most Academy Award nominations for 2001 (13), and won four Oscars (Best Cinematography, Visual Effects, Original Score, and Makeup). Nominations included Best Picture, Director, and Supporting Actor (Ian McKellen).
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 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 2003 PG-13, 201 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Fantasy
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Bernard Hill, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Sean Bean
In the conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, Gollum (Andy Serkis) continues to lead the gentle Hobbits–Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin)–on the trek to Mount Doom in their quest to destroy the One Ring. Meanwhile, the deposed King Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) strives to unite the people of Middle Earth in preparation for battle in the forthcoming massive attack by the Dark Lord Saurons' minions. Winner of 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, and Original Score and Song.
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 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2002 PG-13, 179 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Fantasy
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Bernard Hill, Christopher Lee, Brad Dourif, Billy Boyd, Andy Serkis, Dominic Monaghan, Hugo Weaving
The Hobbits continue where the last film–"Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring"–left off as Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) continue on their way to Mordor in their effort to destroy the One Ring. Academy Awards were received for Best Sound Editing and Visual Effects, and the film received four nominations, including Best Picture.
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Plenty 1985 R, 119 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Fred Schepisi
Cast: Meryl Streep, John Gielgud, Sting, Sam Neill, Charles Dance, Tracey Ullman, Ian McKellen, Burt Kwouk, Tristram Jellinek, Andre Maranne
After World War II, a former French Resistance member (Meryl Streep) returns to London where her idealism turns to frustration over personal as well as political happenings.
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Priest of Love 1981 R, 125 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Christopher Miles
Cast: Ian McKellen, Janet Suzman, Ava Gardner, Penelope Keith, John Gielgud, Sarah Miles, Jorge Rivero, James Faulkner, Massimo Ranieri, Patrick Holt
This is a biography of writer D.H. Lawrence (Ian McKellen) that concentrates on his protective wife, Frieda (Janet Suzman), who helps him during his fatal illness with tuberculosis.
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Richard III 1995 R, 104 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Richard Loncraine
Cast: Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Maggie Smith, Kristin Scott Thomas, Nigel Hawthorne, Robert Downey Jr., John Wood, Jim Broadbent, Bill Paterson, Edward Hardwicke, Jim Carter, Adrian Dunbar, Roger Hammond, Tim McInnery, Dominic West
Seduction and murder are used to attain power in Shakespeare's story of the treacherous English monarch Richard III (Ian McKellen). There is a twist to the screen adaptation: the time has been updated to the 1930s, and the hunchbacked king is a Fascist.
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Scandal 1989 R, 106 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Cast: John Hurt, Joanne Whalley, Bridget Fonda, Ian McKellen, Leslie Phillips, Britt Ekland, Jeroen Krabbe, Daniel Massey, Roland Gift, Jean Alexander, Alex Norton, Leslie Phillips
The sensational Profumo Affair scandal is chronicled in this film about showgirls Christine Keeler (Joanne Whalley) and Mandy Rice-Davis (Bridget Fonda)–affairs with top British government officials. There is the original X-rated version out there, too.
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The Scarlet Pimpernel 1982 TV, 150 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: Clive Donner
Cast: Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, Ian McKellen, James Villiers, Eleanor David, Malcolm Jamieson, Denis Lill, Ann Firbank, Richard Morant, Julian Fellowes
Combining two of the Baroness Orczy's classic tales, this is the story of the rescue of French aristocrats condemned to death at the guillotine.
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The Shadow 1994 PG-13, 105 min.
Genre: Action
Director: Russell Mulcahy
Cast: Alec Baldwin, Penelope Ann Miller, John Lone, Jonathan Winters, Ian McKellen, Peter Boyle, Tim Curry, James Hong, John Kapelos, Andre Gregory
Lamont Cranston (Alec Baldwin) is the rich playboy "who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men" and becomes the Shadow to weed out undesirable elements from society. To effect his change into the Shadow, Cranston "clouds men's minds" to make himself invisible (except for his shadow). In this film, Shiwan Khan (John Lone) has a bomb with which he threatens all of civilization, and the Shadow must come to the rescue.
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Six Degrees of Separation 1993 R, 111 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Fred Schepisi
Cast: Stockard Channing, Will Smith, Donald Sutherland, Ian McKellen, Mary Beth Hurt, Bruce Davison, Anthony Michael Hall, Heather Graham, Eric Thal, Richard Masur
This drama has comedic highlights. It is the story of a New York couple (Donald Sutherland and Stockard Channing) who are duped into believing that a young man is Sidney Poitier's son. Discovering their roles as gullible victims, they decide to look into the scam. Channing received an Oscar nomination.
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Stardust 2007  PG-13, 130 min.
Genre: Adventure / Fantasy / Drama
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Cast: Ian McKellen, Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Mark Strong, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sienna Miller, Nathaniel Parker, Ben Barnes, Ricky Gervais, Peter O'Toole, Robert De Niro, Sarah Alexander, Joanna Scanlan, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett
Ian McKellen narrates this tale about Tristan Thorne (Charlie Cox) who lives with his father Dunstan (Nathaniel Parker) in the Victorian English town of Wall, which is separated from the enchanted town of Stormhold by a wall. In an effort to impress the beautiful Victoria (Sienna Miller), Tristan goes to Stormhold to recover a fallen star. The star has turned into a beautiful woman, Yvaine (Claire Danes), who is less than enthusiastic about being taken to Wall. Another problem enters the scene when the scheming sons of Stormhold's king (Peter O'Toole) also want the star, which their father tossed into the heavens on his deathbed. The star holds the key to the kingdom. That same star knocked Yvaine from the sky and now hangs around her neck. Then, to add to Tristan's trials, witches (Michelle Pfeiffer, Sarah Alexander, and Joanna Scanlan) want Yvaine's heart because it will bestow beauty and eternal life on anyone who cuts it out and eats it. The special effects, along with the characters, provide great viewing.
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Swept from the Sea 1997 PG-13, 115 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Beeban Kidron
Cast: Vincent Perez, Rachel Weisz, Ian McKellen, Joss Ackland, Kathy Bates, Tom Bell, Zoe Wanamaker, Tony Haygarth, Fiona Victory, William Scott-Masson
At the end of the 19th century, Ukranian Yanko Gooral (Vincent Perez) survives a shipwreck and makes it to the small town of Colebrook. He falls in love with Amy (Rachel Weisz) who works for the Swaffers (Joss Ackland and Kathy Bates), and they later marry–but are not allowed to live happily ever after.
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 X-Men 2000 PG-13, 97 min.
Genre: Sci-Fi / Action / Horror / Thriller
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Halle Berry, James Marsden, Anna Paquin, Tyler Mane, Bruce Davison, Ray Park, Rebecca Romijn, Matthew Sharp, Rhona Shekter, Kenneth McGregor, Shawn Roberts
This film is based on the popular Marvel comic book series about children born with the special X-Factor in their genes that turns them into mutant superheroes. While psychic Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) heads the school that turns skilled mutants into X-Men–including Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). Meanwhile, Magneto (Ian McKellen) organizes his team of mutants to fight the X-Men. Magneto kidnaps Rogue (Anna Paquin) from the school, and now Xavier and his X-Men come to her rescue. As if dealing with Magneto was not enough, they must also contend with Senator Kelly (Bruce Davison) who wants to force all mutants to register as his anti-mutant solution. Good special effects.
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 X-Men: The Last Stand 2006 PG-13, 105 min.
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi
Director: Brett Ratner
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, James Marsden, Shawn Ashmore, Aaron Stanford, Vinnie Jones, Rebecca Romijn, Ben Foster, Dania Ramirez, Ellen Page
In this last entry of the X-Men trilogy, those mutant heroes are back and must now face a choice to retain their unique powers or give up those powers and become human. Battle lines are drawn with mutant leader Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) preaching tolerance versus Magneto (Ian McKellen) who believes in survival of the fittest. Their followers meet on Alcatraz Island–after Magneto levitates the Golden Gate Bridge–and a battle follows involving not only the two mutant armies but the real army that, instead of firing guns, fires needles filled with a potion to cure the mutants.
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 X2 2003 PG-13, 133 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Thiller
aka: X2: X-Men United
X-Men 2
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Brian Cox, Alan Cumming, Bruce Davison, Anna Paquin, Kelly Hu, Aaron Stanford, Shawn Ashmore, Cotter Smith
The X-Men return. This time they search for mutant assassin Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming) whose attempt on the President's (Cotter Smith) life has led to the government's cracking down on all mutants. This even includes the X-Men who attend Charles Xavier's (Patrick Stewart) school that trains mutants to peacefully exist. Because the government believes that the X-Men are responsible for the attack, the President appoints military scientist William Stryker (Brian Cox) to investigate the school. Stryker uses foul means to get information from the X-Men's old foe Magneto (Ian McKellan) and leads an attack on the school. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is the only adult at the school for the time being, and his overwhelming job is to defend the school and save the students as the war escalates between the mutants and humans.
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| 1. Apt Pupil (1998)
2. Asylum (2005)
3. The Ballad of Little Jo (1994)
4. Bent (1997)
5. Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man (2000)
6. Cold Comfort Farm (1995)
7. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
8. David Copperfield (1999)
9. Doogal (2006)
10. Emile (2003)
11. Flushed Away (2006)
12. Gods and Monsters (1998)
13. The Golden Compass (2007)
14. I'll Do Anything (1994)
15. Jack and Sarah (1995)
16. The Keep (1983)
17. Last Action Hero (1993)
18. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
19. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
20. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
21. Plenty (1985)
22. Priest of Love (1981)
23. Restoration (1995)
24. Richard III (1995)
25. Scandal (1989)
26. The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)
27. The Shadow (1994)
28. Six Degrees of Separation (1993)
29. Stardust (2007)
30. Swept from the Sea (1997)
31. X-Men (2000)
32. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
33. X2 (2003)
aka: X2: X-Men United
aka: X-Men 2
In The News
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