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X2 Almost on a par with the Y2K hit X-Men, this exciting sequel kicks off the summer movie season in style. While not quite matching the sense of wonder that accompanied the first picture, this one boasts a more polished script, vastly improved special effects, and a longer running time (135 minutes, a full half-hour over its predecessor) that gives more players more time to strut their stuff. This time, kindly Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his band of do-gooder mutants find themselves teaming up with arch-villain Magneto (Ian McKellen) in an effort to bring down a ruthless military man (Brian Cox) hell-bent on eradicating every mutant on the planet. Practically every character from the first film returns, and there's the welcome addition of Alan Cumming as the sweet-natured Nightcrawler, a blue-skinned German with the ability to teleport out of tight jams. As with most sci-fi sequels, this will seem incomprehensible to folks who elected to skip the first film, but even they'll be able to glean the subtext often found in superhero adventures: A just and civilized society has no room for prejudice against those who are born different. X2 hammers that point home, with thinly veiled outbursts against warmongering right-wing administrations and homophobia. Hugh Jackman again excels as Wolverine, with noteworthy support by McKellen and especially Famke Janssen as soulful telepath Jean Grey. 
Home Theater
ABOUT SCHMIDT (2002). The makers of Election (Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor) were behind this deeply felt story about one man's overwhelming desire to find meaning in his life and to ultimately make a difference. As Schmidt, Jack Nicholson's astute performance is one of his finest in recent times, and this unique, seriocomic movie culminates in a scene of quiet devastation, centered on a picture that isn't just worth a thousand words but also a hundred emotions. DVD extras include nine deleted scenes and an insert promoting Childreach, the humanitarian outfit featured in the film. Movie: 1/2 / Extras:
HAPPINESS (1998). Writer-director Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse) neatly sidestepped the sophomore jinx with this masterful examination of alienation and obsession. Exposing issues that often fester under the scab that passes itself off as middle-class contentment, Solondz offers a parade of sad sacks -- including a porn addict (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and a pedophile (Dylan Baker) -- and challenges us to find something to connect them to our own friends and neighbors (and perhaps ourselves). This is part of Lions Gate's Signature Series, but extras are sparse and haven't been updated since the film's previous DVD incarnation (one telltale sign: Hoffman's filmography ends with 1999, not listing the eight movies he's made since then). Movie: 1/2 / Extras:
JUBILEE (1978). An angel named Ariel (David Haughton) provides Queen Elizabeth I (Jenny Runacre) with a glimpse of England's future, and what she sees is a ravished, post-apocalyptic society in which alternative lifestyles and violent girl gangs define the day. Controversial writer-director Derek Jarman's punk piece is very much a product of its time -- at turns pretentious, poetic, boring and bawdy, it's largely a failure as a movie but a fascinating social document for those who can put up with its cinematic limitations. The soundtrack includes music by Brian Eno and Siouxsie and the Banshees, and look for a baby-faced Adam Ant in the role of "Kid." DVD extras include an original documentary and an interesting look at related paraphernalia from Jarman's personal collection. Movie: 1/2 / Extras:
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY (1991). Three years ago, Artisan released a two-disc DVD set for this sci-fi blockbuster that was tagged The Ultimate Edition. Now, the studio's back with another two-disc version that's billed as Extreme DVD. So which one's better? If it's just the movie you want, you can't go wrong with either -- this one claims that the audio and visual elements are improved, but both copies look and sound terrific to me. If you're equally as interested in the bonus materials, go with the previous version: This new one boasts more features that are accessible via DVD-ROM but fewer DVD supplements (though the added commentary by James Cameron is a plus) as well as less involving menu graphics. Plus, the metal shell packaging looks groovy but tore the heck out of the inner case every time I tried to slide it off to gain access to the discs. Movie: 1/2 / Extras: 1/2
