The bad guys kill for evil and the good guys kill in defense, loading this action thriller with lots of killing (APPLAUSE).

On top of the fantastic violence that PG-13ers have been craving ever since Hollywood grew a pussy after Colombine, there actually is a plot too! And supblots! And character development! And new characters who rock!

There are, of course, a few weak links -- and Cyclops (James Marsden) takes the taco in that department. Anyone who's read the comic knows that Cyclops is not to be trifled with.

However, seeing as how he didn't do much but act snooty and fruity in the first film installment, the writers of "X2" felt that it would be an improvement this time if he got his ass handed to him in the first five minutes of the movie, disappeared for an hour and a half, then returned for the last ten minutes to break down and CRY. TWICE.

Also, the final conflict drags a bit (there is one character who you could have sworn died in the last scene, then the last scene, then the last scene, etc.)

But hey, what are we, the LA Times? I'm not going to spoil the surprises for you! Go see it, it's fun for guys and girls (Famke Janssen's "Jean Grey" is no Kirsten Dunst -- she's one tough cookie). "X2" delivers.

Dr. Tom