As a whole, "X2: X-Men United" is a better movie that the first X-Men movie, but not by an incredible amount. The action is exhilarating and there is a touch of emotional potency as well. The story is smart and well-written. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, and others all do a fantastic job acting. Most of the campy dialogue from the first installment is gone. This movie's execution is fantastic, director Bryan Singer does a great job of continuing the evolution of superhero movies rolling. The cinematography is good, and the effects are fantastic. The opening sequence that involves a teleporting mutant is thrilling and intense. The movie does not lose it's momentum at all during it's runtime. There is a lot going on, but each plot device is given enough attention to make them meaningful not too much to make them overbearing and not too little to make them pointless. Overall, I give this movie an 8/10.