X-men directed by Bryan Singer

• Plot summary: Rogue runs away from home after she accidentally hurts her boyfriend--they were kissing, and since her mutant power is the ability to suck the life force out of others, she ends up hurting him. She hitches along the side of the road where she is picked up by Wolverine and Cyclops and Storm are sent out by Xavier to retrieve them and take them back to the X-Mansion. Magneto is out to use Rogue for her power to run his machine in which he causes everyone to become mutants. Instead, Xavier hides Rogue at his school and sends out various X-Men to stop Magneto. Even though the government wants to institute an mutant identification program, Xavier does not believe in Magneto's efforts to fight with humans. Will Xavier be successful in stopping Magneto?
• Critical evaluation: The feelings of alienation teens feel in real life is mirrored in the feelings of the mutants that are the X-Men. They feel out of place in the real world and feel relief when they are around other mutants like themselves. In this way, I think teens can relate to the cause of the X-Men and their fight to keep mutants from getting a worse reputation than they already have. Xavier is a father figure they can trust and often young people turn to someone other than their parents to confide in. Ultimately I think this movie would appeal to teens because they can relate to the feelings of alienation felt by the mutants in the film.
• Reader's annotation: The government wants to start a mutant identification program, but Magneto has other plans.
• About the director: Bryan Singer is a director whose projects include Valkyrie and The Usual Suspects.
• Genre: Action/Sci-fi
• Curriculum ties, if any: History (historical treatment of different peoples)
• Booktalking ideas: None
• Reading level/interest age: This film is rated PG-13, but I think even younger people might enjoy this film.
• Challenge issues: Violence, sexuality, minor profanity
• Why was this item included? I thought the parallels between teens and mutants was close enough to include this on my materials list.