FILMS generally conform to the cinematic rule that the sequel is always poorer than its predecessor and very rarely is that broken.

However this is one of those instances when the second film is actually better than the original and much more enjoyable.

It always works nicely when the cast from the first movie is brought together again.

It lends credibility and has the added bonus of the audience feeling as though they already know the characters.

Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) finds his search for his past fruitless and returns to Professor Xavier's school for the "gifted" - actually a school for mutants and a front for the X-Men.

After an attack on the President, the anti-mutant lobby (led by a delightfully rotten Brian Cox playing William Stryker) is given the green light to contain those who are further up the evolutionary ladder.

But Stryker has a hidden agenda all of his own and the X-Men have to join forces with their nemesis Magneto to foil him and save their beloved leader from certain death.

There is so much more action to get your teeth into this time round and the introduction of new character Nightcrawler - our very own Alan Cumming - works well.

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