There are worse series and movies than this, but Mutant X didn't miss the "absolutely awful" mark by much. The problem of this series isn't shoddy camera work or crappy writing (although those two sure didn't help), but the penultimate inability of the actors to actually act! Yes, maybe I shouldn't get so worked up about some TV series that got canceled after three seasons, but someone somewhere is responsible for casting these actors, and none of them even managed to get past the two-facial-expressions-per-episode stage.
Example #1: Victoria Pratt (Shalimar Fox - what a name. She's supposed to be some catlike being, and her last name is that of a canine.) Expression #1: Blank face. I suppose she must have been thinking "nobody's gonna look at my face with the body I have". Expression #2: Pursed lip smile. You know, real actresses can actually make this one work (Angelina Jolie, anyone?), but it takes a bit of exercise.
Example #2: John Shea (Adam Kane - this name, only given after Fox's lawsuit, is actually better than Adam Xero, which sounds a lot like a brand of recycled paper) Expression #1: ARGH-Must-Concentrate! No wonder he has so many wrinkles. I've seen him use this expression in a number of movies. It almost never fails to carry the message across: Why did I become an actor? With this face alone, I could win Sumo championships! Expression #2: Relieved Smile. Must have been one helluva visit to the restrooms for him to look that smug.
Now, I agree that right after the person responsible for casting is severely chastised, it's the turn of whoever came up with the costumes. I agree that the Bad Guy does look awfully reminiscent of Andy Warhol. And "Very Evil Lines (TM)" don't help to improve his image, when I consistently get the impression that he is looking to the left of whomever he is currently speaking to, as if he was reading his lines off a billboard.
Yes, for about half an episode, this show manages to exude some kind of comic charm. After about 20 minutes, however, you cannot help but begin to think that the actors and story writers are actually trying to be earnest. If you have ever, at all, sometime in your life, read even a single issue of the Xmen (or, seen one of the admittedly somewhat disappointing movies, or been lucky enough to catch the cartoon series on TV), then you will probably agree that even the worst Xmen story "pwns" the living daylights out of this show. Yes. I know Avi Arad is at least partially to blame for this show. But for all the good he did in assisting with the cartoon series and the slightly disappointing movies (TM), he's still gonna get it for this one.
Angel at the Entrance to Heaven: So, who have we here?
Avi Arad: Avi Arad.
Angel: Ah, yes. You helped 207 elderly ladies across the street, rescued three children from drowning, gave half your income to charity, saved a small African nation from bankruptcy - OH! What have we here?! You created the TV series Mutant X? Straight down it is for you, fella! Good riddance!
No, I'm not bitter. I'm just really sad about the time I spent watching this series (gladly, only 3 episodes). Time I will never get back (and might later on come to miss).
My advice: Stay away from this. There are much better series on TV and down the Sci/Fi DVD aisles at your local store. If you really really REALLY want a superhero/mutant series, get the original Xmen cartoon series, or try a peek at the Xmen Evolution series, if for nothing else, then to see Rogue as a confused, conflicted Goth teen.
Example #1: Victoria Pratt (Shalimar Fox - what a name. She's supposed to be some catlike being, and her last name is that of a canine.) Expression #1: Blank face. I suppose she must have been thinking "nobody's gonna look at my face with the body I have". Expression #2: Pursed lip smile. You know, real actresses can actually make this one work (Angelina Jolie, anyone?), but it takes a bit of exercise.
Example #2: John Shea (Adam Kane - this name, only given after Fox's lawsuit, is actually better than Adam Xero, which sounds a lot like a brand of recycled paper) Expression #1: ARGH-Must-Concentrate! No wonder he has so many wrinkles. I've seen him use this expression in a number of movies. It almost never fails to carry the message across: Why did I become an actor? With this face alone, I could win Sumo championships! Expression #2: Relieved Smile. Must have been one helluva visit to the restrooms for him to look that smug.
Now, I agree that right after the person responsible for casting is severely chastised, it's the turn of whoever came up with the costumes. I agree that the Bad Guy does look awfully reminiscent of Andy Warhol. And "Very Evil Lines (TM)" don't help to improve his image, when I consistently get the impression that he is looking to the left of whomever he is currently speaking to, as if he was reading his lines off a billboard.
Yes, for about half an episode, this show manages to exude some kind of comic charm. After about 20 minutes, however, you cannot help but begin to think that the actors and story writers are actually trying to be earnest. If you have ever, at all, sometime in your life, read even a single issue of the Xmen (or, seen one of the admittedly somewhat disappointing movies, or been lucky enough to catch the cartoon series on TV), then you will probably agree that even the worst Xmen story "pwns" the living daylights out of this show. Yes. I know Avi Arad is at least partially to blame for this show. But for all the good he did in assisting with the cartoon series and the slightly disappointing movies (TM), he's still gonna get it for this one.
Angel at the Entrance to Heaven: So, who have we here?
Avi Arad: Avi Arad.
Angel: Ah, yes. You helped 207 elderly ladies across the street, rescued three children from drowning, gave half your income to charity, saved a small African nation from bankruptcy - OH! What have we here?! You created the TV series Mutant X? Straight down it is for you, fella! Good riddance!
No, I'm not bitter. I'm just really sad about the time I spent watching this series (gladly, only 3 episodes). Time I will never get back (and might later on come to miss).
My advice: Stay away from this. There are much better series on TV and down the Sci/Fi DVD aisles at your local store. If you really really REALLY want a superhero/mutant series, get the original Xmen cartoon series, or try a peek at the Xmen Evolution series, if for nothing else, then to see Rogue as a confused, conflicted Goth teen.