Everything suddenly feels more epic and larger than last week regardless if every movie in this marathon tops the first movie or not. Important plot points and specific characters from each movie are enhanced in each film to make you care about them even more. The first movie of the night is Back To The Future 2 picking up exactly where the first movie left off last week. In this much anticipated and above average sequel to the classic original, the story takes place in the year 2015 where Michael J Fox's character must repeat his trip back to the year 1955 in order to prevent disastrous changes to the future in the year 1985 with the help of Doc Brown played by Christopher Lloyd. While doing so, he can't help but interfere with his first trip. The second movie in the lineup is the second installment in the controversial prequel trilogy to Star Wars titled Attack Of The Clones. In this second episode of the six part saga, the story takes us 10 years after the events of the Phantom Menace where Anakin Skywalker played by Hayden Christensen and Obi Wan Kenobi played by Ewan McGregor, are investigating a plot to assassinate senator Padme Amidala played by Natalie Portman. Anakin is given orders by the Jedi Council to escort Senator Amidala back to Naboo as a personal bodyguard and while doing so shares a forbidden romance with Padme. Obi Wan Kenobi investigates the creation of a clone army authorized by an old Jedi master who was originally thought of as being dead. Generally considered an improvement over The Phantom Menace due to it's darker tone and more emphasis on action with Yoda sharing an unforgettable battle with the late Christopher Lee. While Attack of the Clones has major flaws such as stiff performances and wooden acting, it excels in advancing the story and giving it a darker tone that leads us into Episode lll. The third movie of the marathon is The Matrix Reloaded. The second installment in the popular Matrix trilogy places Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity in a situation where they have 72 hours until 250,000 machines invade and destroy zion. Their only solution is war but Neo must also tackle with fighting to protect Trinity from his visions of her dying in his dreams. The Matrix Reloaded wasn't as well received as the first film but not as critically panned as the third installment in the franchise. This sequel succeeds in enhancing on the relationship between Neo and Trinity, while showing Agent Smith as a more powerful villain along with the twin ghosts. Although the film got less stellar reviews than the first film, The Matrix Reloaded became the third highest grossing R rated movie ever with 281 million domestically. The fourth movie of the marathon is James Cameron's epic sequel to his 1984 classic titled Terminator 2 Judgment Day. Nominated for 6 academy awards, the film centers around two Terminators being sent back through time, one on the side of good and one on the side of evil to protect or kill Sarah Connor's son John Connor, who becomes the leader of the resistance. Arnold Schwarzeneggar stars in his best performance yet as the T-800 sent back through time to protect John Connor instead of being the antagonist like the original portrayed him as. The antagonist of the film is the T-1000, a liquid metal Terminator played by Robert Patrick whose sent back through time to kill John Connor. For many fans of the series, Terminator 2 Judgment Day marks the end of the franchise as the quality of the series went downhill after this film, but T2 remains as the franchises finest hour according to the general consensus. The fifth and final film of the marathon is Bryan Singer's X2 which places the XMEN team uniting with Magneto's crew to fight an old enemy of Wolverine's named Colonel Styker whose bent on destroying all existing mutants on Earth. X2 remains one of the greatest sequels in the superhero genre as well as one of the best sequels ever made. It takes everything that's great about the first movie and expands on it, giving more development to characters like Jean Grey and Iceman, while also making it feel like The Empire Strikes Back of the series.
So what are these movies trying to say ultimately? When all of these movies are put together, the films say that you should continue to fight for what's right and for your own salvation. Love that is forbidden cannot be denied and will ultimately take over everything, and certain situations and events can be reversed. One of the greatest messages that this marathon says is that the future is not set and there is no fate but what we make for ourselves. X2s final message is that a mutants life is just as important as a humans.
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