Movies like the “X-Men” are all about special effects, things being destroyed and shooting. So why do you need Royal Shakespeare Company-trained actors like Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan for that? “Shakespearean actors need to make a living too; why should the Keanu Reeveses and Tom Cruises of the business grab all the money and the fame? And one can imagine that a Hollywood blockbuster like ”X-Men” gives actors such as McKellen and Stewart a few months to rest their well-trained acting muscles – the equivalent of reading a beach book after a year of classics.” – Boston Globe 07/16/00