TITLES Examine examples of X factor

Seems that little letter is showing up everywhere these days.
By GREG MORAGO
HARTFORD COURANT
X marks the spot, or many spots, so it seems. The letter is getting a hefty workout lately, though we're not really sure why (these things happen with the alphabet every so often). All we know is that X is everywhere.
Just open your eyes. "X2: X-Men United," the "X-Men" sequel, clawed, slashed and burned its way into theaters this month. Print ads display a steely, menacing X.
An indie film about the chromosomal differences between the way men and women look at relationships, "XX/XY," has opened in select markets and is already earning good reviews.
The "Mutant X" series, based on Marvel Entertainment's popular franchise of human mutant characters, continues to live in syndication on The WB. (Freddie Prinze Jr. wrote Monday's segment.) The first season comes out on DVD on June 24.
This will be an excellent year for "Matrix" fans: "The Matrix Reloaded" slams onto the big screen today, to be followed by "The Matrix Revolutions" in November. For those die-hard Matrixters, the Wachowski brothers have also commissioned "The Animatrix," nine animated short films that provide crucial back story by expanding the "Matrix" universe.
Sequel for 'XXX'
Will he or won't he?
Director Rob Cohen says Vin Diesel will be back to reprise his role as Xander Cage in the "XXX" sequel, which should begin shooting next year and be released in summer '05. The working title? "XXX2," natch.
Jamie Kennedy, star of The WB's hidden-camera/sketch comedy series "JKX: The Jamie Kennedy Experiment," ends each segment with the phrase, "You've been X'ed!!!" His urban spoof "Malibu's Most Wanted" opened in April.
On Broadway, "Life (x) 3," a new play by Yasmina Reza, shows three different takes on the same dinner party. It stars Helen Hunt and John Turturro.
Porn lives are suddenly going mainstream these days. Pony is using X-rated stars Jenna Jameson, Sunrise Adams and Mercedez in print ads and on billboards to sell sneakers. Former X actress Traci Lords' memoir, "Traci Lords: Underneath It All," comes out in July. Val Kilmer will play the late porno legend John Holmes in "Wonderland," opening in August. Lisa Kudrow stars, too. (Speaking of Kudrow, she also has a new movie this summer: "Marci X," which is about the recording industry, not the porn biz.) And Heidi Fleiss, Hollywood's Madame X, recently published her memoir, "Pandering." Paramount is also planning to bring Fleiss' story to the big screen in a movie called "Pay the Girl." Nicole Kidman is considering the role.