So I’d been planning to see this movie with my mom for some time. We’re big James McAvoy, and this movie quickly jumped to the top of our list. We thought, “Hey, James McAvoy. A new X-men movie that looks quite good? Definitely.” And he didn’t disappoint. And neither did anyone else in the film X-Men: First Class. I did expect to take the phrase “First Class” literally, but I was a bit mistaken. (I thought this movie would focus on the first young group that Charles Xavier took into the X-Men academy. Guess not.) But I wasn’t disappointed at all. This movie delivered. I would say it did, even more than the original trilogy.
So the plot of this movie is the origins of the X-men. I’m pretty sure it holds true to the comics, and I think this
The rivals unite.
was a big plus. (Maybe a few liberties were taken?) But, either way, this 1960’s set X-men classic follows the origins of Erik Lensherr/ Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and Charles Xavier (James McAvoy). This is before Charles was given his wheelchair (explained) and so that’s why you see him puttering around on his own two legs. The hip, suave, young Xavier (a welcome change from Patrick Stewart’s stuffy portrayal of Professor X) has just become a Professor from Cambridge based on his work on human mutation. (Fitting right?) Parallel to this, Erik is on a rampage (using his harnessed powers) to destroy the German Nazis that imprisoned him during WWII and killing his mother. It was this pain that unleashed his powers as a young boy.
And it is through the power of the government that these two come together to team up for the only time in their lives. To stop an evil mutant of unspeakable power, Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) these two must recruit other mutants across the world in order to prevent nuclear disaster. As you watch the movie, you find that, in fact, the X-Men were what prevented the Cuban Missile Crisis. And then, as expected, things fall apart for the duo, leading up nicely to the next movies made years ago.
It sent chills down my spine when he put that helmet on.
I’ve heard people didn’t like this movie. People gave this a bad review and I was surprised. I found this to be a decent movie that was respectable among X-men entertainment. So I found it hard to believe, with such a good cast and decent special effects, how this movie could even be viewed as a bomb. I mean, come on, James McAvoy (great actor) and one of my personal favorites, Michael Fassbender? You can’t get much better than that. Throw in a handfull of cameos (yes, a scene of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Rebecca Romjin as a view of the older Mystique.) and great foreshadowing, and you have a great prequel.
I mean, I can’t say enough about the cast this film boasts. I have to say again, James McAvoy. Having another big action film under his belt, Wanted, he is perfectly comfortable as an action hero (although be it a passive one). Michael Fassbender. He is no newbie when it comes to action films. 300, Centurion, Inglorious Basterds. This guy has done some of the best action films of the decade. And he’s such a malicious character actor that when you see him as the villain, you can actually see the evil seething from him. Kevin Bacon. I haven’t seen him in a while and they hid it well in the trailers that he was in the movie. And as the villain? That was a shock. But still, he was quite devious. Combine that with Nicholas Holt as Beast (great job to say the least) and Jennifer Lawrence (academy award winner for Winter’s Bone.) among other X-Men, and you have a great cast.
Great group. Great cast. Great movie.
From the director Matthew Vaughn, director of some pretty badass action films, Layer Cake (personal favorite), Kick Ass, even Stardust was decent, you have to expect some good acting combined with great visual chemistry. There’s a great scene with Michael Fassbender absolutely destroying some Argentinian Nazi fools that brims with gorish action. This movie screams great summer film. If Stan Lee’s onboard (not just for the money, I hope) then it has to be good. His baby creation has come to life once again and it’s all good. 8.8 out of 10.
reviewsfromtheabyss 
July 2nd, 2011 at 9:20 PM
Anyone else disappointed about this movie? I hated how mystic was so easily swayed by Eric and how the professor told her to go with Eric. Who would you go with. Someone you have known since 5 or someone you recently met 3 weeks or so ago ? Erics character was horrible. He wouldn’t hurt anyone unless they were connected to Eric. He went through the holocaustfor god sake. He would know the pain of losing people. The last bad character was the professor himself. He acted as though he knew the future. Not as an arrogant young man like excepted. He should have gained knowledge not just know it. He also should have dated mystic just saying. The only good character was wolverine who said it right. F$&@ off. Haha I got a laugh outta that. He had the right idea of not getting involved in the movie. I say go see the movie because I will give it credit on the effects. If anyone knows what crystal please tell me.
July 5th, 2011 at 12:33 AM
I’m not really sure about some of your assertions. This movie follows the comics (I’m pretty sure) and James McEvoy and Michael Fassbender (Professor X and Magneto) follow the characters and the backstory’s they are portraying quite faithfully. (If you didn’t like Michael Fassbender, check out his other movies, quite specifically, Centurion or 300.) Mystique (if you’ve seen the other movies) is supposed to turn to the dark side of the mutants. (She wants to be herself and not hide her true form.) It’s really quite a good tribute to the X-Men franchise.