X-Men: First Class
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: James McAvoy, January Jones, jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon, Michael Fassbender
Details: US/132mins 12A
Opening in a concentration camp during World War 2, we see a young boy being separated from his parents and then displaying an unusual gift seemingly brought on by his anger. The boy, Eric (soon to be Magneto), is spotted by cruel scientist, Sebastian Shaw (a snarling Bacon) and exploited for his gift. Meanwhile, a young Charles Xavier meets Raven (soon to be Mystique), a shape-shifting mutant simply looking to fit in. Years later in 1962 the world is on the brink of another war, with America and Russia both flexing their nuclear muscles. The group that will become The X-Men - headed by a now grown up, incessantly wise Charles (McAvoy) and the more militant Eric (Fassbender) - may be the only people capable of stopping a nuclear war.
It's clear that there was a vision after the overblown inanity of The Last Stand, and that was to make the action sequences almost circumstantial and more organic to the plot and the characters. Vaughn achieves that, while also injecting a real feel of the era into proceedings, resulting in a film that feels more like a classic bond flick - that just happens to centre on mutants. The CGI is subtle and execution in general pays almost a homage to the classy productions of the time, while his casting too is spot on.
As the core of the film both McAvoy and Fassbender are exceptional. One all quiet calm and the other a ball of rage waiting on a specific outlet for release, they balance each other out perfectly and their relationship is full of little nuances. Also impressing is the gorgeous Jennifer Lawrence, who offers surprising depth with little back-story. Given the amount of balls being kept in the air, it's no surprise that few of the team are given a back-story but it doesn't hurt the film.
The effortless retro feel makes it stand-out from the current barrage of comic adaptations, and the script eases new - and familiar - characters into the narrative without ever jarring the tone. There are two cameos in particular that fans will love.
The best of the series yet, this will take some beating as blockbuster of the summer. Be warned; if it's mindless action you're after hold out for Transformers. X-Men: First Class is not that kind of film and thank god for that.
Review by Mike Sheridan
Your Comments
Linda
Wow now after reading this I am more excited then I was when I first heard it was being made! Looks like I got a date night ahead!! :D
Posted 30/05/2011 08:21:04
Whitehaven
Have just seen this movie...and all I can say is that the reviewer and I must have watched two different films. After an excellent first 40 minutes or so the film quickly descends in to a grating and nauseating failure. It becomes more an exercise in teenage affrimation concerning 'difference' and 'normaility' that will quickly alienate anybody not in the throes of a Twillight'esque struggle for identity. Now before all the screeching starts i know this is meant to be light fare and this review would have been a bit much if were not for the fact that the director Vaughan is clearly aiming to make this prequel something more substantial than the previous disasterous outings for this franchise. That said the cinema did good popcorn so it was'nt a completely wasted journey.
Posted 01/06/2011 18:58:24
roganjosh
Couldn't believe how much I enjoyed this film. Was not expecting it to be this good. Couple of complaints like pointless characters just for the sake of a few new mutants. Great performances by most of the cast, special effects were great and setting it against the Cuban Missile Crisis was a great idea. Can't wait to see if Matthew Vaughan and cast will carry on with the franchise
Posted 01/06/2011 19:02:41
Tyler Durden
Excellent movie, both in story and execution. Vaughan is fast becoming one of the top action/comic-book directors. If there's a sequel, please let him helm it. (Also, great to have Singer back on board, even if only as producer/story credit, X3 sorely missed him). Yeah, one great cameo indeed - best line in the movie :-) But who was the second?
Posted 02/06/2011 15:04:32
KickedArse
**SPOILER*** Quick cameo when Raven shifts to Rebecca Romijn. Thought it was a nice touch...
Posted 02/06/2011 15:17:48
Eve
Really enjoyed it, thought a few more big action sequences would have been nice but it feels like a new beginning and the start of a longer story. Loved Fassbender and McAvoy.
Posted 03/06/2011 12:45:47
Alan H
I liked the Rebecca Romijn cameo. The Wolverine cameo was a bit crude though. I'm surprised they didn't include a Patrick Stewart or Ian McKellen cameo at any point, from the promotional material I thought they might.
Posted 03/06/2011 16:52:17
roganjosh
Oh yeah forgot about Rebecca Romijn. Was it a cameo though? Just looked like really s**t CGI to me
Posted 03/06/2011 19:33:35
Deli
This film is more about setting up the sequels than anything else. The actors used are young and they never really develop onscreen. The best thing about this film is our own lad Micheal - smooth, sophisticated, intense and partially psychotic! He looses his English accent at the end of the film but it's forgiven as he is fantastic in this role!
Posted 07/06/2011 21:17:47
ellegibbons
Brilliant Movie, exceeded my expectations in every way, roll on number 2. Loving James McAvoy
Posted 09/06/2011 08:35:44
sugark
Effortless retro feel? Have you ever seen Mad Men? It looked like Austin Powers/Thunderbirds in comparison. And no mention of the sudden appearance of Fassbender's Irish accent in the final act - the character grew up in Poland FFS, no reason why Irish accent should so suddenly appear, apart from bad acting (which is a shame as otherwise he was great). I enjoyed myself but it's an incredibly silly film. Have been singing AP theme tune since seeing it...
Posted 09/06/2011 17:05:54
John Coleman
This a really bad movie. I agreed with Whitehaven, what film was the reviewer watching? It did start well enough and the rest was tedious to the point where it left me disengaged and uninterested as I walked out the door.
Posted 10/06/2011 16:23:07
ReeMia
I had such low expectations for this movie, that I ended up really enjoying it, as it was WAY better than I thought it would be!
Posted 15/06/2011 03:23:05
noel
Absolute rubbish, dodgy cgi dodgy accent from Fassbender for the last 20 mins! Teenage affirmation movie in all the wrong ways. A pity as Vaughan is a talented guy.
Posted 15/06/2011 13:07:31
KickedArse
Great film, can't get over the negative comments for this. No idea what some people were expecting
Posted 15/06/2011 13:56:41
Coz Noleon
I really enjoyed this movie. Certainly a far better piece of work than Origins. Kept my attention right the way though and I thought the CGI was all quite slick. Although as Surgark said, I've no idea how Fassbenders Irish accent made the cut. It was like watching a recorded run through!!! Oh, and January Jones cant act for peanuts. It was like watching a s**tty version of her Mad Men character. I'd recommend seeing this.
Posted 15/06/2011 14:59:02
ruairih
By far the best movie of the series. I absolutley loved wolverines appearance. Only downside was the continuity errors with the other movies and the absense of the compulsory stan lee cameo
Posted 26/06/2011 22:57:27
sr
Not bad at all, just not great. Agree there are some silly characters thrown in to balance the fight at the end, but they're weak characters with not so interesting super powers and played by weak actors. Overall though the main players play a great game and the back ground story is pretty well executed, however the special effects in the final scenes aren't as great expected and reminded me some what of the poor final scenes of the third film. 8/10
Posted 30/06/2011 10:15:03
generalfranco
Great show. Couple of wee mistakes in the story but we'll forgive it for now. And the cameo that you don't expect was priceless. 9/10
Posted 22/07/2011 00:13:09
brum
i thought this movie could be better wait wat am i saying ive never seen this movie actually ive never heard of it but im gonna give it 3 stars out of 5
Posted 29/07/2011 16:56:12
JeaneCarey
this film was great i was expecting more but it did live up to the name first class while we are introduced to the main charaters trew the film it sometimes can be confusing for someone that has not read the comics. i love the films and i watch them all but i found some parts a bit predictable like the beast storyline, the characters were well written and after you wrap your head around all the characters at the start you find yourself once agin ttally engrossed in the film well worth a watch espcially if you are a fan of the other films.. 4****
Posted 07/11/2011 14:07:39
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Your Reviews...
not half bad - deego
good movie tries to explain the origins of x-men.graphics very good27/06/2011 17:55:30
Right Up there with X-Men 1 - foz_e_bear
I thought I had lost interest in the X-Men movies, having loved the original and the sequel, I was so disapointed with... MORE16/06/2011 11:42:51Better than I expected - Sarah
Having seen the Wolverine prequel I have to admit I was a little aprehensive about X-Men First Class, however I was... MORE15/06/2011 23:24:33Xcellent (bad pun aside) - Fiona74
I know I probably 'stand alone' or at least I'm in the minority when I say I have actually liked all the X Men movies... MORE13/06/2011 14:03:24