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X-Men: First Class

Normally prequel movies are made because the franchise has gone as far as they can with sequels OR the film studios want to kick start the franchise again and start afresh. X-Men: First Class in my opinion falls into both categories, the first two sequels were great, the third was a little dire and Wolverine Origins was well…very good and fun, but it just wasn’t X-Men. However, X-Men: First Class kicks starts the franchise with an all mighty bang.

What makes X-Men First Class really work is the great story. It tells us about the beginning of the mutants and especially the friendship between Professor X (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender). We have all seen the other X-Men films and know the friendship that is forged between the two is short lived, it is/was really nice to see the two fight side by side and forge the beginning of the X-Men.

 

The movie opens during World War 2, when young boy Erik is taken to a concentration camp (any eagled eye fan will notice the same scene in the first X-Men film). There he meets Sebestian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), a scary Joseph Mengele-like scientist who likes to experiment on Jews and is especially interested in mutants (I wonder why?). In order to force Erik into helping him with his experiments and own personal gain, he shoots his mother in fron of the 11 year old Magneto.

Erik never forgives him for that and spends his whole life looking for revenge; unfortunately he learns that Shaw is also a mutant and by now has quite the gifted entourage protecting him 24/7. Luckily, however, just after Erik’s first encounter with Shaw since the camps, he bumps into Charles Xavier...

Xavier is played by James McAvoy and I must say, McAvoy was terrific as Xavier, really played the part fantastically well. The accent, the mannerism’s and the believable emotion he puts into the character, really makes the audience connect with him from that start of the film, and personally, really makes you feel utmost respect for what happens and the choices and words spoken by Xavier at the end of the film

What I also like about First Class is that the movie takes place in the sixties which really gives it a ‘real’ timeline feel and also uses historical events (the Cuba crisis and the Cold War) to make its point. Erik claims that no matter how many times mutants save the world, normal people will always see them as enemies. Professor X still wants to believe in the good of the people. With that message firmly set in place, the foundation is laid for X-Men 1-3.

The performances in First Class are first rate. Kevin Bacon is a brilliant villain and captures the personality and mannerisms of Shaw perfectly, his German was also very good. Michael Fassbender (Magneto) represents the most exciting drama in the story. He's kind of like Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, you know he will turn to the Dark Side but you still hope that somehow, somewhere down the line, he will return to his oldest friend and ally, Professor X.

First Class will also confirm a successful leap into Hollywood for actress Jennifer Lawrence. She plays Raven in the story, a girl Xavier adopts as a real sister/best friend. She later becomes Mystique. Jennifer won critical acclaim with her role in Winter Bone. She is a great, vulnerable Mystique who later on chooses Magneto, over 'her brother' Professor X. Mystique in First Class is a brilliant character, not only for what she represents, struggling with her identity, confused what path she should take, her part in the new ‘Mutant’ world, but, more importantly I feel, she is yet another link bonding Magneto and Xavier together which I can really see them using for future films.

January Jones (Mad Men) as Emma Frost is the brilliant sexy sidekick to Shaw and very much reminds me of a Sixties Bond Girl in her appearance. The special effects in the movie are superb and there are also not one but two cameos from the actors that were in the first X-Men movie (I won’t ruin that for you). 

Unlike previous Marvel movies there is no extra scene after the end credits, which I was a little disappointed at and Stan Lee does not have a small part in this one. 

Overall First Class sets out to do what it was supposed to do; it has restarted the X-Men franchise back to its former glory and does it exceptionally well. 

Still not convinced? Clear your mind between the point of Anger and Serenity and let Professor X and his X-Men teach you the way...or...if that sounds too much like hard work, watch the trailer below.

9 / 10

 

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Ever thought what would happen if you could use your full potential?

 

Limitless

"Limitless" is only concerned about one thing and that is being really clever. 

This is one of the only movies that has come out recently that has successfully ran with a cool idea by avoiding throwing in all sorts of unnecessary nonsense. The script is well written by Leslie Dixon based off of the novel "The Dark Fields" by Alan Glynn, Bradly Cooper ("The A-Team", "The Hangover") was well casted, and Director Neil Burger raps it together into smart entertaining fun. Cooper plays a man named Eddie Mora who is an aspiring failure of a writer. He has just gotten dumped by his girlfriend Lindy and doesn't know where to turn. This leads him to a chance encounter with his ex-wife Melissa's brother Vernon who is known for being involved in the drug game. After a brief meeting, Morra is given a sample of a new drug called NZT-48 that is supposed to open up his brain allowing him to use his full brain capacity increasing his focus and intellect. At first he is very sceptical, however, he is curious and knows that he needs to do something to get out of his downwardly self destructive life he is leading. Needless to say he takes the pill opening up a world of achievement, greed, and danger that is limitless. His life is back on track as he gets his girlfriend Lindy back and is becoming a multi-millionaire, however, things start spiralling downwards again – can the smartest man alive solve his issues? – read on to find out. 

 

Eddie Morra was a character perfectly written for Bradley Cooper, as Bradley Cooper portrays success whenever you see him. He has a massive female following and men want to be him, he is good looking, funny and has been in some massive blockbuster hits, this sort of actor is who you want to play the leading character in a film like ‘Limitless’. Without Cooper "Limitless" would lose its charismatic vibe and would not be nearly as good, purely on the basis I feel that Bradley didn’t have to ‘try’ and be the ‘the guy on the pill’ he already is, of course, minus the full brain power! 

The film itself is very captivating and does not have a dull moment, which is rather good, as I can imagine, being on NZT-48, never has a dull moment as your brain is working overtime. It achieves this with consistent nonstop strings of entertaining sequences (such as learning the piano, or learning a language just from ear) together with cutting edge CGI film editing. A good example of this would be when Bradley was on NZT-48 and he audience got to see his train of thought and experience with him, his ‘Out of Body’ experience / thought process. Another plus point to this film is Bradley’s counterpart in the film, Robert De Niro as a big-time businessman, although, I must say, it was by no means, he’s best performance, it was an easy film for De Niro, whether it was the script or maybe the character created for him, he was not stretched at all in the role.

 

First of all many viewers may say that the story has been told before, however, this does not affect the movie. One problem that the film does have is failing to fully explain the role of certain characters. Some characters are overlooked very quickly and as the movie turns towards new developments most evident with Robert John Burke's character Pierce. Also, Abbie Cornish's casting as Morra's girlfriend Lindy was not the best choice leading to a very average performance. Yes she does what she is meant to do, however, she doesn’t do much else or offer anything else to the film. I honestly feel that whether she was there or not, wouldn’t have changed the pace, feel or direction of the film in the slightest.

The basic outline of "Limitless's" plot has been seen before, however, this is not just another movie about a junkie who discovers power and is in danger of losing it. Cooper's charm keeps Morra coming back again and again as he finds the answers to his limitless potential.

The movie is clever without being condescending to the audience as maybe a smart person might do. Its edgy, clever and keeps the audience watching – what more can you ask for from a film?

I’d suggest watching Limitless – It will blow your average size mind

7 / 10

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