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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