X-Men: First Class Review
Two X-Men have movies have been extremely well made, two others have been extremely poorly made. So it has to be said that this film could go one of two ways. It could be like X2: X-Men United, full of depth, action, and heart. It could also be like X-Men Origins: Wolverine, a deeply flawed movie, with very few bright spots.
X-Men: First Class is by far the best of the X-Men movies. I was as skeptical as anyone going into this movie, and it literally blew me away. What blew me away wasn't the action, it wasn't the special effects, it wasn't even the groovy 1960s setting. What blew my mind, what really floored me was the unique, and engaging story.
The film is essentially an origin story for Charles Xavier (extremely well played by James McAvoy), and Erik Lensherr (brilliantly played by Michael Fassbender) the two men who are destined to soon become the leaders of Mutant-kind.
What was fascinating was the way in which these two parallel stories converge, and then eventually split. These two friends become the men they were destined to become because of their individual histories, as well as the time they spend together. Lensherr's story is one fueled by vengeance and anger, his sole purpose is to destroy the men he deems responsible for his experience in the concentration camp. His rage is never more powerful then the Argentine scene, in which he brutalizes three exiled Nazis. Xavier's story is much more peaceful. His life as a scholar, and aristocrat giving birth to an enlightened and peaceful stance on Human-Mutant relations. While there are other well created, three dimensional and quality characters, make no mistake, this movie is about these two men, and how their lives were destined to become intertwined.
I am not a fan of the prequel. I feel that backstory, and prologue is just that, something that is there but need not be examined. This movie will set a new standard for what a prequel should be. It flowed and connected to the other films in the series, it didn't feel like a re-boot, in fact without the other films this one has no context. The best part of this prequel is that despite knowing where the characters are headed you never feel like you know what is going to happen. I was on my the edge of my seat for the entire movie, and it is a rare feat when a movie can do that, especially when you know where the characters will be in the end. You do not need to have seen the previous films to appreciate this movie, but be aware that there are some inside jokes and moments of foreshadow, that can only really be appreciated when having seen the previous installments. After the movie ended and the credits rolled, I immediately wanted to watch all of the previous installments which is a wonderful sign for a prequel.
Also of note are fine, and subtle performances by Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw, Jennifer Lawrence as the young Mystique, Nicholas Hoult as the Jekyll/Hyde incarnation of Beast. Their supporting roles both serve the story, as well as give subtext and depth to the film. You deeply care about these characters, despite knowing their future, because they are so well created, written and performed.
Bryan Singer returned to produce, as well as write the story for this film. His return in triumphant, and I am glad that he returned to this series. His choice of Matthew Vaughn as director was quite possibly his greatest addition to the series. Vaughn has established himself as a director who can adapt his style to any genre. X-Men: First Class is easily his best feature film, and shows tremendous talent as a filmmaker.
There isn't a stinger after the credits, so no need to stick around for that, however there is a brilliant cameo that I won't spoil here. I will say that it is was brilliant and perfect and the use of the F-bomb was beautifully poetic. I predict that it will go down in history as the best cameo in any superhero film ever. (Yes ever!)
I encourage you to see this movie, and it may be the first movie this year that I see more than once in the theater.
