X-Men: First Class is World Class. After the dismal attempts of The Last Stand (2006) and Wolverine Origins (2009), the Marvel saga revolving around a team of super-powered mutated humans led by Telepath X-traordinaire Charles Xavier is back better than ever this time charting the history of how Xavier/Prof X (James McAvoy) came to meet old friend come arch nemesis Eric Lehnsherr aka Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and it just so happens to be in the middle of the Cuban Missile crisis of the 1960s.
They are of course accompanied by a team of new mutants some who plenty will be familiar with and others not so much. This is one of the reasons why First Class sets the X-men franchise back on track focusing on a small minority of mutants enables their stories and characters to actually work well. Something the first two films managed to achieve remarkably well. The Last Stand and Wolverine failed to do this as it introduced a 'too many mutants not enough screen time' element ending in foolish results.
Perhaps one of the most important elements however is the return to the original mythos regarding themes of public acceptance, prejudice and self-worth which was always one of the main lessons integral to the X-men. They didn't belong, which is pretty much how 90% of the world feel at one point or another. Say it with me now 'Mutant and Proud'.
Perhaps one of the most important elements however is the return to the original mythos regarding themes of public acceptance, prejudice and self-worth which was always one of the main lessons integral to the X-men. They didn't belong, which is pretty much how 90% of the world feel at one point or another. Say it with me now 'Mutant and Proud'.
Of course with any good prequel comes the dreaded continuity errors (George Lucas!). Main issues here are the Xavier's relationship with his apparent adopted sister the shapeshifter Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence). Then her relationship with Beast (Nicholas Hoult). Alex Summers (Lucas Till) is Scott Summers' YOUNGER brother yet he is somehow part of the first X-men team instead. Emma Frost (January Jones) featured in Wolverine Origins as a much younger version beside a young Scott Summers, yet this film is set years ahead of the events occurring in First Class. There is also the issue regarding Xavier's paralysis. In both The Last Stand and Wolverine, Patrick Stewart is seen as a CGI'd younger version of himself with the use of his legs...spoiler alert, MCavoy is paralysed by the end of the film.
In the grand scheme of things I can let these 'details' slide by disregarding The Last Stand and Wolverine since they are both pretty crap efforts. More importantly I feel no regret in doing so as a result of the relationships formed between the characters set in First Class as they worked so well deserving no complaints on this end.
One User reviewed on IMDB.com posting, "Establishing these characters and the entire universe is done remarkably well and in a remarkably moving manner. This new spin on familiar "bad guys" Magneto and Mystique does give the actions and emotions for the characters a new level of appreciation...The viewer can simply sit and watch it unfold but also be emotionally invested in the journey."
Whilst Digital Spy wrote "X-Men: First Class possesses quality writing that wrings out every drop of emotion and exhilaration from the superbly structured story".
All in all an X-cellent and long awaited revamp!
X-men: First Class was released June 1 in the UK and hits the US screens June 3. Take a look at the action packed trailer below.
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