Hey Guys, just wanted to post my review of the movie. Let me know what you think.
Excluding the exceptional Christopher Nolan directed Batman series, there has always been a flimsiness in every super hero movie that comes out each summer. Be it rushed production/editing, plastic looking CGI, forgettable one liners and one too many one-dimensional characters. The Matthew Vaughn helmed X-Men First Class decidedly carves its own lane and does what was once thought of as unthinkable; it decides takes itself seriously.
Delving into characters subplots and removing the tired 'good versus evil' theme, Vaughn offers a glimpse in to the X-Men universe exposing a far more complex character analysis than in all previous tries. Rather than treat mutants as a sideshow (they are) and spend half the movie scientifically explaining the unexplainable, Vaughn skips right through, diving head first into the humanity of each character. You feel the rage, and empathize with the moral conflicts humor, and envy.
The story focuses on three characters; Magneto, Xavior and Mystique. Michael Fassbender playing a young predestined Magneto, whose surface icy cool mixed with his interior boiling rage definitely rivals what Daniel Craig was able to do as James Bond. James McAvoy as the pre cerebral, swanky telepath, Professor Xavior, and lastly Jennifer Lawrence, as the beautiful young Mystique who ironically has trouble being in her own skin.(She really brings the character to life) With exception to Xavior, one by one each character is faced with the decision to choose who they are, regardless of what the world deems of them, or what led them up to that point.
McAvoy, will undoubtedly not get the share of praise he deserves. Knowing who he is to becomes and watching him steer the rest of the team, not only stays true to Professor Xavior's character but as an actor he also raises the dramatic stakes of every scene he is in, from framing Mystiqeus insecurities to pacing along Fassbender, shepherding him to his inevitable explosion self realization. Watching McAvoy interact with Fassbender's albeit good yet tortured mind is sheer delight.
Yet slowly you feel the weight of the movie shift on to Fassbender's shoulders, which he magnificently commands, by the end of the movie you feel a satisfaction watching him drown his rageful vengeance to him being fully realizing the endless limits of his power when combined with mental stability. "You have the most power when you can combine your rage with serenity" seriously, how beautifully done was that in the last scene. Action sequences, CGI be damned, do more of that and you will hit jackpot every time.
Are there over the top cheese moments? believe it. Banshee, Emma Frost, the demon pixie angel thing along with the rest of the first class (minus Beast) weren't exactly the beefiest of characters to pick from the X-Men universe. And if I were to be perfectly honest, the fight scenes/CGI offered no real eye candy whatsoever. Cherry on top for the haters? They killed the black guy first...ugh. (What is this? 1997?)
But if you are a fan you will find this to be one of Marvels weightiest character assessment in a super hero movie ever. X-Men: First Class is definitely in a class of its own
Excluding the exceptional Christopher Nolan directed Batman series, there has always been a flimsiness in every super hero movie that comes out each summer. Be it rushed production/editing, plastic looking CGI, forgettable one liners and one too many one-dimensional characters. The Matthew Vaughn helmed X-Men First Class decidedly carves its own lane and does what was once thought of as unthinkable; it decides takes itself seriously.
Delving into characters subplots and removing the tired 'good versus evil' theme, Vaughn offers a glimpse in to the X-Men universe exposing a far more complex character analysis than in all previous tries. Rather than treat mutants as a sideshow (they are) and spend half the movie scientifically explaining the unexplainable, Vaughn skips right through, diving head first into the humanity of each character. You feel the rage, and empathize with the moral conflicts humor, and envy.
The story focuses on three characters; Magneto, Xavior and Mystique. Michael Fassbender playing a young predestined Magneto, whose surface icy cool mixed with his interior boiling rage definitely rivals what Daniel Craig was able to do as James Bond. James McAvoy as the pre cerebral, swanky telepath, Professor Xavior, and lastly Jennifer Lawrence, as the beautiful young Mystique who ironically has trouble being in her own skin.(She really brings the character to life) With exception to Xavior, one by one each character is faced with the decision to choose who they are, regardless of what the world deems of them, or what led them up to that point.
McAvoy, will undoubtedly not get the share of praise he deserves. Knowing who he is to becomes and watching him steer the rest of the team, not only stays true to Professor Xavior's character but as an actor he also raises the dramatic stakes of every scene he is in, from framing Mystiqeus insecurities to pacing along Fassbender, shepherding him to his inevitable explosion self realization. Watching McAvoy interact with Fassbender's albeit good yet tortured mind is sheer delight.
Yet slowly you feel the weight of the movie shift on to Fassbender's shoulders, which he magnificently commands, by the end of the movie you feel a satisfaction watching him drown his rageful vengeance to him being fully realizing the endless limits of his power when combined with mental stability. "You have the most power when you can combine your rage with serenity" seriously, how beautifully done was that in the last scene. Action sequences, CGI be damned, do more of that and you will hit jackpot every time.
Are there over the top cheese moments? believe it. Banshee, Emma Frost, the demon pixie angel thing along with the rest of the first class (minus Beast) weren't exactly the beefiest of characters to pick from the X-Men universe. And if I were to be perfectly honest, the fight scenes/CGI offered no real eye candy whatsoever. Cherry on top for the haters? They killed the black guy first...ugh. (What is this? 1997?)
But if you are a fan you will find this to be one of Marvels weightiest character assessment in a super hero movie ever. X-Men: First Class is definitely in a class of its own