First Class Film
I have to say that this movie was one of the best reboots that I have seen and probably helped save the X-Men franchise considering the bomb that they had X3: The Last Stand and the so-so X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
What truly impressed me was that they chose to focus on Professor Xavier and Magneto. These two major characters barely get any screen time in the previous films and thus, we’re left with a question mark to their past. I also personally enjoyed the fact that they interwove the events of the movie with actual historical events. It made the entire experience seem much more real.
While Magneto’s personality and his fall from grace wasn’t that much of a surprise, I have to admit that I was genuinely taken aback at the performance of James McAvoy (Charles Xavier). He’s enthusiastic, likeable, and has a wicked sense of humor plus he’s a bit of a womanizer who uses his own set of pick-up lines. Something that I had never dreamed of Xavier being as he has always been a grave, serious, staid, straight laced, and rather boring character.
For the most part, I truly thought the storyline was pretty good but some parts of the story I didn’t much care for, such as Shaw’s men so quickly allying themselves with Magneto felt a trifle bit weak in my opinion. I could understand one or two of them deciding to along with Mystique obviously, but not all of them.
Most of the actors were excellent; particularly as I mentioned James McAvoy but I also found the performances by Kevin Bacon (Sebastian Shaw) and Rose Byrne (Moria MacTaggert) to be especially good. I wasn’t so impressed with January Jones (Emma Frost) who seemed to just look pretty though. But I truly burst out laughing at Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) brief cameo in the bar with both Magneto and Professor X coming in to try and recruit him and brightly saying “Hi!” and him responding, “Go f**k yourselves.”
The special effects were definitely spectacular. I particularly enjoyed Sebastian Shaw’s power effect but many of the other effects were incredible as well and definitely worth seeing as well.
Overall, I found this film to be a nice addition to the X-Men franchise, nicely expanding the universe as a prequel to later events. First Class, all the way.
RATING: 4 STARS!!!!