"X-Men: First Class gives The Dark Knight a run for the best superhero movie of all time."
There was no better way for me to sum up how epically fascinating this prequel's prequel of the X-Men series was other than to quote a critic's review that I have been hearing all over the radio this past week. Directed by Matthew Vaughn, this highly anticipated reboot to a staling franchise gives a fresh new take to the origins story of Marvel's most beloved mutants. After the subpar X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie in 2009, this installment delivers a first class (no pun intended) story and an equally amazing cast.
James McAvoy stars as Professor Charles Xavier, a genetics brainiac who graduated at the top of his class and always sees the good in people. Starring opposite of him is Michael Fassbender, giving a commanding performance as Erik Lehnsherr who audience know later becomes the supervillain Magneto. Rounding out the cast is Jennifer Lawrence of Winter's Bone fame as Raven/Mystique, Rose Byrne as Dr. Moira MacTaggert, Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw, Nicholas Hoult as Hank/Beast, and Mad Men's January Jones as the seductive Emma Frost.
Set in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the movie tells to story of how a revenge seeking Erik Lehnsherr and Professor Charles Xavier came to be the good friends, and later enemies, that audience have known them to be in previous X-Men installments. However, unlike the previous films in the series this one does not distinguish Magneto as the bad guy and Xavier as the good. Rather, the backstory of these two characters brings out their emotional vulnerability and motives behind their actions and proves to show that not everything in life is black and white. With explosive action sequences, scenic eye candy (the film literally takes viewers around the world, from Poland to Moscow to Las Vegas and London) and a plot so well-rounded and perfect it, it leaves you wanting more when the end credits begin rolling.
McAvoy and Fassbender's chemistry as the onscreen duo is impeccable, and the talented supporting cast only makes for an even more enjoyable movie experience. First Class is an origins story told in a remarkably refreshing and distinct way with sleek and swift special effects and battle sequences that will only have fan boys begging for more. Putting the lackluster new Pirates of the Caribbean installment and Thor movies behind us, Summer 2011 has finally arrived in the form of a kick-ass superhero team known as the X-Men.
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