As you may or may not know, there are two sides to the world of mutants. One lead by Charles Xavier who wants mutants and humans to co-exist, while on the other hand you have Magneto who fights for the mutants and wants humans to pay for their suffering and pain they have caused the mutant race. But how did this all evolve? Lets go back in time now, starting in 1945 a time when the Jews were locked up in concentration camps and the world was at the mercy of the Nazis. In these walls a young boy witness his parents being torn away from him. That young boy is Eric Lensherr. After witnessing his mother killed by the evil Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) a grown up Eric/Magneto (Michael Fassenbender) wants vengeance and starts to hunt him down to the ends of the earth to do so. What Eric doesn't know is like himself, Sebastian is one of the most powerful mutants and it is going to take more than him and his power of magnetism to win this battle. Jump forward to the 1960s and on the other side of the pond in New York, we have a young Professor Xavier (James McAvoy) who wants the world to learn about the evolution of the human species. Joined by his best Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) they live in secret with their powers until a chance encounter with an CIA agent Moria (Rose Byrne) alerts them to the fact that something strange is going on with one of the top leaders of the government and Sebastian Shaw. Shaw plans to take over the world by pitting America and Russia against each other in the Cuban Missile crisis, but secretely killing all humans and leaving only mutants due to their already mutated genes. What she was not expecting was seeing a woman who can read minds and turn into diamonds Emma Frost (January Jones) and Sebastians bodyguards Azazel (Jason Flemyng) who can teleport and Riptide (Alex Gonzalez) who can control the forces of nature. They are mutants and it is here that Moira learns that another species has evolved and Professor Xavier is one of them. What Xavier doesn't know is that the CIA has a division devoted entirely to the unexplained led by Man in Black Suit (Oliver Platt) and Hank/Beast (Nicholas Holt). Joining the CIA to help with the arrest of Shaw it is here the first time Xavier and Eric cross paths for what will be the story of what exactly did happen to this friendship. Knowing that they are going to need a team of mutants to save the planet from this large scale attack, it is here that the X-Men start to take shape in the form of Havoc, Angel, Banshee, Beast and Mystique. A team of young mutants who are going to be the first ever X-Men. But from here I can't tell you anymore, sorry.
Let me first say, this movie is amazing. I couldnt' get enough. This movie is exceptionally well directed. Matthew Vaughn took on the challenge of reinventing this franchise and has flipped it over to make a movie with enough action, emotion and character development that it is probably the best comic book conversion I have ever witnessed. The action scenes are staged well with many making you just gobbed smacked, but he has also taken the time to create enough back story on all the characters that you do care if something happens to the good side, or understand the pain that each feels inside due to the realisation of their difference. It may also make you take what they are saying and realise it could also be a big comment on society at this point in time, something a lot of comic books would not touch. It is exactly what made the comic books so captivating that the director knew not to mess with this factor. A big pat on the back is in order for Vaughn. A director who has gone from little gangster movies, to huge budget comic book movies but making them look like money was not wasted without artistic merit.
All I can say is there are going to be two big stars who come out of this movie. That's not to say everyone else isn't amazing. James MacAvoy brings such charm and wit as Xavier. Kevin Bacon is excellent as the creepy Sebastian Shaw and all the young cast bring their characters to life. But two stood way out for me. Firstly, Michael Fassbender is perfect as Magneto. With so much outcry over his casting, all critics can now shut up. The dude is Magneto. He brings a somewhat 007 feel to his Magneto but also a rage and anger that we didn't see as often as the older character in previous films. He has so much charisma on screen that you wish he would not leave. The second is Jennifer Lawrence. Having given such an amazing Oscar nominated performance in Winter's Bone, she brings amazing acting skills to her character Mystique that you can't help but fall in love with her character and feel her pain. For a character who is covered in blue scales, it takes a great actress to make you forget the fact that she is indeed covered from head to toe in blue.
This is the smartest move 20th Century Fox has ever made with a franchise by taking it back to the start. Unlike other comic book movies which were just lame (yes I'm taking about Thor, and even Iron Man 2) X-Men Origins does not go overboard on special effects to cover up the shitty story. It does not leave enough time to explain everything or have underdeveloped characters. It is amazing piece of work with everyone involved doing a fantastic job. Casting many unknowns has worked in the favour of this movie and the only complaint I had was that it just felt too short, which is wasn't (it clocks in at 140 minutes) It just felt that way, due to being so involved and amazed by such good storytelling. This is what a great comic movie is. Without a doubt this movie is on my must see list again and again. X-Men First Class is one of the best movies I have seen this year. Definitely my pick so far for 2011. 5/5
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