Mutant (fan) and Proud!!

Rating: 9/10 (14 June 2011)

WOW... honestly this one is a genre-defining movie on a level with only some comic based films that have come before it. Though the Dark Knight was a god sent and a true testament to how every adaptation of a once thought "kid" genre can make big waves on the big screen – this one is certainly close behind and can be labeled as Batman begins of the X-men series. When you emerge through this wonder – on - screen film after a good 2+ hours, you feel proud to be X–men fan (mutants and proud).. . It's intelligent, enthralling, well-acted, stylishly directed, and most important focusing heavily on content rather than larger than life conventional super-hero films. Should they hide being a mutant, or should they have mutant pride? This question has been the foundation of nearly all of the X-Men films, so this may not be new territory, but the examination of how Charles and Erik become Professor X and Magneto, is what this movie is truly about
There are plenty of kick-ass action scenes throughout but it's the first half of the film that really impresses. Painstakingly establishing these characters and the entire universe webbed around the real life events of World War is done remarkably well to intricately weave the context of the Cuban Missile Crisis in the early 1960's. A lot of the time prequels to films can be pretty pointless, since you basically know how it's all going to turn out, but this film is that rare kind of prequel that actually succeeds despite us knowing where it's all going to lead to in the long run. The first thirty minutes jet all the way from Oxford, England, to Vegas, to Switzerland, to Argentina, Germany, and Rochester, New York. There are tons of building blocks that are laid in the first half, but the movie makes the transition from the foundation rocks to a suave tower, smooth and natural, a feat that is hard to explain in words, but makes the difference upon viewing the film.
Almost all actors are perfect, one might almost say forcefully, cast. McAvoy brings an excellent charm to Charles Xavier, and Michael Fassbender's Magneto can be compared with Darth wader style anti-hero origins (where the sky-walker character is transformed to a villain not be birth but by circumstance) rather than an downright evil characterization of the character in the other sequels. This could hardly be called a breakout role after the '300' performance, but it sure has elevated his status to lead role material. The other worthy notable younger cast is Jennifer Lawrence as the petite – vulnerable Raven. Aside from the script, it would also be rude to not praise the action-sequences which take place within the confines of the 1960's universe (Dear Director, the painstaking effort of showing vintage cars in a Nevada – Las Vegas set up is noted; bravo !!). Add to it the well-choreographed action sequences (just perfect – the thing which iron man II lacked) that are not over-the board but would adequately satisfy all the sci-fi fans wishing to see this film. The difference though is, while super-hero movies tend to concentrate on the aesthetic nature, where the super hero somehow has the super powers and the knowledge to use it, here it is shown and constantly emphasized that even though the characters have the power, they need to learn to channelize it.
The best part about what makes this movie a 'stand alone' blockbuster is the fact that a first time viewer of X-men series as well as an ardent fan would be equally entertained (For anyone uneducated about X-Men, First Class is an absorbing introduction. And best of all, it's not jumped on the 3D bandwagon just for the sake of it). However if one subtly divorces oneself from almost all established four-color X-Men continuity; the real class of the movie would stand apart. Can't think of a prequel in recent time which has done a reboot of epic proportions so much; that you actually can bank on fans scrambling back to watch the earlier versions in a quest to calm the urge to have joined the missing blocks mentally.
'X-Men: First Class,' is not your typical comic-book movie, it may contain certain elements associated with the comic-book genre, but by placing a heavy emphasis upon the strength of the plot and the script at the film's core, Vaughn has intended, and succeeded, in transcending the stereotypical conventions of the genre and has created a film which will appeal to a wide range of audience and not just sci-fi fans. With "X Men: First Class", Vaughn has infused new life into a franchise that was just looking to be fading with its bland "Last Stand" version and "Wolverine" spin off. Vaughn's re imagining of the X Men universe is more than robust, especially with an intelligent tightly-plotted script, outstanding lead performances and thrilling action sequences. Vaughn's grittiness of a "Layer Cake" and the superhero fun of 'Kick ass' was elevated to a completely new level in this film