Simply awesome. The best in series or a fantastic reboot?!

Rating: 9/10 (8 July 2011)

"X2" was up until this one the greatest. I am not sure if "The First Class" is a reboot or not, but it sure better be. James McAvoy as Xavier and Michael Fassbender as Magneto are both a delight to see. Also their scope is far above that of the ones in the previous X movies. Yes, Ian McKellen was magnificent as Magneto as well, very intimidating too. Yet Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier were actually pretty weak (because he's more of a TV actor mostly and it shows), not to mention every bit of his acting was screaming "Picard!" at you. As the rivaling duo they just didn't work well, because of Jean-Luc, I mean Patrick... McAvoy- Fassbender interplay is far better, thusly.
There were significantly less characters this time around, but all of them were a lot better developed and used appropriately, as much in action scenes as in social ones. When will Hollywood learn that less is actually more when it comes to most things, especially movies where every minute counts for something? Take notes, you amateurs of Hollywood, praised or otherwise, this is how you do it right. Matthew Vaughn (first "Kick-Ass", now this) is from now on in my top three favorite directors, alongside Edgar Wright (I know I riffed on "Scott Pilgrim", but it was due to a bad company I had whilst watching it, loved it after rewatching, still think the Zelda references were stupid though) and Chris Nolan ("Memento", "Dark Knight", "Inception", need I say more?).
I have a minor critique though. I spotted a tiny hole in a dialogue script: Erik said he thought he was alone in his powers, yet he witnessed Emma Frost in her full glory a few scenes before. I might spot some more if I watch one more time, but surely it's just a tiny remark, not even worth mentioning that much. The biggest complaint I have is that the final battle with Sebastian Shaw, which was a pretty cool and devious villain in my opinion (played by the terrific Kevin Bacon), was very anticlimactic (but not the ending to the whole movie). Surely a great mutant villain with such a cool power as Shaw should have been entitled for more.
As for the rest of this film. Watch it, watch it in a theater. With all the garbage Hollywood is spewing lately this one definitely stands out. Even if that weren't the case "The First Class" is a superb movie in its own right.