Erik, I believe. I prefer............. Magneto.

Rating: 9/10 (22 May 2014)

So in the year 2011 X-Men got a prequel movie, once thought to be a reboot, but as we now know the upcoming Days of Future Past takes place in the same timeline as the original X-Men films. To me that is a cop out because First Class didn't so as well as it could have at the box office. Moving on to talk about this film, First Class in its prequel nature is amazing, well acted, great action, and just downright fun. In my opinion it is the best prequel or reboot so far in the superhero genre.
The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn who had just finished up filming the 2010 smash hit, Kick Ass. Vaughn brings amazing skills to this film. Usually in a film like like the CG is overused. Not so much in in this film in my opinion. Sure there are uses of CG in the bigger scene, but that is expected in a film like this. However this film is a more character driven story so the CG was toned down nicely for the film. While this film lacks that amazing battle scene this genre is use to seeing it doesn't really bring down the film. Prequel films can be slower, and while that is true of this film, you cannot help but love the characters. The acting makes that all stick. From the top to the bottom this film is very well acted. Michael Fassbender as Erik Lensherr(later becomes Magneto) steals every scene he is in. James McAvoy as Charles Xavier is a delight to see as this character. He makes the role his own no doubt about it. The only real down spot of the acting is of course the average at best actress, January Jones. Thankfully her scenes are short, not to mention her character is rather cold, and she is best at playing those types of roles.
The film was written by Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, and Matthew Vaughn. All of these writers had past experience writing in the superhero genre. As I mention above this story is character driven and doesn't really rely on too much action. Yet surprisingly they were able to keep your attention so amazingly. The back story on Erik Lensherr, which drives the main storyline, is so deep and done perfectly. Without Fassbender and Bacon, I'm not quite sure how well this story would have played out. Lensherr's parents are put in a Nazi concentration camp while he is just a young boy, and Sebastian Shaw(played by Kevin Bacon) kills his mother right in front of him so he got angry enough to show off his mutant skills. This back story, as I just said is just fantastic to watch play out throughout the entire film. The writers deserve much respect for writing such a fantastic film.
The film was composed by Henry Jackman who just recently scored the smash hit Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He also scored Kick Ass 1 & 2. While I did enjoy the score, it wasn't amazing. The last piece we hear as the films goes to dark is just amazing stuff to hear. Frankly though the rest is just about forgettable. His score in the 2014 summer blockbuster Captain America was much better.
Overall this is one of the greatest superhero films ever made. The acting and the characters are perfect. Matthew Vaughn works the camera perfectly even though we do not see the normal usage of action scenes for a film like this. So with the newest X-Men movie coming out just hours from the time this review hits the internet, this is a must see movie for any fan of this genre, and all those people itching too see X-Men: Days of Future Past.
9/10