This X-men movie is a first class ride.

Rating: 9/10 (6 June 2011)

This X-men movie was great, out of all the X-men films this one ranks second to the second as X2 still holds the title as number one X-men film. This one is not to far behind, the only reason I did not give it a 10 are some problems this one has when tied with the other films. I know they say it is a reboot, but if that were the case why were there so many things tying this to the other films? Seriously, in a reboot you would change costumes and looks of characters, in this one when the young X-men wear their costumes for the first time Beast's costume looks like the one he wore in The Last Stand when he commented that he could not believe it used to fit him. That and it opened with a scene that looked as if it came right out of the first film, the awakening of a young Magento's powers. Enough of whether it is a prequel or a reboot, what it was for me was an entertaining film. The story has Eric (later to be known as Magneto) trying to find the man responsible for the death of his mother, a man who goes by the name of Sebastian Shaw. Meanwhile, Charles Xavier is writing papers and is a bit of a flirt as he and a young woman by the name of Raven have formed a special bond. Well it is not long before the two meet up as there is a wonderful scene where Eric finds Sebastian, and the army finds them both on Sebastian's boat. They soon join up and begin recruiting other mutants as Shaw has other mutants working for him so they think they need more to help in their struggle against him. The action is great here culminating in a great battle at the end and the full awakening of Magneto's powers. The effects are really good in this one too as is the acting. Nice to see Kevin Bacon in an extended role in this movie, when I first saw he was going to appear in this one I was afraid it would be nothing more than an extended cameo. The guy they got to play Magneto was great as I could actually see him looking like Ian McKellen when he ages. The guy playing Xavier is good too, just do not see him looking much like Patrick Stewart, but this goes back to the point of whether this is a prequel to those films or a reboot. I am sorry, but to me it seems like a prequel so the thing that happens to Charles at the end of this one does not really work in the context of the third film as in that one he and Eric visit a young Jean Grey and Charles is walking, also the fact that at the end of this one they are essentially against each other so chances are they would not be visiting her together unless even Eric felt her powers were in need of guidance at the time so he agreed to accompany Charles because of her being such a special case. Also, the end of Wolverine has an appearance of Charles at the end and he is walking, this one can be explained as the appearance of Charles could be akin to what Emma Frost did to the Russian dude here in that he simply made himself appear to the young X-men. Like I said though this may be a reboot making all these points groundless except for the many things tying this film to the other four movies. Other than this gripes it was a totally solid film, the best I have seen so far in the summer of 2011, mind you there are still many movies I intend to see. I also have to say this film features one of the best villain deaths ever, of course after that death the birth of one of the best villains ever begins.