A First Class Origin Story

Rating: 8/10 (5 May 2020)

X-Men First Class is just the thing to set the X-Men franchise back on solid ground. With strong acting, first rate action scenes, excellent directing, and more and better character development than the average popcorn flick, First Class puts the X-Men brand back on solid footing.
With a title like First Class, this movie is obviously a prequel, taking us back to the X-Men's beginnings. The story follows Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr, aka Magneto (Michael Fassbender) through the experiences that would make them the characters we recognize from later years. They're opposed by long time villain Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), who in this version was the Nazi scientist who experimented on Erik in the death camps. Now he's hatched a plot to create a new "master race' of mutants, one that does not bode well for humanity. Also included are Xavier's colleague Moria McTaggart, X-Men stalwarts Beast and Banshee, and fan favorites Emma Frost and Mystique.
The story is very good overall, even if veers quite a bit from that established in the comics. (Mystique as Charles's adopted sister?) I very much enjoyed the Cold War tensions and the alternate explanation for the Cuban Missile Crisis. I enjoyed even more the time spent on the main characters. Charles has lived a privileged life. His telepathic abilities have given him a deep empathy, and he is guided by the belief that he and other mutants will gain acceptance by using their gifts for the good of mankind. Towards this end, he joins the CIA's paranormal division aid in the fight with Shaw, and to recruit promising talent.
Erik has had a very different experience. The first manifestation of his powers took place upon entering a Nazi concentration camp, and in the following years he learned to harness that power by using his fear and anger. Now he is driven by a desire for revenge against those who wronged him, chief among them Sebastian Shaw. He's also filled with the belief, not unfounded, that what happened to his people will happen again to mutants. The difference in the pair's worldview is summed up in brief exchange over chess. Erik "You think that all the humans are like Moria" Charles "And you think their all like Shaw."
Plus the movie finds time to explore Mystique's insecurities and clinging need for love and acceptance, plus Beast's struggle with the well... beastly nature of his powers. Each member of the team is a well defined individual, with recognizable traits, rather than a mere stock character. And the filmmakers never forget that most of these people are practically kids. There are plenty of budding romances, and some rather ill-timed parties. Even Charles is a rather smooth talker around the ladies, and knows how to have a good time, which will come as something of a surprise to those who know only the serious, wizened Professor X.
I must confess that I didn't recognize any of the actors on sight, with the exception of Bacon, but I expect we'll be seeing much more of them in the future. They effortlessly fill their roles as idealist, conflicted future super villain, brilliant but awkward scientist, and more, and they bring a touch of believability to utterly fantastic scenarios. I would give McAvoy especially high marks. Without an actor of his skill, this film's version of Charles Xavier would never have worked.
The fight scenes are well done, and feature some non-obvious uses for the hero's powers. And there are some truly inspired visuals, particularly the one with the sub (You'll know it when you see it.) I will caution you that this isn't a movie for small children. There are some very frightening bits at the beginning and end, and most fanboys can tell you that where Emma Frost is involved, things are rarely family friendly.
For most audiences however, I would highly recommend X-Men First Class. It's action packed, often funny, and delivers on the excitement. But what lifts it above most similar offerings is the insight it brings to human nature and the lesson it brings about overcoming our basic instincts to truly prove that we are the better men.