The early origins of the X-Men, set in 1962.

Rating: Null/10 (26 August 2012)

It is interesting how this movie came about, as the other X-Men movies were being made th writer/director/actors often had to make a reference to what might have happened in earlier years, in the time when the characters were younger. Thus "X-Men Origins" was made. There is a good explanation of the process in the DVD extras.
While this story actually begins in the 1940s during the Nazi suppression of the Jews, most of it takes place in 1962 when the characters would have been in their 20s. In fact, to take advantage of real historical elements, the climax of this movie is the October 1962 Cuban Missle crisis, and the young X-Men have a role in its outcome.
James McAvoy is Charles Xavier and Michael Fassbender is Erik Lehnsherr, who becomes known as Magneto. This story shows how they were friends, and started out on the same side of justice. It also shows what contributed to their going in different directions, and how Xavier ended up wheelchair bound.
The most evil character is Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw, intent on facilitating a Third World War. Jennifer Lawrence of most recently "Hunger Games" fame as Katniss, is Raven here, eventually becoming known as Mystique. We see how she showed up at Xavier's home as a 10-year-old and was befriended by him.
All in all a good movie, with incredible and incredulous action in the final scenes.