Imperfect, but I'll give it a passing grade

Rating: 6/10 (11 September 2011)

Although not underwhelming, There is something missing from X-Men first class. I felt it took a little long to get going and there were too many characters that didn't amount to enough. As an origin story X-Men first class did an adequate job of getting the characters where they need to be without too much contrivance, As an action film, it's coherent and competent, often visually stimulating, but the story was a bit scrappy. I felt it took a little long to get going and there were too many characters that didn't amount to enough.
Michael Fassbender may have second billing but the movie belongs to him. The majority of the drama in the film surrounds him, and subsequently his performance was the best. James MacAvoy doesn't quite have Fassbender's commanding presence but he brings a nice slyness to the picture. Jennifer Lawrence meanwhile is just a waste of talent in a role that is surprisingly under defined, and as Raven, she looked a little clunky.
As I said, the film is a little slow to get going but the climax was strong enough. I was impressed with the camera work, and the overall assembly was nice, The appearance of Michael Ironside was a cute touch My only comments would be that Beast looks too much like Cookie monster, and Kevin Bacon spends a bit to much time in a Greek helmet that looks rather big on him.
Looking back on the experience, I'll say that X-Men first class has skill but the product is incomplete. It's a body that needs a little more flesh on it.