Directed by: Matthew Vaughn
Story by: Sheldon Turner & Bryan Singer
Screenplay by: Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman & Matthew Vaughn
In 1962, the United States government enlists the help of Mutants with superhuman abilities to stop a malicious dictator who is determined to start World War III.
Those of you who've read the other X-Men reviews by me might remember that X-Men: First Class is the first X-Men movie I saw. So for that reason watching this movie is very nostalgic to me. Sure, I watched all the others around the same time, but still X-Men: First Class is very special to me.
I'm immediately going to tackle what's special about X-Men: First Class: it's so emotional compared to the other movies. Sure, there are some tragic deaths and pasts and everything there, but none of them are quite haunting as X-Men: First Class. Sure, in the very first movie we saw a glimpse to Magneto's tragic past but this is were we really feel it. We don't just see the gate-bending moment, we see what happened to him after that, we see what kind of young adult he grew into, and how exactly he became him.
And let's not forget the final showdown on the beach. The fight scenes are entertaining, but there are moment so emotionally raw nothing in the previous X-Men movies comes close.
I didn't realise how weird it was seeing young Charles Xavier after seeing him played by Patrick Stewart. There's something really strange about Xavier hitting on women in a bar, but seeing him young also shows something about the way he became the leader we all know. Here we see him slightly immature, yet trying to be responsible. He scolds Raven and the other youngsters about having fun even though merely few days before he had been so fucking drunk. But still, during these newer movies we really see Xavier's character development well.
There are some details that just make this movie amazing. Like whenever they are somewhere other than USA or UK, they actually speak the language: French, German, Spanish, Russian... I love that, and the message usually comes across stronger, like when Erik talks with the two ex-Nazis in Argentina. Another thing I like is how much more telepathy sounds like telepathy - and how amazing Emma Frost sounds like in her diamond form. The voice actually sounds like it's coming from inside a diamond!
Matthew Vaughn's hand print is clear on this movie, as it is on all his other movies, and it gives this movie a certain spice, making it stand out from Bryan Singer and Brett Ratner.
But unfortunately X-Men: First Class isn't perfect. It has the same fault all the X-Men movies I've reviewed had: too many cool characters who after this movie are killed off or disappear. And worst crime of this movie? Killing off a character that should not die. Like we're talking about a character who literally does not die because of his mutation and. His death is seemingly tragic here, but when you know, it's just fucking stupid.
In all the other X-Men movies it's stated how different Xavier's and Lehnsherr's views on the mutant issues are, but in this movie the whole thing is clearer than ever. We all see that Charles is living in the lap of luxury, and it's clear he's never had to hide because of his abilities. Then there's Erik. Sure, his mutation wasn't the reason for him to hide, but he had other reasons, being Jewish in Poland in 1940's. Erik's seen the worst of how some people are treated, because of his background and because Sebastian Shaw treated him after finding out about his mutation. Sure, Charles understands the plight of mutants, but he has never witnessed any hardship himself.
Their different views can be summarized in their short exchange on the beach:
Those of you who've read the other X-Men reviews by me might remember that X-Men: First Class is the first X-Men movie I saw. So for that reason watching this movie is very nostalgic to me. Sure, I watched all the others around the same time, but still X-Men: First Class is very special to me.
I'm immediately going to tackle what's special about X-Men: First Class: it's so emotional compared to the other movies. Sure, there are some tragic deaths and pasts and everything there, but none of them are quite haunting as X-Men: First Class. Sure, in the very first movie we saw a glimpse to Magneto's tragic past but this is were we really feel it. We don't just see the gate-bending moment, we see what happened to him after that, we see what kind of young adult he grew into, and how exactly he became him.
And let's not forget the final showdown on the beach. The fight scenes are entertaining, but there are moment so emotionally raw nothing in the previous X-Men movies comes close.
I didn't realise how weird it was seeing young Charles Xavier after seeing him played by Patrick Stewart. There's something really strange about Xavier hitting on women in a bar, but seeing him young also shows something about the way he became the leader we all know. Here we see him slightly immature, yet trying to be responsible. He scolds Raven and the other youngsters about having fun even though merely few days before he had been so fucking drunk. But still, during these newer movies we really see Xavier's character development well.
There are some details that just make this movie amazing. Like whenever they are somewhere other than USA or UK, they actually speak the language: French, German, Spanish, Russian... I love that, and the message usually comes across stronger, like when Erik talks with the two ex-Nazis in Argentina. Another thing I like is how much more telepathy sounds like telepathy - and how amazing Emma Frost sounds like in her diamond form. The voice actually sounds like it's coming from inside a diamond!
Matthew Vaughn's hand print is clear on this movie, as it is on all his other movies, and it gives this movie a certain spice, making it stand out from Bryan Singer and Brett Ratner.
But unfortunately X-Men: First Class isn't perfect. It has the same fault all the X-Men movies I've reviewed had: too many cool characters who after this movie are killed off or disappear. And worst crime of this movie? Killing off a character that should not die. Like we're talking about a character who literally does not die because of his mutation and. His death is seemingly tragic here, but when you know, it's just fucking stupid.
In all the other X-Men movies it's stated how different Xavier's and Lehnsherr's views on the mutant issues are, but in this movie the whole thing is clearer than ever. We all see that Charles is living in the lap of luxury, and it's clear he's never had to hide because of his abilities. Then there's Erik. Sure, his mutation wasn't the reason for him to hide, but he had other reasons, being Jewish in Poland in 1940's. Erik's seen the worst of how some people are treated, because of his background and because Sebastian Shaw treated him after finding out about his mutation. Sure, Charles understands the plight of mutants, but he has never witnessed any hardship himself.
Their different views can be summarized in their short exchange on the beach:
Charles: There are thousands of men on those ships. Good, honest, innocent men! They're just following orders.
Erik: I've been at the mercy of men just following orders. Never again.
While Charles's stand is of course understandable, he could've chosen better words, considering Erik's background. This is the sign of Charles' privilege, since he has never been fully oppressed because of who he is.
Sure, the original trilogy is good. The previous movies are alright. But X-Men: First Class is the first one that's absolutely amazing.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
9 / 10
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