As a story of origin, X–Men: First Class asks no previous knowledge of the X–Men saga. Devotees and laymen alike will be satisfied with what is sure to be one of the best summer movies released this year.
The film takes as its focus the falling–out between young friends Professor X (McAvoy) and Magneto (Fassbender), or Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, as they are known in the film. Amidst historic touchstones spanning the Holocaust to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the two future–enemies assemble a team of mutants to combat the destructive forces of Sebastian Shaw (Bacon). As you might have guessed, a rift develops between the two friends along the way.
Special in its focus on the individual identities of the discriminated–against mutants, the film introduces its characters gradually, with a focus on the gifts that set them apart not only from society at large, but from one another. This depth of characterization balances the film’s indulgence of blockbuster conventions.
The latest X–Men is the sort of summer–friendly fare that keeps the audience in a good mood, even as the entire fictional world of the plot hinges on nuclear war. With a sharp cast, dazzling locations and a few snazzy special effects, summer’s first overall crowd–pleaser has arrived.
4/5 stars
Directed by: Matthew Vaughn Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon PG–13, 131 min.
