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2011, 06-03:
Review of film: “X-MEN: FIRST CLASS”
... This is the 5th in the recent “X-MEN” film series fostered by MARVEL Comics: “X-MEN” 1 (or 1.5) came out in 2000... “X-2” galloped to us in 2003... “THE LAST STAND” sequel pounded us in 2006... And “WOLVERINE” clawed its way into theaters in 2009...
... The 2011 entry is a “PREQUEL”, designed to “introduce” us to many of the main characters & explain how they “began”...
... We first meet Eric Lensherr (who became “Magneto”) as a Polish Jewish prisoner of the Nazis during World War II (played as a youngster by BILL MILNER, & as an adult by MICHAEL FASSBENDER)...
... He is treated cruelly by Sebastian Shaw (KEVIN BACON), who seems to be doing medical-type “experiments” on prisoners like him. We see Kevin threaten the kid’s family members unless he uses his “SPECIAL POWERS” as Kevin wants (which involves instigating Bill into a state of “fury”)...
... In time, we see that Michael wants & seeks “revenge” on Kevin for what happened to him & his relatives-- & that Kevin also seems to be one of the “MUTANTS” like Michael...
... We’re soon introduced to a brilliant student (& eventually a professor teaching about mutations) named Charles Xavier (JAMES McAVOY), who is secretly a telepath...
... He’s happy when he meets “Raven” (JENNIFER LAWRENCE), who becomes his “foster sister”, because she’s also a “mutant” who has the ability to SHAPE-SHIFT... (She eventually takes the name “Mystique”)...
... Most of the film then “rockets” to the CUBAN MISSILE crisis of 1962... Kevin is working for the SOVIETS, while James & “his” mutants are in-effect operating on behalf of the USA. On James’ “side” is kindly American agent Dr. Moira MacTaggert (ROSE BYRNE)-- &, being in the CIA, she naturally has no “special” strength or ability!...
... Kevin shows his energy-absorbing powers as he tries to “foster” CONFRONTATION between the Soviets & the Americans (hoping that they’ll so destroy each other, that he & his own mutant group can “take over”)...
... On Kevin’s “side” is: mutant “Azazel” (JASON FLEMYNG), who is a vicious fighter with the ability to teleport / disappear; Emma Frost (JANUARY JONES), who’s a resilient telepath with the ability to turn herself into “diamond” toughness; and Janos Quested / “Riptide” (ÁLEX GONZÁLES), who can sort of “throw” tornado-like whirlwind storms towards opponents...
... After various political “disagreements”, Rose eventually helps get peace-loving James into the supposed “protection” of the American government in the form of the “Man In Black” agent (OLIVER PLATT)...
... James gathers together a group of young mutants to try to “prepare” themselves to confront KEVIN’S “mutantoliths”: there’s Angel Salvatore (ZOË KRAVITZ), who has the wings of a housefly & the ability to “shoot” out acid-based saliva...
... Then, there’s Dr. “Hank” McCoy (NICHOLAS HOULT). He enjoys “superior” intelligence & has the orangutan-like ability of prehensile feet (which can grasp things like human hands can)... His “genius” proves somewhat overblown when he fails at “curing” his foot “problems”, & he eventually takes the name “Beast” because of how he’s reacted to his own “serum”...
... There’s taxi-driver Armando Muñoz (EDI GATHEGI), & he takes the name “Darwin” since he has the nebulous ability of “reactive evolution”...
... Joining them is Alex Summers (aka “Havoc”, played by LUCAS TILL). A fair amount of time is spent by James & others trying to help Lucas properly “harness” his ability to absorb energy & discharge it in the form of “explosions”...
... Also there is Sean Cassidy (CALEB LANDRY JONES), who eventually learns to control his ability at “supersonic” screaming so as to allow him to FLY (apparently from a “richochet”-like effect of the sound “against” various elements); he takes the ghoul-ish name “Banshee”...
... There are various confrontations between Kevin & his “evil” group vs James & his collection of “good” mutants... They fight on behalf of their “mentors” (the Soviets & the Americans, respectively), & for their OWN private “agendas” under the “backdrop” of the Cuban Missile conflict between their “backers”...
... Will any of the young mutants be hurt (or worse) in the fights between the groups (&, if so, who will it be)?... Is there any way KEVIN can be “stopped” (with his near-eternal powers)?...
... What will happen from the Russians trying to slip their missiles into Castro’s pro-Soviet CUBA?... Will the 2 mutant “groups” STAY in their original “organizational” associations?...
... This is actually a CLEVERLY-constructed film, with surprisingly EFFECTIVE ways of “introducing” us to the main characters & WHY they “group-together” the way they eventually do in the “subsequent” versions of the comic “conventions”...
... Rather than be unbelievable or “cardboard”-like characters, the makers were wise enough to add some “DEPTH” behind some of the story-lines: Michael’s “Magneto” character gains his necessary “potential” only when he learns to properly MANAGE his inherent anger...
... And, you can understand WHY Michael starts to “disagree” with JAMES’ character because of the way “3rd parties” start to “treat” the mutants... Further, you see why James’ attitude is to try to be “HOPEFUL” about humanity, & the “struggles” & shifting allegiances that causes between various members of their factions...
... There’s loads of very-well-done ACTION scenes & SPECIAL EFFECTS utilized on behalf of the story-telling (such as the mutant warfare & the missile battles)...
... I feel, with the successful work at setting up the “YOUNGER” mutants, that the wisest next sequel should be more about THEM rather than the “older” versions we’ve seen in the past films in the series...
... (Tho, there might be some “one-off” interlude films with certain characters like Hugh Jackman as WOLVERINE, whose “cameo” appearance in this drew surprised applause from the audience)...
... So, because it’s so THRIVING & PLEASURABLE to watch (& listen to) -- making it a really “FIRST CLASS” film! --, I’m rating this at 8.5 out of 10 stars...
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