Review of X-Men: First Class (2011) by Renzo V — 24 May 2014

"THE ORGIN OF THE X-MEN".

- 'X-men: First Class' is a prequel to the X-men Trilogy, made in 2011 by director Matthew Vaughn (Stardust, Kick-Ass) and produced by Bryan Singer (X-men Trilogy). The storyline focuses on how Professor X and Magneto became friends, formed their groups and eventually turned into enemies. I was kinda skeptical about this movie, but I must say I felt pleasantly surprised by it. I'm no superhero-movie fan, but I do have a soft spot for the X-men. For this prequel a whole new cast was assembled: with James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland, Wanted), Michael Fassbender (Prometheus, Inglorious Bastards), Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games saga, House in the End of the Street), Rose Byrne (Insidious films, 28 Weeks Later), Kevin Bacon (Friday the 13th, Footloose) , January Jones (Unknown, American Pie3), Nicholas Holt (Warm Bodies, Jack the Giant Slayer), Oliver Platt (The Three Musketeers, A Time to Kill) and Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers, The Perfect Storm). And a cameo of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. What special powers would you like to have?

1962, CIA-officer Moira Mac Taggert (Byrne) is following the Nazi Scientist Klaus Schmidt (Bacon) in a Las Vegas Club. During her spying she witnesses that he has assembled a team of mutants, including the telepathic Emma Frost (Jones), and is planning on starting a world war. In order to learn more about mutants, Moira contacts the young telepathic professor Charles Xavier (McAvoy). She invites him and his beautiful shape shifting assistant Raven (Lawrence) to the bureau, where special Division X is formed. When trying to locate Schmidt, they come in contact with metal bender Erik Lensherr (Fassbender) who holds a personal grudge against the Nazi for killing his mother. Erik and Charles become friends and dream about a future where mutants don't have to hide their powers...