OK so I know you lucky guys out there in the US may have already watched the flick twice (even thrice) but here in India X-Men First Class has just released on June 10 (right now as I post this it's the 11th :P). But I thought, heck, I would like my opinion to be heard about the movie so why not post a review of my own! So here goes, my first online review for a movie EVER! (As well as my first article on my just-made fansite out here :D )
I won't get into the whole customary introduction of the review (the story blah, blah) so I'm getting right down to it now...I feel the movie has extremely well executed in more ways than one! Finally a movie that us X-fans have truly deserved! Read on to know why I say so...
Firstly, Matthew Vaughn with his trusty writing partner Jane Goldman have penned a great story. True it isn't at all what the X-Men First Class comic series was, but keeping in mind that they are trying to be true to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as much as to the comics, it's a great adaptaion of the characters.
Unlike X3, this movie has heart, loads of it! Right from the dilemmas of Mystique & Beast, to the entire backstory of Magneto, everything is handled really well! In fact, Magneto is portrayed so well out here by Michael Fassbender that I think he's become my fave character in the movie! Jennifer Lawrence excelled as Mystique- be it her comic timing or emotional scenes. Looking forward to seeing more of her true-blue self in the sequel (which seems inevitable now). James Mcavoy has really given us a fresh new take on the Professor & I was really digging it! Though many accuse her of being wooden, January Jones' Emma is spot on actually cos we know from the comics what a bitch she can really be- a cold character, known for switching her loyalties as she pleases. So her "wooden performance" was just what the role called for! The entire cast has done a swell job!
The direction is brilliant! Some really cool shots. I loved the manner in which the XFC emblem is displayed as the movie title for one. And then there were shots that simply gave me the chills- kiddo Magneto unleashing his powers, Xavier's first use of Cerebro, Azazel's main fight scene (& here I mainly talk about the part where the bodies just keep dropping from the sky)!
I love that the movie doesn't take itself too seriously, something X-Men & X2 lacked in. I delighted in the jokes & enjoyed hearing the cinema hall roar with laughter along with me! Great references to the previous movies. And the cameos?? Yes, Wolverine does make an appearance- which I know many will be happpy with- the gasp emitted from the guy sitting next to me was enough to let me know that. However the bite of that scene was sucked out cos in the theater they muted the response out here :P That damn Indian Censorship Board! lol Rebecca's cameo was awesome too! And though I do appreciate the little glimpses we get of a young Storm & Cyke in the Cerebro sequence, I just feel it muddles that already minced up timeline of the MCU!
One thing I relished also was the camaraderie shown between the characters. The actors didn't seem to be "acting" here, it all seemed to come so naturally. Especially when watching the scene where they choose code-names, I felt this sorta thing- the actual friendship & team bonding between the characters- was something else lacking from previous X-movies.
The visual effects? WOW! I was apprehensive about Mystique's transformation when seeing the trailers, but after seeing it on the big screen I can certainly say it's executed well! Ditto for Emma's diamond power. Actually all the powers in fact have been depicted really well. And don't get me started on the sub-lift scene lol! Even scenes that make subtle use of CG look great! My only grouse with it was in one scene, when Magneto holds the missiles up in suspension there's a far off shot of the group below & missiles above- they looked SO CG! Otherwise the effects looked real & cool. The conceptualization of Havok, Darwin & Sebastian's powers were tough (as I've read) but they pulled it off well.
The action never seems to be just some mindless explosions & fighting for no rhyme or reason. Each action has a specific reason behind it, & doesn't just seem like a desperate way to just give all the mutants a time to shine & show off with their powers. Quite unlike what we were served with in X3 :P
OK now I may be going a bit too deep in my review here but I felt the costumes deserve a special mention. They really brought on the 60's feel. The suits, jackets, skimpy dresses, sunglasses (loved some some really retro ones on some characters!) & how can we forget Emma Frost's wardrobe & the uniforms! Frost is known for her barely-there apparel in the comics so that's simply a very faithful portrayal of the character (in case any girls thought, 'What the heck is she wearing?!?' lol). The yellow-&-blue uniforms are a fresh change from all that black leather we got used to seeing in X-movies! AND I adored Fassbender's ENTIRE wardrobe! Amazing suits & jackets! The Fass carried off everything in style! Why on earth did Magneto sack his fashion designer when he got older is a real mystery LOL! A mystery that may be answered in the next sequel perhaps? ;P
Bottomline? My rating for it would be 4.5 / 5! Where's the 0.5 go? Well I think I'll leave that for my next article :)
Hope you guys like the article! Do comment below (but do be nice considering I'm a novice on the Fansite & review scene) & I would appreciate it if you guys visit & follow my blog All Things X (http://all-things-x.blogspot.com/) & leave your comments there too if you like...