As an origin story, “X-Men: First Class” wasn’t awful; it was good, which just might damn this movie with faint praise. There are plenty of special effects and an attempt to put a new spin on historical events, but there’s not much character development except with Magneto (Michael Fassbender). And it’s obvious with the already hefty 130-minute running time why some of the characters are defined by their abilities rather than their personalities. The most interesting relationship is the one between mentor/pupil – Sebastian Shaw (an effective Kevin Bacon) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), who later becomes Magneto. Fassbender is so compelling that James McAvoy’s Professor X comes off as rather bland, but that’s because this role, too, is underdeveloped.
After a brief opening in a Polish concentration camp during World War II, the movie shifts to 1962, where a young Professor Charles Xavier (McAvoy) is a CIA advisor working with agent Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne), to assemble a collection of mutants capable of opposing ex-Nazi Sebastian Shaw (Bacon). Xavier’s most powerful ally is Erik (Fassbender), who can control metal. Erik is determined to get Shaw, the man who killed his mother, and he doesn’t care how that comes about. Xavier and Erik also have a philosophical difference: Xavier believes that after Shaw is defeated, humankind and mutantkind can live together peacefully while Erik knows that humans will fear mutants and seek to destroy them. When the movie ends, everyone is in his proper place. Xavier, who has lost the use of his legs, opens a school for mutants while Erik dons Shaw’s helmet and takes some of the mutants with him. “X-Men: First Class” is fast-paced and entertaining; just don’t stop to think about its weaknesses. 6/4/11
1 comment:
The X-Men Franchise has decided to make a "Pre-quel" of the successful series. I thought it was a good idea and enjoyed this film very much. I thought the sets/special effects were outstanding.
Post a Comment