Let's Review: X-Men: First Class

Hey Geeks, welcome to my next Let’s Review. I’ve been a bit behind in my movie reviews but until I get around to those I’m going to talk about the film that’s fresh in my head. I’m going to be talk about X-Men: First Class, so if you haven’t seen it yet and don’t want it spoiled go see it now then come back and read my review. Back? Good. Let’s Review X-Men: First Class.

The Negative

 

The reason I like to go over the negative first is so I can end the review on a good note so it doesn’t seem like I’m just bashing the film, but I really don’t have that many complaints about the film. There were only two things that really didn’t sit well with me throughout the film. The big problem with the film was its special effects. Some of the effects worked really well like Mystique’s shape shifting or Banshee’s sonic screams but some of the effects were very noticeable and of poor quality.

 

The big sore thumb in the special effects was Beast. Nothing against the actor at all, He did an amazing job playing Hank, but the effects for his powers were horrible. Beast’s original powers made his feet and hands bulky, but in the film he just had these poorly rendered hand feet. After changing into the blue lion were all use to, the effects only got worse. The makeup design was poor and the eyes were digitally rendered and IT WAS VERY NOTICEABLE. WHAT THE HELL WAS THE PROBLEM MARVEL, YOU ALREADY PULLED OFF BEAST’S APPEARANCE IN X-MEN 3, WHY DID YOU HAVE A PROBLEM THIS TIME.

 

My other problem with the film is how underdeveloped most of the characters are. A lot of the X-men team get brief moments of Professor X helping them with their powers and this helps their character become stronger, that’s about it. The worst case of underdevelopment goes to the villains. Sebastian Shaw’s motives throughout the film are very briefly touched on in a psychic interrogation and it comes off as being akin to a James Bond villain. The evil scheme is a bit over the top and feels like a Saturday morning cartoon villain’s plan, which was the same problem with the first film and Magneto’s scheme. The rest of the villains barely get any development and their motivations are left obscured. The villain Riptide actually doesn’t get any lines in the film. This is a problem because we don’t really get good villains so much as bad special effects that move the plot along.

The Positive

 

This movie was great. It was completely enjoyable from start to finish. Whereas every other character got very little development, the three that did really carried the film. Magneto comes off as strong and powerful but not yet in control of his abilities. It’s ironic in that Professor X is the one who eventually teaches him how to fully harness his magnetic powers. Mystique spends most of the movie learning to accept herself which surprisingly isn’t helped by Xavier but rather Magneto as it is Magneto who is the one who tells her that she is beautiful as is. This functions as a great turning point for her as this is when she decides to side with Magneto.

 

 James McAvoy as Professor X was awesome. I will admit that I was hesitant at first when I found out that he was playing the professor but he completely submerged himself into the role and gave an amazing performance. This Professor X is like none we have ever seen before. Xavier is seen as a youthful, cocky lad who is full of himself. It almost comes off as a good thing that he becomes disabled because it is a very humbling act for the character. Once he is in the wheelchair he can no longer be the wild youth with immeasurable but must become the professor who knows how to lead his people into prosperity.

In Conclusion

 

The film is actually one of the better X-Men movies. It accomplishes what it set out to do, to show us the origin of the X-Men. This is pulled off amazingly well and even redeems the 3^rd movie (Not the Wolverine movie, nothing can redeem that {Quote within a quote, Hugh Jackman’s small guest appearance as Wolverine is one of the funniest moments in the film}). I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoyed the other X-Men films. I give it 3.5 out of 5.