Growing up my introduction to X-Men was the cartoon that ran from 1992-1997. Cartoons were my introduction to so many wonderful comic book characters. Besides the '89 Batman, with Keaton and Nicholson, a favorite cartoon was Batman: The Animated Series. Batman: TAS ran from 1992-1995. I have volume 1 on DVD, and watch it periodically. Kevin Conroy is the definitive Batman. Mark Hamill is the greatest voice actor to interpret The Crown Prince of Crime. One day when they make The Dark Knight Returns into a movie Mark Hamill would be the best choice of actor to bring the Joker back to the silver screen.
In 2000 the first X-Men movie was released. I was 16 years old. I was thrilled. I can remember that my mom took my brother and I to the theater, and the place was packed. Even though Hugh Jackman would not be my choice for Wolverine now at the time he was a dream come true. I was finally getting to see one of my favorite comic heroes on the big screen. Looking back X-Men hasn't withstood the test of time. The second installment, X2, has done a little better. The Last Stand is to the X-Men franchise that Batman Forever and Batman & Robin are to The Dark Knight's movie franchise. I thought the X-Men were dead after The Last Stand. That movie was horrid. I remember being offended after spending money to see that movie. Even now I fill disdain.
A few months ago I first heard about X-Men: First Class. Honestly I had no intention of seeing it. I figured that Marvel and Fox Studios (Fox Studios is my least favorite movie maker) were grasping at straws, and decided to jump on the band wagon of origin stories. Afterwards I ignored any news about this movies.
Weeks ago I saw the first trailer for the movie. I think I was seeing Your Highness. That was back in April. I decided then that maybe I should give X-Men: First class a second thought. Then my wife and I went to see The Adjustment Bureau - if I remember correctly - and this was when I saw the second trailer for First Class. It was then that I came to a conclusion that this was a must see for my summer.
On to my thoughts . . .
This movie has one of the best beginnings. Immediately we are introduced to Erik Lensher. A kid named Bill Milner plays a teenaged Erik. He has no thoughts about one day becoming Magneto. He's never me Charles Xavier. He doesn't even no he can manipulate metal. He's a scared kid who wants to be near his mom. When they're separated we see what type of potential Erik has when he destroys a big metal gate. Enter Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). I believe Kevin Bacon is at his best when he plays a villain. Remember Sleepers? He was one effed up dude in that one. Here he's wanting to bring to surface Erik's abilities, and he'll do whatever it takes. This scene is one of the most powerful of the movie. I was awed, saddened, and sympathetic for Erik after this scene. Many applauds to Bill Milner. Wonderful performance.
Charles Xavier is going through life differently. He's in college trying to get his PhD. He's a party boy using his telepathy to pick up girls. James McAvoy has come a long way since he pranced around with hooves in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Some might hear this as blasphemy but I prefer his Xavier to Patrick Stewart's. Xavier seemed more human after watching McAvoy's performance. Patrick Stewart had the look for Xavier, but I felt like his performance was soulless. James brought soul and life to the one day leader of X-Men. I read that people would not accept this movie if James McAvoy could not bring Patrick Stewart to the viewer's mind. He did bring Stewart to my mind. I kept thinking about how superior he was throughout the movie.
The rest of the cast is spot on. I especially loved Nicholas Hoult as Beast, Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, and Caleb Landry Jones as Banshee. It was fun watching the evolution of each of these kids throughout the movie. Seeing the become comfortable with their mutation, and grow in skill with their powers was one of the highlights of the movie. January Jones was beautiful as Emma Frost. I've been infatuated with her since the first time I watched Mad Men. She's dethrones Scarlett Johansson, for me, as the sexiest woman in Hollywood. The only problem is that she acted more like Betty Draper, in this movie, than Emma Frost. Emma is not only sexy but she's witty. As Emma, January was sexy but her performance was stiff.
The story was exciting and the missile crisis of 1962 was an intriguing way to introduce these characters. Watching Xavier and Erik's friendship bud, bloom, and wither was a painful pleasure. Fassbender and McAvoy made you believe in this friendship. Even though you knew the inevitable was going to happen at the end of the movie you hope that they'll save it for the sequel. Picking out how different pillar's of the X universe came to be was fun. Each moment was like a lightbulb. Finding the origin of different factors of the X-World was better than a game of Where's Waldo.
I believe this is my favorite movie of 2011 at the moment. It had all the ingredients of a summer movie should have: entertainment value, fun filled, humor, an exciting story, and a great cast.
Grade: A+
Next weekend Super 8 finally hits theaters. I. Can't. Wait. I've been waiting for over a year. J.J. Abrams is one of my favorite modern movie directors. Alien movies from the 60s and 70s are some of my favorite movies. Especially aline movies made by Spielberg. J.J. Abrams says this movie is his homage to all those great Steven Spielberg science-fiction movies. My prediction is that Super 8 will be my favorite movie of the summer. I hope it lives up to the prediction. Here's the trailer:
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