X-MEN: FIRST CLASS

I should recognize something: I'm one of this movie fans that run to watch any comic-based movie that shows up on the big screen. So, you shouldn't be surprised if I tell you I have seen all previous X-men movies out there. In 2000, when the first one appeared, it was genius to me, the sequel was ok, and the third one a bit bad. Then it was Wolverine, but even having Hugh Jackman, became, sadly, forgettable.

There are a lot of people who know the comic so well, but in my case, as an X-generation person, I saw X-men for the first time on tv. That's why I have a lot of references of them via the cartoon version. Some of them, as the character of Beast, are still very attached to my memory.

Saying that, you must understand that I went to watch this prequel because a) I watch all these kind of movies but also, because b) I admire James McAvoy since I watched his performance on Atonement.

First movie posters astonished me for showing the level of the actors that were included in cast: It looked like the saga had taken the next step with actors such as Kevin Bacon and Michael Fassbender, as well as the Oscar-nominee Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique (if you don't know her yet, you should watch Winter's Bone or soon, The Hunger Games).

____

The real deal, starts when you take your seat on the theater, the lights go off and the sound starts. Two hours later you will know if it is a good movie, or not. Just like that...

Here it happens, from the very beginning, that one can go into the genesis of Magneto, and can feel his anger and helplessness. That's maybe the best scene of Kevin Bacon on this film. Then, you can see the development of such a famous comic person as Charles Xavier is;  the parallel life of Raven and a mutant chain of fictional characters that brings you the comic and amazing side of the movie. But the best thing is, unquestionably, when both leading roles, Magneto and Professor Xavier share scene and gradually, a friendship blossoms unintentionally, and will change them forever.

The period time takes place in the Cuban Missile Crisis year, and the Art direction and production design are memorable. Not often can we see the glamour of the 1960s in a social level of high government offices and political class that is so detailed and stylish.

From the beginning, Stan Lee dealt with relevant subjects such as prejudice and racism on the comic. This topics may be the thread in all the X-men movies but this screenplay is remarkable. Here those themes are  tackled with depth and continuity. To top it off, there's a strong association not only with the other films but with its most emblematic characters:

Nobody is missed, but there are two cameos that make us feel this prequel is no just a re-boot of the saga, but an authentic origin looking for connection and consistency with everything we seen before.

The developement of Raven's character Mystique, its beautiful. With all the shades of a young woman on her way to maturity: Changing, feeling different, finding her place in the World. Rebecca Romijn was ok on her role but here, I think only Jennifer Lawrence could give this character the required register.

The weak side, unfortunately, comes from the main villains Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) and Emma Frost (January Jones). They lack the depth given to our heroes, and in the case of January -even when her beauty is outsanding- we definitely prefer to watch her on Mad Men, the HBO show, as an outstanding housewife than here as a shallow foe. I hope her character grows up if the story continues.

Another fragile point, in particular for the sci-fi fans, are visual effects; not the worst but no so remarkable as other productions of the same level. But let's understand that action was sacrificed on the rise of dialogues.

On the other hand, one of the best thing is that anybody can watch it without have watched the other X-men films and you won't feel lost. And of course, remember that this kind of movie it's so much appreciated by fiction lovers than the rational ones.

Speaking aesthetically, it's the most elegant of all and the best done in overall terms. I think director Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass) refreshed and improve the story, as Bryan Synger found a better place as a producer.

This is a movie about origins, where we are able to understand the leitmotif of each member of X-men, as well as their development inside the association. There is no black and white, just beings looking to fit in a world where ignorance keeps one step ahead.

____________

*Spanish Version: This post has a spanish version on my blog Séptimo Sentido:  X-men: first-class