Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Matthew Vaughn, 20th Century Fox, M, 132 Minutes.
The X–Men prequel to the blockbuster franchise is an enthralling ride with Kick Ass filmmaker Matthew Vaughn directing a splendid storyline that provides a fascinating background to the evolution of the major characters seen in the four ‘X – Men’ movies.
In particular it focuses on the emergence of Professor Charles Xavier (James McEvoy) and Erik Lensherr aka Magneto (Michael Fassbender).
Working with Bryan Singer, the director of the first two X – Men movies, X-Men: First Class opens in a Nazi concentration camp where young Erik is forced by Nazi collaborator Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon – ‘Cop Car’) to demonstrate his mutant powers.
But it is the shooting by Shaw of Erik’s Jewish mother at the camp which continues to haunt the older Erik, who becomes hell-bent on getting his revenge against Shaw unaware he is also a mutant.
It is soon after that Charles Xavier becomes Professor at the mutant school (with telepathic powers) befriending Erik and the young woman Raven aka Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence), who has the ability to change from her blue body into any other person.
Against the backdrop of the Cold War and the looming Cuban Missile Crisis that sees Charles assemble the group of young mutants, including Erik as he helps him master his magnetic abilities in the conflict.
And it is through Charles and Eric coming together with the other mutants that nuclear war is averted during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
This also marks the end of their friendship and the formation of two mutant groups, one under the leadership of the wheelchair bound Professor Xavier (Charles) who is prepared to help humanity; while the other is led by Magneto (Erik) who’s determined to destroy it.
Vaughan has cleverly created an enthralling backdrop for his two major characters, setting his story in a period of the ‘60s that is intertwined within a major conflict between the U.S. and the USSR.
Besides a great cast, it is the enjoyable performances from McAvoy and Fassbender that stand out through their portrayal of Xavier and Magneto; not to mention Aussie actors Rose Byrne playing CIA agent MacTaggart and Hugh Jackman’s cameo role.
Vaughan has certainly done justice to his prequel to the X-Men franchise with some awesome action scenes, settings and storyline that are nothing short of first class!
Vic’s Verdict: 4 Stars
X – Men First Class is to be televised on Channel 7 at 10.00pm on Saturday 21 August.