X-Men: First Class

I went to see this with a couple of friends of mine on Friday night.  We're all current, or former comic readers and all know the back-story to the X-Men well enough.  I'd heard a review on the radio, from a film critic who I do generally respect (although not always agree with) - Mark Kermode (from Radio Five), and he had generally disliked the film and in particular the cold war overtones.

So, when I went to see it, I went with moderate expectations (and told my friends as much).  I was also going with a view to grade it in consideration of taking my 10 year-old son as he desperately wants to see it (he's seen the Iron Man films and Thor and we both loved them all).

Was I a happy bunny when I walked out after 131 minutes - I did really enjoy it.

It begins with the same into scene as the original X-Men, with Eric Leinsher being separated from his parents in the Nazi concentration camp, and the famous gate-bending scene.  But then they cut to a scene where he is being "encouraged" to recreate his powers by a German "doctor" (who later turns out to be Sebastian Shaw (aka the Black King of the Hellfire Club).  This culminates with Shaw shooting Leinshers mother in an effort to get Eric to trigger his powers (which he can only do from immense anger - until Xavier helps him unlock it later in the film).

I'm not going to go into the whole plot in too much detail, except to say that the main driving force of the movie is Magneto's attempt to exact revenge on Shaw.  This is all set in a cold war backdrop where Shaw is trying to manipulate the USA and Russia into launching into a nuclear war to destroy the humans on the planet (apparently mutants are immune to radioactivity).

I was somewhat surprised that the X-Men chosen in the film as few of the original X-Men were there.  Only Angel (completely different character) and Beast were present.  There were also Xavier (obviously), Mystique, Havok, Darwin and Beast.  As to why none of the other original X-Men were in the film is lost on me, other than to say that it worked pretty well.  Much of the back-story of the secondary characters is left out and what is included is completely different to the comic book, but doesn't detract unduly other than I found myself sitting there thinking, "no, that isn't who he/she is" etc. etc..  They also have Moria McTaggert, who, instead of being a genetic scientist, is a CIA agent (go figure.....), but again, it worked ok and there was a spark between her and Xavier, so who know's if she'll be back later....


So all in all, disappointed in the lack of real "first" class members of the X-Men, but overall very well put together and highly enjoyable film, dispite a slightly stodgy bit in the middle.

Loved the cameo from Hugh Action !

4/5