REVIEW: Fox's X-Men: First Class By LEEE777!

X-MEN FIRST CLASS charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga, and reveals a secret history of famous global events. Before mutants had revealed themselves to the world, and before Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Not archenemies, they were instead at first the closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to prevent nuclear Armageddon. In the process, a grave rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-Men.

Second off I'd like to point out that I had many chances to watch this X-Men movie on the opening day but didn't, it just didn't appeal to me at all apart from Michael Fassbender who plays Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto). Anyway I went only because some have said its one of the best comic book movies ever made. How can this be I said, after all these: Superman: The Movie, Superman II, Watchmen, Iron Man, The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, Sin City, Thor, Burton's Batman, Spider-Man I & II, The Crow, History of Violence, Kick Ass and Road to Perdition. They are what I call best comic book movies of all time. Don't worry though its no way that but its no X3 or X-Men Origins: Wolverine either and as some may know I was dead set against this movie and I did want to hate every part of it, but didn't, please read on...

Anyway thirdly, this is SPOILER FREE as I will not talk about any of the plot or scenes that people do not know about until they watch it. I'll be doing here more reviewing the actual characters and actors in X-Men: First Class than anything and once the movies out everywhere then bring up plot issues I have if any with people. So here we go: As soon as I sat down the cinema was playing showing trailers, I must have missed the adverts which is a good thing I hate that crap lol, just straight to the teasers/trailers as it should be and second trailer in... oh my god, it was Green Lantern. My jaw dropped as I watched the trailer on the big screen for the first time, it looked so much better than watching it on YouTube in the format its men't to be seen in and all I'm going to say on that one is cannot wait!

So anyway X-Men: First Class started pretty much how I expected it to start with Erik and family there, where they left off in Bryan Singers original X-Men I in the concentration camp. Same powerful music and same scene too so its not really a reboot straight away but of course it is a prequel, well to the first X-Men movies anyway. Then like most movie origins we go very early for a bit with a twelve year old Charles Xavier played by Laurence Belcher and a ten year old Raven (Mystique) played by Morgan Lily which is very cringe worthy, I wont tell you about the scene but it felt like I was watching a damn Power Pack movie and thought to myself what the hell was I thinking sitting in the theatre chair. Anyway past an old made up Kevin Bacon (cough) and young Erik important scene we get to the only reason I even gave this movie a chance...Michael Fassbender. Michael Fassbender many years later completely sucks you in first minute he's on screen as Erik Lehnsherr. I cannot stress enough how much he is perfect for that role and after that awful Jonah Hex we needed something better from the talented actor, we most certainly did as he sucks you into every scene all through the entire movie, breathtaking performance.

James McAvoy (Wanted) plays Charles Xavier with hair and mobile legs, though that's cool as it is actually an origin story plus you do get to see Xavier and how he does lose his legs later on in the movie too. McAvoy took a bit of time to get used to as Prof X as the accent was a bit iffy at first but then you do get used to it and by the end he was a natural playing the part. Still wanted Paul Bettany though for the younger part of Xavier but I was pleasantly surprised and McAvoy did own it and also sucked you in.

Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw I thought first off "what the [frick]" but as you go on he did bring depth to the supervillain mutant leader which was basically is a lame character. In fact they did bring in many lame characters for this movie and I still don't know why? Angel Salvadore played by Zoë Kravitz was one, talented young actress but her with those stupid wings kinda sucked the big one, waste of a mutant. Back to Bacon, by halfway lets just say you truly did love to hate him as the main villain in this, he ate up every scene but I do have to say this (sorry), Moira MacTaggert who's played by the beautiful Rose Byrne has a silly scene where she finds Sebastian Shaw's secret lair just like that, kinda stupid but then again was early in the movie.

Characters that I'd rather personally not be in it on a lesser note for obvious reasons was Alex Summers/Havok (Lucas Till), Emma Frost (January Jones) and Sean Cassidy/Banshee (Landry Jones). It was just every scene they was in, it just took me out of the picture, every damn scene. It wasn't them its the fact them characters had no business being in the movie at all in that time period and I don't still know if Alex is supposed to be Scott's dad or not in it, as like why we get Emma Frost in here too and X-Men Origins: Wolverine version is never explained either? I will say though Landry Jones who plays Banshee, you don't notice his American accent and does have some good funny scenes in this film that cracks you up towards the last forty minutes, spot on casting, pity he didn't put on the trademark Irish accent.

Azazel was played by Jason Flemyng was the one that surprised me the most as he was amazingly good and evil too, very vicious. At least they didn't make this a kid friendly film and things in places got really nasty. Yup I wouldn't mind seeing that character actually again at some point, be it even in Wolverine II. Talking Wolverine, cool cameo which I'm sure everyone on CBM.com knows about from Hugh Jackman. Lets just say the ten seconds was the best ten seconds of anyones cameo ever, you will love it!

Now going blue, Mystique played by Jennifer Lawrence was annoying, only for the fact she too had no business being in the picture, especially as Xavier's childhood friend. Pretty girl but no, just annoying and the character was over used in the last two X-Men Singer films too. They do explain though why she doesn't age and also a nod to Anil Rickly that knew about a certain cameo Mystique related that he told me about days before it was even released, so hats off to him!

Beast wise, you really didn't notice his Thundercat type appearance on the big screen played by English actor Nicholas Hoult (Skins). He played a good warm hearted Hank McCoy and there was much more human Hank than I expected. Also he's an original actual First Class member so he is one of the highlights in this for me, a big highlight. Its just a pity we didn't see the rest as I still wanted to see the original five in this instead of some of the lame ass characters we did get. Maybe they should have titled this movie X-Men: Origins which is more fitting than First Class, that's a big issue I had and still have with this movie. Anyway loved Nicholas Hoult (Beast) in this and his big feet, dodgy CGI though when he actually turns into Beast but they do explain how and why he gets blue fur later on.

Oliver Platt who plays the Man In Black Suit just seems out of place, like a 1960's Fox Mulder just like The X-Files. I can see why he was in it but no, just reminded me of that show.

Okay I'm beat, I hate doing reviews takes so long lol. In the end they did a good movie with what characters they used. A popcorn throw away movie in places but if they just used Magneto with Fassbender and McAvoy as Xavier and called it say something like Magneto: Origins like they was going to, it would have been a much better film in my eye. Plus later we could of had X-Men: First Class with the actual original team in it, if your going to reboot this sucker, that is the way to go. The soundtrack though was beautiful, totally sucked you in and I'm so happy Fox finally got Magneto's helmet right, never liked the previous version at all.

Bottom line is it could have been something magical, but the thrown in z grade characters and no respect for source material totally took a lot of marks off personally for me. Its like having the Avengers movie with just Iron Man in it, with Jarvis as his Uncle and a bunch of lame characters they pulled out of thin air. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bitching, I just still see what could have been done if we had the right original characters in it. From what they had and did, they did well and trust me that hurts me to say, but again all I see is what could have been.

If you like just the movies or cartoons you'll probably love this, but if you know and respect the original source material then not maybe so much like me. I wont tell you not to watch it, judge for yourself and I don't hate it as much as I would have wanted and I wanted to give it like 1 out of 5. X-Men: First Class does deserve 3 out of 5 (Empires rating too) and Singer does pull your heartstrings like he always does in every movie. Like people said its a good movie, just not a good comic book movie. Go and see for yourself, its no Thor but I do hope its a stand alone movie as without the originals it wont be the X-Men. Of course if that's true in what they say and call this an actual reboot then I see no reason why we can't have the whole original team in the second one, we would have pure gold.