Saturday 25 June 2011

X-men: First Class

I have been a fan of X-men since I was a child; I watched the episodes as a child and was captivated in fantasies of my own super human abilities.  Invisibility, teleportation, telekinesis (this one was always a favourite) and the human torch (so was this one) to name a few.  

However, Storm has always been my favourite X-men character, simply because I liked the feeling of strong wind blowing against me and could just imagine how it would feel if I could control that power.  

But it’s interesting that we have such a liking towards stories of superhuman abilities: X-men, Heroes, The Fantastic Four and you know there are many more.  But I think it is more than just our desire to be better than what we are and to be special.  I think it about relating to the ostracising and discrimination that these characters face.  On some level most of us can identify with this feeling of being shunned because of whatever reason.

But anyway, I don’t want to get too philosophical in my first post, I'll keep that for later.  So X-men: First Class, directed by Matthew Vaughn; wow another great instalment in the X-men series.  As could be expected from the same Director who brought us the magical Stardust and the kick-ass... well... Kick-Ass.  I was afraid when I heard they used completely new cast for X-men: First Class, but that being said I don’t know what else I expected because Charles Xavier (my namesake) and Erik Lensherr where young back then and the actors need to reflect that.  But what I thought was quite entertaining is the cameo appearance of some of the actors from the previous X-men films.  I won’t say how or who in case you haven’t seen the movie, but go see it. 

Michael Fassbender as Magneto
 The actor who plays Magneto (Michael Fassbender) really does an excellent job, I also think he has the look and the skill to be a James Bond; he was truly exceptional in his delivery.  What I'm glad about in this Origins story, is that I never found there was a shortage of visual effects and display of abilities.  In the X-men Origins: Wolverene I craved for more visually satisfying effects that showcased the mutants abilities.  I think the difference is that in X-men: First Class it was the origin of many main characters which gave them the opportunity to show more of every mutant’s ability.  Personally I hope that the next X-men (there better be one!) should be the continuation from where this one ended.  Because they have gone and shown most of the main characters' origins, the ones that are left now can be shown as Professor X gains students and Magneto... Well gains soldiers...

When talking to my friends about it and seeing the posts on Facebook, most people got the same feeling after watching this film.  The desire to watch all the other X-men films again, which I think is a good thing. They left you wanting for more even after giving you a lot!

So if you haven’t watched it, go get yourself a large popcorn, and go see that film!  It has to be seen on a big screen!