Title: X-Men: First Class (20th Century Fox, Marvel Entertainment)
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Personal Rating: 7.5/10
"Mutation: it is the key to our evolution. It has enabled us to evolve from a single-celled organism into the dominant species on the planet." -- Professor Charles Xavier
1963 -- The story brings us back to the origins of the two X-men founders and bestfriends Professor X and Magneto. Telepath Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and magnetic manipulator Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) discovered that they were not alone in the world and that there were other people like them out there -- humans with extraordinary powers called mutants, unknown from current society and abilities hidden from sight. And so started their search to find them, the first X-men.
Together with the help of a special government agency who believed in their power to help prevent a brewing war between the US and the USSR, they formed a team that will try to stop a catastrophic nuclear battle that is being plotted by a group of villainous mutants under Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). Caught between the mutant-to-mutant battle, the humans begin to doubt their difference, turning against them in the end. Furious by the treacherous retaliation of the humans, Erik vows to destroy the humans to create a peaceful world for the mutants. Charles opposes as he seeks a greater peace -- a world of mutants and humans living in harmony.
PLOT
No doubt, this is the best movie yet from the X-men franchise, not because of the plot, but because of the superb performances of the actors. Plot was lame, VERY VERY LAME. And just like any other Marvel-based movie, they were never true to the real comic story. For one, Mystique and Professor X were never childhood friends. And the worst betrayal -- Professor X wasn't lamed by a bullet in the spine. FYI: A heavy rock lamed him during a battle with an alien trying to conquer Earth. Period.
Well, they just really have to make up that bullet-in-spine story for the sake of inserting the "I-can't-feel-my-legs!" scene.
ACTORSMagneto is a must-see in this movie. I cannot even think of anyone better for Magneto's role. Michael Fassbender as Magneto was very, very good, he actually overshadowed James McAvoy. Although McAvoy also did well, he did better in the film, Wanted.
Many loved the new Mystique actress Jennifer Lawrence, but there was something about him that was so.. ummm.. un-Mystique. I can't explain why.
Wolverine's (Hugh Jackman) cameo role was no doubt a good surprise.. and a very funny scene, too!
PRESENTATION
Some scenes had good special effects, other scenes were just so plain and computer-graphically obvious.
Honestly, I was actually glued to the movie from start to finish (well maybe it's with bias since I am a huge fan of the X-men series), which for me is a highly commendable movie feat for making my attention span longer than usual. NOTE: I get bored easily, so yeah, this movie is not boring, so goes that high personal movie rating I gave.
Well there's another thing I hate about this movie. The last Marvel movie I saw was Thor, and it infuriates me to remember that I walked out of the cinema, forgetting to wait for the bonus after-credits special scene. This time watching X-Men, I patiently waited for the bonus scene, only to be disappointed that there was NONE. Dammit.
Like any other childish geeks-at-heart, Kuya Ed and I firmly believe we have special powers. The jeepney we rode home after watching the movie took so much time to drive off from the mall. Kuya Ed wanted to use his telepathic ability to convince the driver to start the engine, but I told him I can freely move the metal-clad transportation -- even without the driver or the engine [Please excuse two morons talking].
But good citizens as we are, we weren't allowed to divulge our secret identities. Too bad.
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