X-Men: First Class Review
Just watched it a few hours ago so....
First, my background with Marvel's X-Men.
I was never much invested in X-Men and their continuity as I was and am in DC one.
I watched first two X-Men movies, liked them, and that woke my interest in one aspect of X-Men - Charles Xavier. Other mutants and humans don't interest me that much. And when I think of Professor X (and what a godawful codename) I think Patrick Stewart and am interested in him in that particular incarnation.
And when I say interested I mean 'wanting to read fanfiction'.
I'm afraid that comic continuity and character developments already done are too much for me to absorb at this point.
So, I went to watch movie relatively free of any expectations or requirements.
It was a good movie.
It had some truly brilliant moments like using the entire 'Cuba incident' as a basic premise, Wolverine cameo and lifting of that submarine.
In many ways it is actually a rather clever movie that discharged its duty as a prequel rather well.
On the other hand it was a prequel and as such a number of elements and events were preordained and could not be avoided.
Which is a true pity since otherwise the story could have flown in many other, interesting directions.
Characters were movie's weak point, female characters in particular. Only Mystique was well-developed and that still did not save her from acting out in bizarre ways. I mean, based of what little you know of them their actions - betrayal, betrayal - make no sense and they all, even Mystique, feel flat like a dashboard.
Erik/Magneto was great and I'm his new fan. Charles/Professor was also fine, but he lacked some small amount of 'Patrick Stewartness'. In addition, while Erik left the impression of a mature man, Charles was at times like over-bright and arrogant teenager.
What else...
Effects and mutations were first class. Oh, pun unintended.
PG variant of the sex scene, if you can call it that, was rather disappointing.
Scene in a strip class was very enjoyable. The wing thing!
The search for mutants went too quickly.
Banshee was very likeable character .
Coin-revenge was great. So was the entire last battle.
All in all, glad I watched it and I hope there will be plenty of fanfiction as a result (especially AUs).
I recommend it.
First, my background with Marvel's X-Men.
I was never much invested in X-Men and their continuity as I was and am in DC one.
I watched first two X-Men movies, liked them, and that woke my interest in one aspect of X-Men - Charles Xavier. Other mutants and humans don't interest me that much. And when I think of Professor X (and what a godawful codename) I think Patrick Stewart and am interested in him in that particular incarnation.
And when I say interested I mean 'wanting to read fanfiction'.
I'm afraid that comic continuity and character developments already done are too much for me to absorb at this point.
So, I went to watch movie relatively free of any expectations or requirements.
It was a good movie.
It had some truly brilliant moments like using the entire 'Cuba incident' as a basic premise, Wolverine cameo and lifting of that submarine.
In many ways it is actually a rather clever movie that discharged its duty as a prequel rather well.
On the other hand it was a prequel and as such a number of elements and events were preordained and could not be avoided.
Which is a true pity since otherwise the story could have flown in many other, interesting directions.
Characters were movie's weak point, female characters in particular. Only Mystique was well-developed and that still did not save her from acting out in bizarre ways. I mean, based of what little you know of them their actions - betrayal, betrayal - make no sense and they all, even Mystique, feel flat like a dashboard.
Erik/Magneto was great and I'm his new fan. Charles/Professor was also fine, but he lacked some small amount of 'Patrick Stewartness'. In addition, while Erik left the impression of a mature man, Charles was at times like over-bright and arrogant teenager.
What else...
Effects and mutations were first class. Oh, pun unintended.
PG variant of the sex scene, if you can call it that, was rather disappointing.
Scene in a strip class was very enjoyable. The wing thing!
The search for mutants went too quickly.
Banshee was very likeable character .
Coin-revenge was great. So was the entire last battle.
All in all, glad I watched it and I hope there will be plenty of fanfiction as a result (especially AUs).
I recommend it.