The Disaster that is X-Men 3 -- whose correct title I will not expand and will not officially employ -- was such a grandiose Brett Ratner disaster and such an out and out insult to X2: X-Men United (see what I did there?) that one had to consider the franchise absolutely dead. If that didn't convince you, surely the X-Men Origins: Wolverine saga taught you a thing or two about the franchise that was only going to be a thing or two long.
So why this fourth film? This X-Men First Class? The total reboots that are taking place across the board?
Is it that the brilliance of what Sam Raimi did with the Spiderman movies, what Nolan did with the Batman movies and what Donner did with the Superman movies has finally taught the studios a long overlooked lesson ----> You've already got a whole series of pre-existing stories -- not just pre-existing characters! Why not use the material that's already there to create some great movies rather than picking a couple of super heroes you think are great and then trying to figure out a plot that could possibly apply to them -- and that hasn't been done yet?
As an origin film X-Men First Class is a great. It is not nearly as good as X-Men 2 and any films that come in the subsequent -- and clearly definite series -- will never be as good as the work of Bryan Singer. There is simply no way that is ever going to happen. But this film was good. It came as no surprise to me that this latest installment was directed by Matthew Vaughn -- director of Kick Ass. Kick Ass was one of the most under-rated films last year. While not nailing it the way Scott Pilgrim did, Kick Ass remains an excellent movie folks should check out -- and hopefully will once they enjoy his steady, smooth, creative, and cool direction in X-Men First Class. For those of you naysayers that are going to leave Kick Ass in the dust, let me also point out that Vaughn directed Layer Cake. That's right. Some "kick ass" stuff happens in Vaughn's X-Men.
The cast is excellent -- the younger members of the team simply don't pack the wallop the teen actors clobbered us with back in Singer's originals. Do not expect acting of that caliber or banter of that level -- you will not find it here. What you will find is a rivalry between three great male actors: Kevin Bacon, Michael Fassbender, and James McAvoy. The battle between these seasoned actors in their archetypal X-Men roles is the bread and butter -- as well as the bones, brains and balls of the entire film. There are few great moments that don't involve at least two of them -- either teaming up in some unforeseen way or flat out trying to kill each other. It's well done.
Magneto -- like most super villains -- has always been my favorite Marvel character of all time. There was a period before X-Men where I thought the casting of Ian McKellan was completely moronic. The man I had always seen as this domineering holocaust survivor was Rutger Hauer. I obviously loved McKellan's performance -- but there was always a part of me that wished someone just plain bigger and tougher had been given the role. Watching the lovely Brit from Inglorious Basterds -- the handome as a devil Michael Fassbender take on the role of the evil, tortured mutant was a joy.
Seeing McAvoy in another giant film -- after the much underrated Wanted -- not forgetting his roots in big studio Narnia... well it made me pleased as punch. He is a great actor with a great face. He should be constantly pursuing all levels of film acting.
Bacon has the swagger of the summer -- no questions asked. That Footloose smoothie cruised straight through the Nazi ranks to a Las Vegas strip club like he was half high and pushing his way through a beaded curtain. This dude is Bacon to the max. And it plays.
Enjoy X-Men First Class. Let it be what it is -- and you'll have a great time. If not, you can come home and watch X2.
-Matthew J. McCue
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