Movie Ramblings | X-Men: First Class

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender

Origin stories are hard to tell. Hannibal Rising memorably failed to create a coherent backstory for one of the scariest villains in movie history, while X-Men's very own Wolverine got a spin-off treatment that was more flashy than fleshy in terms of its screenplay.

Good examples? Star Trek and those two Christopher Nolan movies. How does this prequel measure up, then?

Although not as defining as what Batman Begins did for its franchise, X-Men: First Class is still a praise-worthy prequel that serves as one of the better series reboots in recent memory.

Focusing on two of X-Men's main characters, Erik (a.k.a Magneto) and Charles (a.k.a Professor X), the film charts their beginnings since they were young boys and attempts to explain the motivations of how the two eventually lead different mutants against each other.

The brilliant cast is a feat to behold, and McAvoy's turn as Professor X deserves top mention. Portraying a cerebral sensibility beyond his age, the British actor handles the gravity of the role with aplomb, making X's trademark index-finger-to-the-head gesture both intense and believable.

Matthew Vaughn's assured direction (for goodness sake, he was the hand behind Kick-Ass and Stardust, two very different but equally brilliant movies) were reserved for his talented ensemble, as scenes of the young mutants' training particularly stands-out with its playful use of split-screen. The younglings are the stars (it's the first class afterall), and he is not afraid to make sure they have fun chemistry on-screen.

The visual effects, although uneven at parts (do we really need another sequence of missiles/arrows flying towards protagonists?), dazzles particularly for curvy mutant Emma Frost (Mad Men's January Jones), her sparkling-diamonds shape-shifting look always as fascinating as Mystique's transformation. As a mind-reader as well, Frost's character arc sets up possible future tensions with the telepathic Professor X.

Although still filled with the casual genre cliches (stern-looking Russians and a tacky missile stand-off between opposing warships), X-Men: First Class builds up enough excitement and momentum for audiences to want to watch how the rebooted franchise will unfold.

All I can say is: the new upcoming Spiderman movies better up their game.

My Rating: 3.5/5

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That's all!

Am glad that the summer flicks are so far so good! Here's hoping Super 8 and Captain America would follow suit...

Take care, people!