X-Men: First Class

            I have to admit as I was going into see X-Men: First Class I was feeling a bit skeptical even though I had heard good things. This shouldn't be as a huge shock as it's the fifth X-Men movie in the last 11 years and if you've read this blog before you'd know my stance on how sequels/prequels can be (See Little Fockers review). Plus, even though this movie has four returning characters, it's an entirely new cast. Thankfully though, the writers, including director Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass), did a very good job of making you forget that the other movies even existed.
           Part of what helped them do this is the fact the movie is a prequel. With this they are able to create the origin of how the X-Men truly got started and what shaped the main characters into how we know them from the original three movies. They don't use these movies as a crutch, but as an outline, and only look to the fine details of what the characters need to become in order to determine what needs to go into this movie. Other than that the story is completely original.
           In X-Men: First Class we discover how everything gets started; obviously. In the previous movies mutants existed and everyone knew it. In this film they take the viewer to the birth of the age of mutants in this world. We not only learn how Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender of Inglorious Bastards) and Charles Xavier/Professor X (James McAvoy of Wanted) come to be who they are, but how they met and became friends, thanks to their goal against a common enemy. That enemy is Sebastian Shaw played by Kevin Bacon. Shaw is the brains behind the Cuban Missile Crisis of the early 60s (very clever to use an actual historical event). Erik and Charles along with a group of mutants that they've recruited must band together and fight to not just stop Shaw, but prevent the start of WWIII.
           The writers did a great job of bringing almost an entirely new cast of mutant characters for the viewers to see. Most of them have similar abilities to others we've seen though there's still that sense of freshness from each new characters personality. For example, January Jones of Mad Men plays beautiful Emma Frost, a telepath with the ability to also turn herself into a diamond, thus blocking other telepaths such as Professor X from reading her mind. The writers did an even better job with the returning characters though, and giving the audience insight into their pasts.
            Particularly, Hank McCoy/Beast played by Nicholas Hoult (About A Boy, A Single Man) and Raven/Mystique played by Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone). These are characters not many people know much about to begin with, yet after this movie the audience has a much better understanding of why they are the way they are in the previous movies. Of course with Magneto and Professor X we get the best insight, including the answers to a couple of character traits I'm sure most fans were curious to know how they began.
           Overall, this movie was very good. It had the same appeal and feel as the others did, while keeping original and true to itself. It made a couple of very clever and funny references to its predecessors with very brief cameos by Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Rebecca Romijn as Mystique.
           I give the movie a thumbs up and 3 out of 4 stars. The action was great and the new actors provided very fresh takes on roles we've already seen. Michael Fassbender in particular as Magneto is very good. Made me like Magneto more. Plus, you can never count out Kevin Bacon! I definitely recommend going to see this in theaters. Enjoy!

Editor's Note: Once again, I know I said one of two other movie would be reviewed this time. However, I went and saw this last night so as an obvious rule, a movie out in theaters now will always get top priority for a review. Look for The Company Men next.

A Single Man

           Today's review is coming in a bit late, but it's here so that's all that matters. I had the pleasure of viewing "A Single Man" the other night. I had heard plenty of good review going in, but didn't really know what it was about. Well first off, the reviews were correct because the movie is quite good. The movie stars Colin Firth (The King's Speech) as George, an English professor who is still trying to cope with the sudden death of his partner one year after it happened. Julianne Moore (The Kids Are Alright) costars as his longtime friend and neighbor, Charley, from England.
            Like I said I wasn't sure what to expect going into this movie at all and was quite surprised what the plot ended up being, but in a good way. The plot not only circled with a man losing the love of his life and him trying to deal with it, but with a situation that you rarely see addressed in those times. That is of course homosexuality. Now granted I was no where near alive in the 60s, but it's quite common knowledge that being openly gay back then was not very common or as openly accepted as it is today. Many people I believe either denied it or led secret lives. The movie deals with this aspect of the story very well as it gives the viewers, what I believe to be, a very honest look into how lives for homosexual couples back then must have been and felt like.
             The story guides you through a couple days of George's life and in doing so flashes back to various stages of George's relationship with his partner Jim, a much younger man, played by Matthew Goode (The Watchmen). The couple are in a sense are quite open about their relationship as they live in the LA suburbs in a house together. As George tries to deal with the agony of his loss, he finds himself questioning why things happen the way they do, and along the way ends up making an unlikely connection with one of his students named Kenny, played by Nicholas Hoult (About A Boy). This connection helps guide George through the troubles in his life and hopefully, in time, back to a place where he can find happiness once again.
             All around the acting in this film is quite good. Colin Firth does a superb job portraying his character George and rightfully earned himself an Oscar nomination last year for Best Actor.  I thought Julianne Moore did a good job at making herself a believable English woman, as well as a woman who is just as lost as George, in the limited screen time that she does have. Matthew Goode is excellent portraying the younger partner that seems to be more open and loose about their relationship. And Nicholas Hoult plays his character well as the somewhat odd student trying to find some of his own guidance.
             Overall, this movie was in my opinion excellent. The plot was unique, original, and very honest and real. I definitely give it a thumbs up and three and a half stars out of four. It was snubbed for a Best Picture nomination in my opinion. So go see it!