The swinging sixties were a groovy time; free love, flower power and a carefree, hippy attitude were a sign of the time. However there was also major political upheaval; the black civil rights movement, the gender equality movement and the Cuban missile crisis led to a major change in America. So to set a comic book movie at this time which tells of a new breed of humans, or mutants seems like a very good idea for the sixties, after all, the times they are a-changing.
Charles Xavier (James McAvoy; Wanted, Gnomeo and Juliet) is a gifted professor who lives with his adopted sister Raven (Jennifer Lawrence; Winter's Bone and forthcoming movie The Beaver). Ever since childhood they know they've shared a gift, they've both been...different. After infiltrating a nightclub, CIA agent Moira McTaggert (Rose Byrne; Get Him To The Greek and the forthcoming Bridesmaids) discovers the involvement of a band of mutants lead by Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon; Frost/Nixon, Hollow Man). Shaw wants to start World War Three and after his involvement in the Nazi Concentration Camps, wants the power he once had.
As a young boy, Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender; Jonah Hex, Centurion) realised he was different too, forced to use his newfound powers by Sebastian Shaw who killed his mother to 'encourage' him, now he wreaks revenge against the man who stole his childhood.
X-Men: First Class brings together the characters from the popular comic, movie and TV series and gives it a fresh, new look. The style of the sixties, the glamour and a little of the Bond inspired drama and silliness are all there to give the movie a real immersion into the franchise's new world.
The movie tells the story that almost every fan of the X-Men sort of already know, the friendship between Charles and Erik and the breakdown of their friendship as they become Professor X and Magneto. McAvoy and Fassbender are good choices for the lead roles and their chemistry on screen portrays the friendship between the two main characters as fans would expect it to be. In the previous movies their friendship had been established for many years so the casting of Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellan seemed like an obvious choice because they have a lot in common. However, for X-Men: First Class they had to start from scratch. Finding McAvoy and Fassbender works well for the roles, particularly considering their such different backgrounds yet on screen their friendship blossoms and the script allows them to express their differing views on mutant politics without resorting to dramatic confrontations.
Michael Fassbender should get a particular mention, his portrayal of Magneto could have been campy and comic-bookish but he brings the same conviction to the role as he did in Inglorious Basterds and his stand-alone scenes are full of drama and menace, the perfect budding villain. However Erik's background does make for a sympathetic one, from which having a German background himself was probably part of the appeal of the role. Fassbender expertly shows the audience both the villain and the traumatised little boy so the character moves between friend and foe, just as he should.
The supporting cast of mini-mutants, banded together like a group of students on their first year of school gives the younger audience something to which they can relate. Raven becomes Mystique, Hank becomes Beast (Nicholas Hoult; A Single Man, Clash of The Titans) and the new mutants; Sean Cassidy/Banshee (Caleb Landry Jones; Friday Night Lights, The Last Exorcism), Alex Summers/Havoc (Lucas Till; Battle: Los Angeles, The Spy Next Door), Armando Munoz/Darwin (Edi Gathegi; New Moon, My Bloody Valentine) and Angel Salvadore (Zoe Kravitz; Californication, It's Kind Of A Funny Story). A good supporting cast, lead by Lawrence and Hoult who make a sweet couple and drive the story of difference and show Raven's descent into the hands of Erik, her soon to be boss and mutant mentor.
This is sure to be the start of a new X-Men trilogy, its new, younger cast will attract a younger audience but the story and characters will keep the original, die hard fans and maybe make some new ones. While a different approach that takes a little getting used to if you're used to the old format, the movies give something for everyone and with a stronger cast that it probably would have deserved it seems the franchise is going in the right direction.
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