Film Review: X-Men: First Class

You may know who they are, and after watching the three main X-Men films, you may have a good idea of what their histories are. But for the full tale of how Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr became Professor X and Magneto respectively, look no further than First Class, the true prequel to the film trilogy.

Even though character drama tends to take the front stage, this film still has a phenomenal share of action and spectacle. Most of these scenes are short and tight, but every character gets a chance to shine and show off their powers. The fights are frequent and fun, but with the Cuban Missile Crisis as the centerpiece, the stakes are ramped up really well, before reaching an inspiring climax.

However, much like the first couple of X-Men films, the action never really drowns out the story or characters. In First Class, the focus remains firmly on showing how the original mutants came together, sowing the seeds for the conflicts that would come in the future. Some characters have more development than others, but each one do have scenes worth showing, and enough attention is given to the main ones to make them stand out. The film covers a lot of ground, but it does so swiftly and attentively, so the storytelling becomes endearing and faithful.

This film is crafted with decent photography. A lot of shots are wide-angle, but the film is composed well. Editing can be a bit choppy in some parts, but is otherwise solid (the scene with the coin at the end is specially inspiring in the way it's cut). Some scenes have overlays and transitions that gives the film a more uniquely dynamic style. Acting is phenomenal; James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are the most perfect choices for their characters since the days of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, and the rest of the cast pulls their weight well. Writing is okay. This production uses good-looking sets, props, and costumes. Special effects vary from being okay to being rather poor, but they are very well-conceived. Henry Jackman's score is excellent, and is especially wicked when Magneto is on screen.

Forget X-Men Origins: Wolverine. First Class is the most endearing and satisfying prequel to the series. It is densely-packed with action and storytelling, and in spite of that, it stands as one of the best in the franchise.

4/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Good)