MOVIE REVIEW: X-MEN FIRST CLASS

CAST: James McAvoy, Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt

DIRECTOR: Matthew Vaughn

SHOWING: 03 June 2011

The X-Men franchise ended with X-Men: The Last Stand (X3) in 2006. Or did it? Because later we saw X-Men origins: Wolverine, which was directed by Mzansi-born Gavin Hood. Wolverine was a prequel to the movie series, a before-X-Men movie. The new one is also one of these, and we expect a new series that focuses on certain characters, such as Wolverine.

What First Class does is to go back even further by examining the founders of the X-Men movement, some of the very first mutants like young mind-controller Charles Xavier and the magnetic Erik Lensherr. These two later became Professor X and Magneto respectively, two of the most powerful and highest-ranked X people on the planet.

The pair were almost inseparable, always the best of friends and great colleagues in the struggle for world justice. They are presented with a threat that could end all humanity and fight to stop it. Unfortunately things happen between them that sets them on a collision path for the rest of their lives.

X-Men movies have their own set of people who appreciate their special skills and powers. It gets complicated when there’s a whole bunch of them trying to get some screen time. But following the storyline is not difficult at all, and recognising some well-known characters is fun. This movie is awesome, just like the previous ones were.