source: mb.com.ph
MANILA, Philippines – New “X-Men” film, “X-Men: First Class,” is sure to be a hit not only to its fans but among 20th century-history buffs.
The entirety of this prequel film runs parallel to real events in world history, beginning with the Nazi occupation of Poland in the mid-'40s continuing throughout the whole Cuban Missile Crisis between the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War in the early '60s.
Without giving out spoilers, the whole film is about the young life of Professor Charles Xavier (later Professor X, played by James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (later Magneto, played by Michael Fassbender). It tells how, despite having polar back stories (the typical “one had it easy, the other had it otherwise”), the two met and end up as – surprise – close friends.
Other than that, “First Class” relates how Xavier and Erik joined forces to track down their very first batch of young mutants, took them under their wings to train, only to split into two groups (the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants) later on when the two men severed ties due to a major difference in their beliefs. We also get to know how Professor X ended up on a wheelchair and how Magneto acquired his "silly hat."
As a bonus, we also have a glimpse of some of the more familiar mutants like the then-kid Storm when Xavier tried on Dr. Hank McCoy’s (later Beast, played by Nicholas Hoult) mutant-tracker invention Cerebro for the first time. There are also a couple of surprise cameos by actors who were in the previous “X-Men” films, one of which actually drew a loud collective “Whoa!” from the audience.
Of course, not everyone who will watch "First Class" is an “X-Men” fan who knows the entire story by heart. However, it’s safe to assume that a huge chunk of the population has at least heard of these awesome fictional mutants. Disregarding the “what-could-haves,” “what-should-bes” and “it-should-have-been-retained,” as is usual of diehard fans to point out when their favorite comics/books are adapted to the big screen, this second “X-Men” spin-off is a good one.
At some point while watching the film, the involvement of mutants in the almost nuke-war between the two warring nations feels as if what can be seen onscreen is actually some sort of well-guarded secret by the CIA that's only being revealed to the world for the first time after almost 50 years. It's as if what we knew all along, what we'd been taught in our history classes, had been part of a conspiracy theory instead. The line between truth and fiction is easily blurred here, indeed.
More, the use of aired speeches by then US President John F. Kennedy contributed to the realistic feel of the movie. But as long as you know your world history and you're not iffy with it getting a bit "modified" for movie/aesthetic purposes, you're good. If not so much, well, one would still be able to enjoy the film if they're expecting well-executed CG effects perfectly meshed with good plot.
According to online reports, “First Class” is said to be the first movie in a trilogy that would focus on the beginnings of “X-Men.” If we’re going to base it on “First Class”’s ending, it seems we do have a possible follow-up film to look out for.
Rounding up the cast of “X-Men: First Class” are Rose Byrne (CIA agent Dr. Moira MacTaggert), Kevin Bacon (Sebastian Shaw), January Jones (Frost), Jennifer Lawrence (Raven Darkholme/Mystique), Zoe Kravitz (Angel Salvadore), Caleb Landry Jones (Sean Cassidy/Banshee), Lucas Till (Alex Summers/Havok) and Edi Gathegi (Armando Muñoz/Darwin).
Directed by Matthew Vaugh (“Kick Ass,” “Stardust”), “X-Men: First Class” hits local theaters beginning June 2.
source: mb.com.ph
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