X-Men: First Class

Running Time: 130mins

Director: Matthew Vaughan

Producers:  Gregory Goodman, Simon Kinberg, Lauren Shuler Donne, Bryan Singer.

First instalment of the newest Marvel trilogy, X-men: First Class sets the bar high for anything that is to follow.

The film begins during World War II and tells both the story of persecuted Jew, Erik Lehnsherr whose pain and anger unlocks his ability to manipulate all metals, and also the story of Charles Xavier who from the word go hosts a shelter for mutants.

Erik (Michael Fassbender of Inglourious Basterds) and Charles (James McAvoy from Wanted, Inside I’m Dancing), as a result of a chance meeting during the Cold War and a mutual rival, become companions and begin to put together the “First Class” of the X-men academy.

First Class takes the place of the series of X-men Origins, which can only be called a flop, and answers all the questions as to where the Magneto/Professor X rivalry came from, why different mutants chose their respective sides and of course why the great Charles Xavier has not got the use of the lower half of his body.

The plot unfolds along with the events of the Cold War and creates a different course of history to that which we learned about in school, however, they tie in perfectly together as the initial X-men series was written during that period.

53-year-old Kevin Bacon who plays the part of Sebastian Shaw, but in keeping with his character that absorbs power and hence does not age, looks as youthful as he did in Footloose back in 1984 and gives a fantastic performance as the source of Magneto’s anguish.

Clever cameo roles, which lasted such a short time that one would question if the actors even got paid for their appearances, from Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) and Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) brought unexpected smiles to my face. Even a film clip from President Kennedy's Thanksgiving address is included, however, it's a bit late for him to begin an acting career.

The acting, screenplay and special effects are up there with being the best out of all of the X-men films so much so that I did not want the film to end.

The only fault I can find with the film is a scene which was completely lifted from the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde story; thankfully it was not enough to leave any lasting impression.

4/5