Which is better: X2 or First Class?

[Mako]

While I loved FC, I still feel X2 is the best out of the series thus far.

[PsyJ]

I like First Class quite a lot but I don't love it like I love X2.

[AnneFan]

Both are good, but I like First Class more.

[thawkwood957]

Personally I liked X-men: First Class the best out of all the X-men movies that have been made films.

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

After watching First Class a few more times I know find it hard to choose which movie I prefer, I will probably stick with X2 but its a much harder decision now than it was a few months ago, both amazing films.

[OsGom]

Originally Posted by marvelrobbins

Oh Please.Bryan Singer got the X-Men made at time when studios were down on the genre.He revived the genre and launched X-Men as a film Franchise.His efforts to make the comic book world Into realsitic film world Influed the Batman and Iron Man Films.Without Singer there would be no Chris Nolan on Batman and Jon Favraru on Iron Man.He toped X-Men with X2.First Class Is his story,he was original choice to direct,he was very handson Producer,and Matthew Vaughn only came on board because of him.It's funny how some here use First Class a film he devolped story for and produced to bash him.

I disagree. Blade is the movie that ushered in the current Renaissance of Comicbook films. It came out 2 years prior to Xmen. it was both a financial and critical success. IMO the success of Blade inspired Fox to pursue the Xmen and Sony to produce Spiderman.

So while Singer definitely deserves credit for his work on the Xmen, he is not the Messiah of the modern comicbook adaptation. He is simply an excellent and capable writer director who was passionate about the project.

[OsGom]

oh yeah! XM: FC is the better film overall. Being a diehard Xmen comics fan, I enjoyed X2 but the mishandling of characters throughout the trilogy I found disappointing and a distraction. First Class using new(or barely used) characters AND a creating a compelling histroy for Prof & Mags wins this contest.

[marvelrobbins]

Originally Posted by OsGom

I disagree. Blade is the movie that ushered in the current Renaissance of Comicbook films. It came out 2 years prior to Xmen. it was both a financial and critical success. IMO the success of Blade inspired Fox to pursue the Xmen and Sony to produce Spiderman.

So while Singer definitely deserves credit for his work on the Xmen, he is not the Messiah of the modern comicbook adaptation. He is simply an excellent and capable writer director who was passionate about the project.

I don't dispute the fact Blade helped launch the genre's revivl.But X-Men kickstarted It.Sometimes people here bash Bryan Singer and forget his work
helped revive the genre.

Oh,and X-Men was In active devolpment before Blade was In Theatres.When Marvel was In Bankrupticy X-Men was one project that was activly be worked on.As Blade was coming on they were trying to get a script for X-Men that Fox would agree on the budget.Trying to find a script that could be made for the 75 Million budget Fox was willing to spend was hard.

[Nerial]

Overall, X2 is better. It ties so many characters together; even boring characters like Storm and Cyclops get moments to show their stuff. The story was powerful, the action almost nonstop and the threat was very personal. The humans attacked the school, and used the X-men leader as a weapon.

But I loved Magneto and Charles in XM:FC. It's what makes that movie a close second to X2, finally allowing us to see their friendship and division. Also, the saddest moment in the entire franchise, where Charles is shot and paralyzed. It's heart wrenching.

[Hugebear]

Originally Posted by OsGom

oh yeah! XM: FC is the better film overall. Being a diehard Xmen comics fan, I enjoyed X2 but the mishandling of characters throughout the trilogy I found disappointing and a distraction. First Class using new(or barely used) characters AND a creating a compelling histroy for Prof & Mags wins this contest.

I agree. The whole trilogy troubled me. I think what helped First Class was that I didn't know many of the new characters, and it was like breath of fresh air to see Something better.

Speaking of Blade, that movie was just too good. It had the same effect of the Matrix.

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Originally Posted by OsGom

I disagree. Blade is the movie that ushered in the current Renaissance of Comicbook films. It came out 2 years prior to Xmen. it was both a financial and critical success. IMO the success of Blade inspired Fox to pursue the Xmen and Sony to produce Spiderman.

So while Singer definitely deserves credit for his work on the Xmen, he is not the Messiah of the modern comicbook adaptation. He is simply an excellent and capable writer director who was passionate about the project.

Blade wasnt a huge success financially and critically, it actually didnt make much profit money until it came out on VHS and became somewhat of a cult hit, thats why the sequel wasnt greenlit for a while and it came out 4 years later and not the standard 2/3. Also, not many people knew Blade was a comic book, even years after it came out.

X-Men was the first comic book movie to be a large Box Office success in a long time and this was because the genre was taken seriously for the first time in ages, this was down to Singer, there is no denying this. Also, both critically and financially X-Men trounced Blade heavily.

[Mrs Vimes]

I think that X2 is, overall, a more consistent and solid film; First Class feels messier and is very rushed in places. Nightcrawler at the White House, Magneto's escape, the attack on the school are all awesome sequences; all secondary characters get a chance to shine; the story is complex and gripping.

However I still prefer First Class for two main reasons:
1) Character stuff - mainly Charles and Erik and their relationship. I thought that there was more depth and nuance to the characters and their dynamic than anyone I can think of in the original trilogy except maybe Wolverine - and I actually found the character more compelling in X1.

2) I really like the exuberant, playful feel of First Class and the way it's not afraid to be silly and campy at times while still nailing the heavier emotional scenes. Singer's films feel more, I don't know, muted and restrained by comparison - not necessarily a bad thing but I just prefer the vibe of the prequel.

[OsGom]

Originally Posted by AVEITWITHJAMON

Blade wasnt a huge success financially and critically, it actually didnt make much profit money until it came out on VHS and became somewhat of a cult hit, thats why the sequel wasnt greenlit for a while and it came out 4 years later and not the standard 2/3. Also, not many people knew Blade was a comic book, even years after it came out.

X-Men was the first comic book movie to be a large Box Office success in a long time and this was because the genre was taken seriously for the first time in ages, this was down to Singer, there is no denying this. Also, both critically and financially X-Men trounced Blade heavily.

Not that this is a contest but Blade (rated R) made $70m+ ($131m WW) by the time the VHS was released in December 1998. Considering a modest $45m budget, that's a blockbuster in any studios book. It was the third highest grossing Rated R feature in 1998 and actually out-grossed “There’s something about Mary” it’s opening weekend. Sure the GA didn't know that Blade was a comicbook character but studios certainly took note.

I was incorrect when I said that Blade inspired Fox to pursue the Xmen. Fox bought the rights in 1994 and hired Singer as director in 1996. However, Blade’s success did motivate Sony to get Spiderman in 1999 and Artisan to buy up the rights to 15 other characters PRIOR to the release of Xmen in 2000.

I think this demonstrates that the fire was originally lit by Blade’s release in 1998 but Xmen was certainly a big dose of gasoline on that fire leading up to Spiderman(2002) & Batman Begins(2005).

[danoyse]

Blade kickstarted the whole comic movie era amongst comic book fans.

For everyone else? It was X-Men.

I was not a comics fan before X-Men. So I didn't see Blade. In fact, I still haven't seen Blade. I don't know anyone who even saw Blade when it was in theaters.

But X-Men? Everyone saw X-Men.

[Majik1387]

Blade kick-started it for Hollywood. They saw a comic based movie can be good if taken seriously(after the rewrites/edits), so they took a chance on X-Men.

[MrWayne]

For me, Blade was just a badazz movie when it came out, I didn’t even know it was a cb. Just goes to show you, make a good movie, people will go see it.

Having just recently watched X-men First Class, I think it’s a better movie and was truer to the comics. Especially Magneto's helmet! That really drove me crazy the way it looked in the initial trilogy.

I loved X1 & X2 no doubt, X3 was meh... but I just find 1st Class to be a better X movie, I was impressed. Really looking forward to the next one and the real core x-men team making their debut.

[zanos]

I'm so shocked there isn't a wider margin in the poll. I enjoyed certain aspects of X2, but as a whole, the film was horribly disappointing, much like the first film.

[Majik1387]

You are crazy.

[psylockolussus]

Now that its year 2012 and I still think that X2 is the better film simply because it felt like a "X-Men" movie compare to X-Men: First Class and it had Jean, Cyclops, Wolverine, Iceman and Magneto/Prof were older.

[Thebumwhowalks]

Originally Posted by psylockolussus

Now that its year 2012 and I still think that X2 is the better film simply because it felt like a "X-Men" movie compare to X-Men: First Class and it had Jean, Cyclops, Wolverine, Iceman and Magneto/Prof were older.

Dude, X2 had not only Jean, Cyclops, Wolverine and Iceman, but Storm, Rogue, Nightcrawler and action cameos by Colossus and Kitty.
That is the only time we have had the classic Claremont/Cockrum/Byrne line up in the same movie(apart from Banshee).
That is why watching the first two films back to back gives me a thrill that FC cannot. FC is a great Xavier/Magneto movie though, that is what it is, it is not a great X-Men movie.

[The Morningstar]

It felt like an X-Men movie because it had a more comic accurate team? Nonsense.

First Class is very much a an X-Men movie.

Personally i'd put X-2 and First Class about even. Both great films, comic book accuracy can go get ****ed. What matters is the essence of these characters and what they are about. Both films capture that essence pretty much perfectly. All this nonsense about different team line ups, different origins etc... you're missing the ****ing point.

[Mr. Immortal]

Originally Posted by The Morningstar

It felt like an X-Men movie because it had a more comic accurate team? Nonsense.

First Class is very much a an X-Men movie.

Personally i'd put X-2 and First Class about even. Both great films, comic book accuracy can go get ****ed. What matters is the essence of these characters and what they are about. Both films capture that essence pretty much perfectly. All this nonsense about different team line ups, different origins etc... you're missing the ****ing point.

I thought they fouled up Xavier's ''essence'' really horribly in First Class actually... one of the most important things about Xavier's character is that he doesn't abuse his massive powers despite his ability to do so. Him going around and invading and pillaging everyone's mind, even completely innocent people, was totally out of character for him and ruined what was essentially a really awesome movie for me otherwise. It's not as if he's a minor character, Xavier is the center of the X-Universe. I can't gloss over such a huge alteration, personally.

[Blue Sugar]

I give a slight edge to First Class after recently falling for it. Both are good to great films though!

On a visual level I'm just so in love with the set-design and costumes in First Class. Love the way the mixed the 60s feel with sci-fi aesthetics. Reminded me of old Bond flicks, Ken Adams style.

When it comes to action, X2 rules supreme though, I mean that opening sequence with Nightcrawler, holy...

Both films have good and interesting stories, with strong themes and emotional resonance.

[blueserenity]

Originally Posted by Mr. Immortal

I thought they fouled up Xavier's ''essence'' really horribly in First Class actually... one of the most important things about Xavier's character is that he doesn't abuse his massive powers despite his ability to do so. Him going around and invading and pillaging everyone's mind, even completely innocent people, was totally out of character for him and ruined what was essentially a really awesome movie for me otherwise. It's not as if he's a minor character, Xavier is the center of the X-Universe. I can't gloss over such a huge alteration, personally.

He's young and naive and arrogant in the movie, of course he's going to wander into people's minds and use info he finds to order the right drinks and woo girls. It's not like he manipulates anyone. He's doing what most 20-something men would do if they had that power (actually in not manipulating anyone, he's showing a great deal of self-restraint and dormant sainthood).

I've always found Xavier to be painfully dull because he was so saintly and self-righteous. James McAvoy's portrayal was a hugely welcomed breath of fresh air. It gave the character loads more depth and, more importantly, relateability.

[The Morningstar]

Originally Posted by Mr. Immortal

I thought they fouled up Xavier's ''essence'' really horribly in First Class actually... one of the most important things about Xavier's character is that he doesn't abuse his massive powers despite his ability to do so. Him going around and invading and pillaging everyone's mind, even completely innocent people, was totally out of character for him and ruined what was essentially a really awesome movie for me otherwise. It's not as if he's a minor character, Xavier is the center of the X-Universe. I can't gloss over such a huge alteration, personally.

Whilst true, it still maintained his philosophy, that mutants and humans can co-exist peacefully.

I think the alteration they made suited this take and this movie.

And let's not forget, Chucky has done some rather morally questionable things in the comics too.