Days of Future Past Have you seen X-Men: First Class? Post here!

[RKO]

I'm gonna go ahead and say in my humble opinion, this is the best X-Men movie and my favorite Marvel movie by FAR.

 

[J.Howlett]

A million thoughts racing through my mind but it's easily the second best X-Men film. It kind of suffers from two major flaws.

But, in turn, it made certain aspects of the first two films even sadder in hindsight.

You could definitely look at it as a complete reboot or as a very solid prequel to Singer's two films, despite some loose playing with continuity. It's passable. It's not in the same vein as the continuity issues there were in Origins Wolverine.

But, on the whole, a damn fine James Bond/60's spy film that just so happen to take place in the X-Men universe.

The performances were aces all the way around with the standouts obviously being McAvoy and Fassbender. But, the performance that will haunt me and has changed my perception of certain aspects of the Singer's first two films was Lawrence's Mystique. Her final scene with Charles brought tears to my eyes because it's a scene that's an important character growth moment for the three most important people in all of this; Charles, Erik, and Raven.

And I absolutely love the twist of Shaw and his plan and how it shapes Erik later in the series. It's one of the genius moments in the film.

Still, I prefer X2 to this, ever so slightly. More thoughts later.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

HOLY CRAP thank you vaughn sososososo much for giving x-men the kick in the ass it needed.

I loved it. My favorite X-Film by far.

Hell even the cameo had me dying.

 

[Rocker22]

Great stuff.

 

[Sweet Xstacy]

Can you guys post your crowd reports i.e. how many people were in the audience? I'd like to see if we can get a read on this opening weekend at the box office.

 

[The Batman]

just saw a midnight screening for this.

Vaughn did something I never thought possible with a Fox produced X-Men film. He managed to make an X-Men movie that didnt stuff one overexposed character down our throats. And given the popularity of Magneto, as well as Vaughn's admitted preference, we couldve easily gotten "Magneto and his Amazing Friends". To his credit, that didnt happen here. In fact, as others are saying, Mcavoy's Xavier is the glue of this film. So much that the ending leaves you sad for him.

Fassbender is the most badass X-Man we've seen onscreen. He was dark, tortured, and charming, and his relationship with Charles was the best part about the movie. His early scenes really ARE like a James Bond film.

Banshee, Beast, and Havok were all entertaining supporting characters who you rooted for, especially Banshee. Beast was cool, but at the same time, I couldnt help thinking that karma bit him in the ass. Darwin got little screentime, though, and Angel was alright for the small amount of time she was onscreen.

Villain wise, Sebastian Shaw was great. Bacon made a character who's sadism was buried beneath charm, and almost a likability. Jones as Emma Frost was pretty good, as was Azazel. Riptide was just there, really.

I like Rose Bryne as Moira, mostly cause I just like Rose Byrne. Platt as the Man In Black didnt get enough scenes, IMO. This film is either the best x flick or tied with X2. Its what The LAst Stand wanted to be, but failed miserably to achieve.

 

[Carmine Falcone]

Absolutely loved this flick. For me, it's in the same league as Batman Begins. I'm probably going to watch it again in a few weeks, and I don't do that often.

 

[Legion]

Amazing movie!! I loved it! I felt like it was the X-Men movie I'd been waiting for all these years.

 

[ciscostudent561]

This movie was incredible. I cant say enough about it. I'll try to put it shortly. I've always had extremely high expectations for xmen movies. To me the storylines I felt were already good enough to carry a movie by itself. Toss in some decent acting and awesome action scenes and at the worst you have a b+ movie.

Likewise I felt x1-3 were all absolutely terrible. Watered down powers; the same weak storyline in the same 3 movies just killed it for me. I expected batman begins and I got batman and robin.

Regardless practice makes perfect, great job Sony and marvel. This one doesn't even need a sequel.

 

[JP]

Ok, just returned from the midnight show, which is my SECOND viewing tonight. That alone should tell you how I feel.

I absolutely adored this film. From the opening scene to the (groovy) end credits. I can't believe it took 8 years for another solid X-Men film. This is on par with X2. I say that because they're way too different for me to say which one is better. I give X2 an edge because there is just something about Singer's subtlety that I crave.

The acting was just superb. McAvoy was utterly fantastic. By the end of the film I swore I was watching a young Patrick Stewart. Fassbender is just a star. I can't wait to see Magneto completely unchained in the sequel which I really hope we get.

I have minor gripes that I could get into, but I just don't feel like it right now. Directorial choices I would have done differently. . .

Either way, I love this.
10/10

 

[ciscostudent561]

To each his own but how does anyone like x2? It was horrible compared to this.

 

[JP]

This is the First Class thread...

 

[J.Howlett]

JP,

Singer's subtlety and his grace in terms of how he balances action and the character bits is what caused me to rank X2 over First Class.

It's not that Vaughn doesn't have it in First Class...it's just isn't handled as elegant as Singer handled it in X2, even with the long winded third act of that film.

Still, I keep coming back to Lawrence's character arc in this film because ultimately, this earlier version of Mystique is what changes/reshapes Xavier philosophy by the end of the film and it's damn heartbreaking. His mishandling of Mystique's mutation and her feelings for him are what does him in, in the long run...

It's even more heartbreaking when you think of the type of character Mystique becomes. She's a cold blooded instrument of death for Magneto in the previous films and yet, that's not how she started at all.

Lawrence blew me the hell away...

 

[JP]

Couldn't agree more!


Also, I have to give a shout out to an unsung star of this film. HENRY JACKMAN. I mean, what. a. score. That Magneto theme was amazing.

 

[Ipodman]

Yeah the music was amazing... still ringing in my head when I went to sleep yesterday night O.O

Gotta go buy the score!

 

[Jake Cassidy]

****in' awesome.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Can you guys post your crowd reports i.e. how many people were in the audience? I'd like to see if we can get a read on this opening weekend at the box office.

At my viewing the audience was really attentive, gasping at the various Magneto scenes, laughing at the jokes and one liners, hell at one point my girlfriend was actually crying.

 

[A Necessary Evil]

Couldn't agree more!


Also, I have to give a shout out to an unsung star of this film. HENRY JACKMAN. I mean, what. a. score. That Magneto theme was amazing.

Yes. I am so excited to pickup the score.

25 more days damnit.

 

[RKO]

In fact, as others are saying, Mcavoy's Xavier is the glue of this film. So much that the ending leaves you sad for him.

Specially one of his last lines in the film:

Spoiler

"I can't feel my legs."

 

[J.Howlett]

JP,

I mean, if Xavier had taken the blinders off in a few instances, he would've understood certain things about other mutants and their feelings more. The scene in the kitchen after Raven embraces her true self was a stunner...from a character perspective. It's the scene where we see that sometimes, Charles just doesn't get it.

And it's not like Erik was manipulating Raven. Like Palpatine was towards Anakin in contrast to Yoda in Revenge of the Sith, Erik just tells Raven another side to it all...something she's never thought about because she's been chasing after Charles for so long.

Still, I kind of wish the film didn't feel the need to put the pieces in place to line up with X-Men. Frankly, it didn't need to do that. We need another film about the friendship between Erik and Charles. You could've easily left this film where the audience could feel that there was an uneasy shift to their relationship that could lead to the eventual split. It just didn't need to be this film. But, I think that's everyone hedging their bets if this film doesn't take off, from a box office standpoint.

 

[roach]

movie was awesome...I put it slightly behind X2 but better than Thor.

 

[roach]

JP,

I mean, if Xavier had taken the blinders off in a few instances, he would've understood certain things about other mutants and their feelings more. The scene in the kitchen after Raven embraces her true self was a stunner...from a character perspective. It's the scene where we see that sometimes, Charles just doesn't get it.

And it's not like Erik was manipulating Raven. Like Palpatine was towards Anakin in contrast to Yoda in Revenge of the Sith, Erik just tells Raven another side to it all...something she's never thought about because she's been chasing after Charles for so long.

Still, I kind of wish the film didn't feel the need to put the pieces in place to line up with X-Men. Frankly, it didn't need to do that. We need another film about the friendship between Erik and Charles. You could've easily left this film where the audience could feel that there was an uneasy shift to their relationship that could lead to the eventual split. It just didn't need to be this film. But, I think that's everyone hedging their bets if this film doesn't take off, from a box office standpoint.

agreed...this movie could have been the forging of the friendship
the sequel would be about the friendship straining and the third movie showcases the breaking of the friendship and the creation of Magneto

 

[J.Howlett]

roach,

I liked Thor a lot, even if it feels very Marvel Studio-ish. But, First Class is miles ahead of Thor, just on ambition and scale alone.

 

[JP]

JP,

I mean, if Xavier had taken the blinders off in a few instances, he would've understood certain things about other mutants and their feelings more. The scene in the kitchen after Raven embraces her true self was a stunner...from a character perspective. It's the scene where we see that sometimes, Charles just doesn't get it.

And it's not like Erik was manipulating Raven. Like Palpatine was towards Anakin in contrast to Yoda in Revenge of the Sith, Erik just tells Raven another side to it all...something she's never thought about because she's been chasing after Charles for so long.

Still, I kind of wish the film didn't feel the need to put the pieces in place to line up with X-Men. Frankly, it didn't need to do that. We need another film about the friendship between Erik and Charles. You could've easily left this film where the audience could feel that there was an uneasy shift to their relationship that could lead to the eventual split. It just didn't need to be this film. But, I think that's everyone hedging their bets if this film doesn't take off, from a box office standpoint.

Perhaps, but I think their friendship was well defined. Waiting for another movie brings you to the Star Ways prequels where they had one (simple) story to tell and foolishly tried to tell it in 3 films.

 

[roach]

roach,

I liked Thor a lot, even if it feels very Marvel Studio-ish. But, First Class is miles ahead of Thor, just on ambition and scale alone.

agreed

also there is no end credit scene