Days of Future Past The Kevin Bacon/Sebastian Shaw Thread

[SuperSoldier985]

I agree with a lot of people and say that Shaw's introductory scene and Bacon's performance in it was fantastic. I also thought his powers looked excellent on-screen and I felt like he was truly a real threat.

Also, the scene, which we've seen in all the trailers and many tv spots of him releasing energy at the Covert CIA base at all of the soldiers and guards looked incredible. It's strange how I've seen it so many times in the advertisements but seeing it on the big screen, in context, the whole thing, with the music, final effects and everything, it was quite a jaw-dropping scene.

 

[mr jinx]

So, did he always have powers or did he somehow develop them between the 40s and 60s. I must have missed that.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

So, did he always have powers or did he somehow develop them between the 40s and 60s. I must have missed that.

I've noticed many people who don't know much about X-Men or mutants have also had the feeling that Shaw didn't have those powers in his introductory scene in the movie.

I thought it was implied right away when you see him later in the movie where he actually looks a bit younger, that should be your first clue right there. Then, when he says openly that his mutation has "kept" him young, that should be your confirmation in putting the two together. In that first scene, I think it was too early and unnecessary for him to show off his powers at that point. It made for a much more interesting and intense scene later in the film when it's finally revealed.

 

[mr jinx]

I've noticed many people who don't know much about X-Men or mutants have also had the feeling that Shaw didn't have those powers in his introductory scene in the movie.

I thought it was implied right away when you see him later in the movie where he actually looks a bit younger, that should be your first clue right there. Then, when he says openly that his mutation has "kept" him young, that should be your confirmation in putting the two together. In that first scene, I think it was too early and unnecessary for him to show off his powers at that point. It made for a much more interesting and intense scene later in the film when it's finally revealed.

Dude, chill out. No need to be condescending. Knowing about the X-Men doesn't really help since this version of the character is not consistent with the comics. And did you see the first X-Men movie in which a human was turned into a mutant?

Obviously he had his powers in the 60's but it was not obvious if he had them in the opening of the film. I thought it possible that through his experimentation he was able to activate a mutation in himself. And sorry, but your logic is flawed. Looking younger later doesn't mean he always had powers. In fact that would actually add to the argument that he didn't have them earlier in the film.

I agree that its possible he had them and just didnt demonstrate them for dramatic purposes, but that, at least to me and it sounds like a lot of the other "ignorant" people out there hardly established a fact.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

No dude, YOU chill out.

I was totally agreeing with you partly and if you read any kind of condescension in my post, you brought it in yourself.

Since there was never any inclination whatsoever about turning humans into mutants, I don't see how anyone would've brought that idea into the movie.

We're on the same page, looking at it differently--Looking younger DOESN'T mean that he always had powers, but it DOES mean that he COULD have always been a mutant. You wanted something explicit, which is okay. I'm just pointing out that it wasn't quite needed, I see where there might have been some confusion, but it's not that difficult to figure out.

 

[mr jinx]

I was totally agreeing with you partly

We're on the same page, looking at it differently

Um, if you say so. And to that I say I didn't not totally disagree with you... partly.

You wanted something explicit, which is okay.

I didn't necessarily want something explicit. I was just asking if there was something explicit that I missed.

I see where there might have been some confusion, but it's not that difficult to figure out.

Isn't it though? Because it still doesn't seem clear to me if he had powers in the beginning of the movie or not. We both agree he COULD have. Which is why I asked the question "did he always have powers or did he somehow develop them?" I never asked "When did he get powers?"

 

[BLACK-SPIDEY]

Man Kevin is BA, it was all him in the movie, there was no special effects involved.......

 

[psylockolussus]

I've noticed many people who don't know much about X-Men or mutants have also had the feeling that Shaw didn't have those powers in his introductory scene in the movie.

Yeah my friends were like "he's a mutant too" t:

Kevin Bacon was terrific, one of the best performances in the X-Men movie franchise.

But I'm kinda glad is off now because he can't be the next Magneto who appears in every film.

 

[Silvermoth]

You know that episode of "American Dad" when Roger gets a Kevin Bacon nose? When he wore the helm of Magneto, that was the first time ever I noticed his unique schnozz, lol.

Kevin was great in this. You can really tell a great actor by the way they can have a great performance just from the way they stand. He was a superb villain.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

The Baconater surprised me the most here. I didn't think he'd be anything great, but he definitely was. So refreshing to see a villain other than Magneto.

 

[Deaths Head II]

Kevin Bacon was amazing in this film. He delivered a great performance in a film filled with great performances. I also agree it was very nice to see a villain other then Magneto. I was very happy that he was able to make Shaw very charismatic and menacing at the same time.

 

[Schlosser85]

I thought Bacon was just deliciously evil. So smooth and calm.

 

[Nokio]

Well his performance was good and he didn't ham it up like some have been saying. Bacon is a good actor but I've no idea why The character of Shaw was changed. For the love of god does anyone on board the production of these xfilms ever pick up comics or do research on the history of these characters. Does these people In the comics and yes I know it's the movie and saying it over gets old but Shaw is a mutant who could care less about mutant domination. He cares about profit and power and controlling the world but not ruling it. He's part of and ultra wealthy society of mutants and other extraordinary beings who are bent on control through political, and economic means.

Here he was Magneto and Sinister rolled into one with only slight amount of the comic Shaw. I just don't get why they didn't use Sinister.

 

[Nokio]

The only thing that didn't bother was the tweaking of his powers. I liked that they expanded his absorbtion abilities to make it visually interesting.

 

[Cheshire1996]

Bacon was Shaw. In those first few scenes with the young Erik he was just unbelievable. He brought everything to the role. I think out of all the fantastic performances, Bacon's was close to my favorite. He was just so villainous, sly and such a smooth snaky like character that it was absolutely brilliant.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

I really don't like how they're describing some of the details of First Class in its wikipedia page...

For example:

Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw: A scientist and the leader of the Hellfire Club, a secret society bent on taking over the world.[12][13] Shaw is a mutant who can absorb kinetic energy used against him and use it as super strength and speed.

That's really not that accurate. I wish I could go in and edit, but apparently, it's semi-protected...

 

[ALP]

Lol @ his name being Sebastian Shaw! Seriously everytime they said that name I thought of the actor from Star Wars.

 

[sauronthegreat]

What becomes with the bullets which are fired at Sebastian Shaw? Does anyone have any logical explanation? By the looks of it they just vanish. If he absorbed them then his clothes would be torn, and how could he absorb metal.. it's just silly.
I loved the film, but this little thing really bothered me.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Bacon was awesome. Such a cool villain. A real perfect one for this kind of thing. His introductory scene was one of my favorites. My God, his German was fantastic. Was that really him?

Just tense. It reminded me of a Tarantino film.

 

[Roose Bolton]

I think we're meant to assume that they bounce off

 

[DocHoliday]

Bacon was awesome. Such a cool villain. A real perfect one for this kind of thing. His introductory scene was one of my favorites. My God, his German was fantastic. Was that really him?

Just tense. It reminded me of a Tarantino film.

I was thinking that myself! He was genuinely good in this film. But he has always been able to evoke that scene stealing quality. He does really quality work.

 

[sauronthegreat]

I think we're meant to assume that they bounce off

I think I can also assume that.
When a film is this beautiful flaws like that become minor.

 

[SuperSoldier985]

It's not really a flaw, though..

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

One thing I didn't quit understand

Spoiler

was why at the end when he was paralyzed by Charles Erik was able to lobotomize him why the coin ? I guess because the coin was moving too slowly for Shaw to absorb its energy ?

 

[aces15224]

I literally just signed up to say the same thing. Sebastian Shaw is supposed to be unkillable. How do bullets and rpg's not penetrate his skin but a slow moving coin does?