Days of Future Past The Official X-Men: First Class Rate and Review Thread

[kedrell]

One of the reason I hate pretentious movies is because people like to say they are "more than a CBM", thus suggesting that CBM by their very nature are lowbrow. There is nothing wrong with fun entertaining 'popcorn' movies as long as they have good acting, dialogue, characterisations, plot, etc.

What bugs me about that is that I've yet to see it happen with any CBM.

 

[RichardMoore]

Naturally they aren't mentioning TDK or anything, but some things get stucked in our collective memories - "Citzen Kane" being the best movie of all time, "Apocalypse Now" being the best Vietnam war movie of all time and TDK being the best CBM of all time. Some agree with that notion and some disagree, but in general people are extra careful to challenge the status-quo.

Well, yeah, since the majority of people consider TDK to be the best comic book movie, I'm sure a lot of critics are going to be comparing X-Men: First Class to it. Heck, I'm going to be comparing X-Men: First Class to it. There's nothing wrong with that. Even though small minorities may disagree on the quality, as each comic book movie raises the bar, so should other comic book movies be compared to it. That's the nature of the beast. Even in the Academy Awards, they take 5 good films of extremely different genres and compare them, trying to see which one they deem to be the best.

People do that all the time. This is the general consensus I hear from the average Joe. "I like The Incredible Hulk better than the first one", "Thor was better than Iron Man 2, but not as good as Iron Man", "All the X-Men movies are good" (surprisingly), "Spider-Man is awesome", "Batman Begins is on the same level as Iron Man", "The Dark Knight is the best CBM" etc.

Moviegoers compare supehero movies probably more than any other genre of film. That's because, until recently, an upsurge in quality made superhero films "event films" and everybody was wondering which would be the best. I remember frequent conversations between people who weren't comic book fans about whether the X-Men trilogy was as good as the Spider-Man trilogy, whether Daredevil would be as good as Spider-Man, what in the world was wrong with The Hulk and why it wasn't like Spider-Man, how Batman Begins blindsided them with how good it was, how Superman Returns was boring and Spider-Man 3 was too campy, how Iron Man was the best CBM since Batman Begins, how The Dark Knight was amazing, how Iron Man 2 wasn't as good as the first. Right now the big thing on the mind of the people I've talked to is the whole Avengers setup. Even now they're expressing trepidation about the Spider-Man reboot and looking forward to TDKR, but they're excited about seeing different superheroes onscreen.

These are not really opinions that I share, but they are general opinions. You best believe that when X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern, and Captain America are released, there will be reviews comparing them to all manner of superhero films (how they're better than abominations like Catwoman and Elektra, how they compare to benchmarks like Iron Man or TDK etc.). So, in my mind, it's best to get used to the idea of X-Men: First Class being compared to what the general audience feels. I for one like such comparisons because it gives me an idea of what to expect from the movie.

 

[Electrix]

holy crap that's bad

It's only one guys opinion.

 

[04nbod]

Empire gives it 3

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/review.asp?FID=136807

This better not be already posted, it's rare enough I post myself and I'll be damned if my moment is taken from me

And this is where I started to ignore it

It is a strange world we live in where an X-Men movie without Wolverine turns out to be better than a Wolverine movie without X-Men.

Its not strange, Wolverine isn't the X men. The X Men are a franchise apart that have had quality stories without him. Wolverine is largely irrelevant. What is the obsession there?

Also, this is the publication that gave SR 5 stars, and Star Wars: Attack of the Clones 5 stars before going on to admit they were over-excited. They weren't buzzed going in to X Men, just like many of us who feared doom on this movie and it shows in the review.

 

[Electrix]

If you search @empiremagazine on Twitter practically everyone is disagreeing with their 3 stars.

 

[c-saw]

And this is where I started to ignore it


Its not strange, Wolverine isn't the X men. The X Men are a franchise apart that have had quality stories without him. Wolverine is largely irrelevant. What is the obsession there?
.

LOL. I didn't have time to read it but that line pretty much makes their review worthless right there.

and this line got me :


"empiremagazine Empire Magazine hires Armond White to review X-Men: First Class."

 

[marvelrobbins]

Empire IS the first negative review.

 

[HighFivingMF]

About brushing off the review from Empire, would it still be invalid if he gave it a 5/5 and still thought Wolverine was the best X-Person?

Ok I have a question.

Was Batman Begins really considered brilliant or did it get that status retroactively after TDK.

I remember seeing it, thinking it was good and moving on with my life. I didn't even see it a second time in cinema. I don't remember anybody saying it was brilliant; just a good movie, and it's BO reflects that. It's not even a WW blockbuster; it made < 400 million WW.

It was in the IMDb top 100 until Dark Knight came out, after which newer movies hopped in and bumped it down a few spots. So, at least amongst the internet it was.

 

[RoboAmish]

Empire IS the first negative review.

3 stars isn't negative. It'll still be considered Fresh

 

[chaseter]

I can't believe that Empire said that Vaughn and Goldman are taking this series in a terrible direction by making it more dark. This isn't Spider-Man. X-Men are filled with themes about racism, sexuality, violence, etc. and their stories usually are pretty dark and violence filled.

 

[Marvel]

A stellar review is up on the IMDB user main page...

Grand-Scale Storytelling Mixed With Superb Action

Fox can breath easy again because I think it's safe to say the even the extreme fanboys will be putting down their pitchforks and torches and smile after seeing this amazing film. I know for a fact that general audiences are going to love this movie. I know some fans can be irrational and hold on to their hate because they expect certain things they read in their books but I can't seeing anyone being that irrational when faced with a result that delivers what First Class manages to deliver. It honestly is a genre-defining movie on a level with any comic based film that has come before it. Everything in this movie is exceedingly better than what Fox delivered in their last two efforts with this franchise. Going back to the beginning and re-hiring the guy that brought us those films was a splendid idea. The acting here is superb and the dialogue is rich. Every character feels absolutely believable no matter what abilities they have on display. No cartoonish villains or cheese in sight, every side of the issue is presented by people who believe they are the ones who are in the right and the underlying message of tolerance and bigotry only add to the depth of this film. If not a genre-defining movie than maybe it redefines the comic book genre. It restores the sense of epic adventure and grand-scale storytelling that we saw in X2. In fact, it perfectly complements that great film and probably surpasses it.

This film is to X2 what Godfather 2 was to the Godfather. Seriously, First Class is an exceptional "flashback" look that links the best of the X-Men trilogy to the past. Instead of DeNiro playing young Vito Corleone we get James McAvoy as young Charles Xavier. Marlon Brando and Patrick Stewart made their respective characters popular but both were more fleshed out by incredible younger talent. I'm not placing the X-Men film itself on a par with the Godfather but both have become legendary in their particular genre. I am, however, saying McAvoy has a bright future as a complex and talented actor. Just like the young cast of Godfather 2 was legendary, the young cast of First Class has many great days and projects ahead of them.

Love this entire cast but Michael Fassbender delivers the best performance with an amazing presence and command of the screen. Everyone was extraordinary. What many expected indeed happens. By that I mean every scene that Fassbender and McAvoy are in together absolutely sing. It won't surprise anyone to know that Kevin Bacon, Oliver Platt and Jennifer Lawrence are superb in supporting roles but Nicholas Hoult did stunning work as the Beast and deserves some love as well. January Jones and Rose Byrne are hot as can be but aren't just simple eye candy. Sure, the story is compelling and the action is amazing but the performances elevate this movie far above a common summer flick.

Movie of the year so far...

Another "movie of the year" contender confidence builder! It's always good to see Godfather 2 and X2 brought up when mentioning any film.

 

[rashad]

Digital Spy - 5/5
http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/review/a321200/x-men-first-class-review.html

An action blockbuster with rollercoaster thrills and laughs that has a fundamentally intelligent core.

Total Film - 4/5
http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/ci...ss&ns_source=totalfilm&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0

It's intelligent and emotionally resonant, explosive and eye-dazzling. Factor in a zeitgeisty, hot-list cast and First Class is likely to be one of the summer's best biggies.

 

[X-Maniac]

I don't think it's darker, but it is edgier - the f-bomb line, the strip-club antics. There are many lighter moments in there, it certainly isn't as sombre as The Dark Knight.

 

[Loganbabe]

I would say those are more stuck in the critics collective memories than elsewhere. And they only speak for themselves.

Well, not really. Maybe the critics decided that "Citzen Kane" is the best film ever, but somehow it helped form our cultural collective memory; and bloggers are very much responsible for doing it nowsdays.

 

[J.Howlett]

Well, yeah, since the majority of people consider TDK to be the best comic book movie, I'm sure a lot of critics are going to be comparing X-Men: First Class to it. Heck, I'm going to be comparing X-Men: First Class to it. There's nothing wrong with that. Even though small minorities may disagree on the quality, as each comic book movie raises the bar, so should other comic book movies be compared to it. That's the nature of the beast. Even in the Academy Awards, they take 5 good films of extremely different genres and compare them, trying to see which one they deem to be the best.

People do that all the time. This is the general consensus I hear from the average Joe. "I like The Incredible Hulk better than the first one", "Thor was better than Iron Man 2, but not as good as Iron Man", "All the X-Men movies are good" (surprisingly), "Spider-Man is awesome", "Batman Begins is on the same level as Iron Man", "The Dark Knight is the best CBM" etc.

Moviegoers compare supehero movies probably more than any other genre of film. That's because, until recently, an upsurge in quality made superhero films "event films" and everybody was wondering which would be the best. I remember frequent conversations between people who weren't comic book fans about whether the X-Men trilogy was as good as the Spider-Man trilogy, whether Daredevil would be as good as Spider-Man, what in the world was wrong with The Hulk and why it wasn't like Spider-Man, how Batman Begins blindsided them with how good it was, how Superman Returns was boring and Spider-Man 3 was too campy, how Iron Man was the best CBM since Batman Begins, how The Dark Knight was amazing, how Iron Man 2 wasn't as good as the first. Right now the big thing on the mind of the people I've talked to is the whole Avengers setup. Even now they're expressing trepidation about the Spider-Man reboot and looking forward to TDKR, but they're excited about seeing different superheroes onscreen.

These are not really opinions that I share, but they are general opinions. You best believe that when X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern, and Captain America are released, there will be reviews comparing them to all manner of superhero films (how they're better than abominations like Catwoman and Elektra, how they compare to benchmarks like Iron Man or TDK etc.). So, in my mind, it's best to get used to the idea of X-Men: First Class being compared to what the general audience feels. I for one like such comparisons because it gives me an idea of what to expect from the movie.

Awesome post, Mr. Moore.

 

[J.Howlett]

That imdb user's review is high praise...

 

[rashad]

Awesome post indeed.

Anyway back to First Class! I'm glad to see reception from this film has been great.

 

[pyromaniac]

Holy Christ. I did not expect this love. I came to these boards for X3 and I can't believe we may finally get something that lives up to X1 and X2's promise. That said, I do wonder if the sub-par entries in the saga will hurt its performance. Its time for Fox to go on the media blitz with this. They haven't had a tentpole critical winner in years that I can remember.

Its just a pity that Cyclops is MIA.

That's why there are comparisons with the Bond and Batman films - but positioning Casino Royale and Batman Begins after the earlier unpopular works has breathed new life into the respective franchises.

And of course similarly, you had Singer having a considerable challenge on his hands with X1; he led the trail for the superhero craze that we know it to be today.

 

[pyromaniac]

So far, we have Sci Fi and Empire as the first mixed to bad reviews. But it seems Empire has had a backlash, so it's not an authentic negative review...

 

[Schlosser85]

The Empire review wasn't even overwhelmingly negative, it just thought it could have been better.

 

[By your Command]

The Empire review wasn't even overwhelmingly negative, it just thought it could have been better.

Methinks that reviewer misses Wolverine a lot, that's all.

 

[Secret_Riddle]

Methinks that reviewer misses Wolverine a lot, that's all.

As of now, 3/5 isn't bad but it definitely smells like a hit-hungry contrarian.

Still haven't seen the film, so who knows. If anyone honestly thinks this thing's staying at a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes..lower expectations .

 

[By your Command]

As of now, 3/5 isn't bad but it definitely smells like a hit-hungry contrarian.

Still haven't seen the film, so who knows. If anyone honestly thinks this thing's staying at a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes..lower expectations .

I'm shooting for something around 95 on RT, but the only critical thing I'm keeping in mind, is the fact that almost every reviewer wants to see it again. Hit-hungry contrarian is the exact definition for this one just like you said, that person just wants to have on paper the "this movie is not perfect" review.

 

[kedrell]

95% ain't happening, most likely.

 

[Secret_Riddle]

I'm shooting for something around 95 on RT, but the only critical thing I'm keeping in mind, is the fact that almost every reviewer wants to see it again. Hit-hungry contrarian is the exact definition for this one just like you said, that person just wants to have on paper the "this movie is not perfect" review.

95% ain't happening, most likely.

Comparisons have been primarily with Star Trek, which scored 95. Still, it's a best case scenario for sure.

X2 has an 88, and the reviews will likely surpass that. I'm expecting anywhere between 85-95.

I also feel like I'm betting on a horse here, but hey. t:

Anyone want to go double or nothing?