Studio: 20th Century Fox
Plot: A prequel to the previous X-Men movies, “First Class” promises to resolve mysteries about the origins of Professor X and his team of mutants.
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Bill Milner, Rose Byrne, Jennifer Lawrence, Beth Goddard, Zoe Kravitz
Rating: PG-13
Bottom Line: ***
By Laurence Washington
I’m going to have to recheck my history books concerning the Cuban Missile Crisis. According to history books, John F. Kennedy stopped the Russians from installing nuclear missiles in Cuba by ordering the Navy to blockade the island from Russian ships delivering parts and equipment to complete missiles installation.
“X-Men First Class,” a much better movie than the last installment, tells a slightly different version of what happened during those 13 thrilling days in October 1962 when the world was on the brink of nuclear war. It seems that the United States and the Soviets were using the Cuban Missile Crisis to destroy mutants.
Tracing the origins of the X-Men, the movie actually starts in a Nazi prison camp during the 1940s where Erik Lehnsherr, who later become bad guy Magneto, is forced to witness the death of his mother at the hands of Nazi doctor Sebastian Shaw. Years later, Lehnsherr meets telepath Charles Xavier, who will later operate a school for good mutants.
Lehnsherr and Xavier become friends as the stage is set for them to become mortal enemies. But first they have to stop Sebastian Shaw from starting World War III between the United States and the Soviets. Director Matthew Vaughn is back at the helm, weaving a seamless tapestry between world history and Marvel comic book lore and then punctuates the film with great special effects. If only the X-Men were real, world history might be more fun to read.
Source: www.Blackflix.com
This was printed in the June 19, 11 – July 2, 11 Edition
