- Only slight spoilers -
I'm actually surprised, but this turned out really, really good. The trailers aren't selling how good this is. Before I get to the single characters, I'll say this: the directing is sweet. Vaughn makes this feel like an upper class 70s spy thriller. The new period is actually underplayed and not just a gimmick. Overall, it's more serious. There are jokes, but they too are underplayed. Smirks, no laugh-outs (but there are some major surprises that will make you laugh out, at least two). What really makes this fun is the fact that Vaughn really makes you feel these kids are being challenged big for the first time in their lives, and that a global war is a possibility. The inclusion of the Cuba Crisis is ... okay. It could have been worse. FX are mostly good, only CGI-Beast does look shitty (but that's kinda okay as Hoult actually works it with a "man, do I look like shit" gaze). I'd say there's as much action as in THOR, but while there's less spectacle overall, the characters are more interesting and the flick looks so much better. Usually, I don't like the idea of prequels because they mostly come up with stupid winks at the later flicks to make you remember certain aspects of the original (think young Hannibal wearing the Samurai mask), but here it's really well done. They show you how they met, how they got the school, the plane, how they came up with the nick names, how they end up with their gimmicks like Magneto's helmet etc, but never in a showy way.
Now to the characters..
XAVIER - I had my doubts about McAvoy. He's a fine actor, but so young looking. I had no idea. He makes him a believable human with needs and fun, but who's also thoughtful and a commanding presence. You will believe the way older looking (but in fact only two years older) Fassbender looks up and listens to him. If Chris Evans is anything like that, he might be believable as a leader of Robert Downey Jr. and the others.
MAGNETO - This is a breakout role. This will, has to make Fassbender a big star. He's bringing depth and emotions to the character, but also lots of badassery. After the first 30 minutes, you'll wish for a Magneto solo movie, with him just travelling the world and hunting Nazi escapees.
Did I mention that there are four different languages spoken? Bacon's German is good, and Fassbender seems to be a natural in any language.
MYSTIQUE - When they cast Jennifer Lawrence in the role, I thought it was the wrong decision. Thought she's worth more than blue t&a. The role is more than that, in fact there are only one or two small scenes in which you see her full frontal. She does get simple dialogue, but she doesn't make it seem dumb. They only thing that will make you go huh is her sudden sexual interest in Magneto. There's no build-up to that.
MOIRA - I think Rose Byrne is a mediocre actress that always comes off as distant and melancholic. It's the same in here and she does not have any chemistry with her love interest McAvoy at all, but at least Vaughn finds a reason to strip her down to underwear. And she's not that important.
BANSHEE and HAVOK - Not fleshed out, but they do get some nice bits.
DARWIN - Nearly unused. A worthless character, though he does inspire a neat line for Shaw.
ANGEL - A weak point. A nothing of a character with a lame action scene.
Now for the bad guys:
SHAW - As soon as they announced that Kevin Bacon was to be the main antagonist, we knew it would be something to look for. He totally delivers. Feels like an epic Bond villain, just looking awesome, being awesome and demanding the spot lights. He comes up as a big threat, but not just as an evil or psychotic one: you can see what kind of fun future he's envisioning for himself, and everyone else like him. The only thing missing is a big final fight - you see him charging himself up on a nuclear reactor, but then he doesn't to get to use it. But he does have some smaller action scenes before that.
FROST - Well, tits. Jones fills her bra, looks the role. She tries to be icy, mysterious, dangerous, but is never the Sharon Stone Basic Instinct role she aims at. Good thing is her dialogue isn't that important. She's just a henchwoman and the importance clearly is tits, going diamond and only then whatever she says. She does not have the same chemistry Mystique has with her team, but then she's only supposed to be a fuck toy and tool to Shaw anyway.
AZAZEL - Badass. A slightly less wonky version of Nightcrawler who absolutely does not fuck around. Just coldly kills and kills and kills. Did I mention that he looks cool as fuck?
RIPTIDE - His power of creating small tornadoes isn't as interesting as the other ones, but he's as elegant looking as the other ones. Only a wordless henchman, but a solid one. Also, all three of them always wear suits. They're provoking WW3 in style.
It's no The Dark Knight masterpiece, but it's better than X2 and a really good movie in itself. I'd give 4 out of 5. Interestingly, it seems to include story elements from each of the first three flicks and Wolverine. Shaw wants to turn people into mutants as in Part I. Wanting to be accepted as a mutant is a huge element of the flick, like in Part II. Then there's a cure like in the third movie, but implented way more interestingly. Finally, you have Magneto taking over the avenging of a loved one.
As for the continuity? A bit fucked, but I'll explain under a break
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The biggest fuck-up is Moira's age. In X3, she's played by a 40 year old. In XF, she's already 30, and not a mutant.
They explain Mystique's age problem with slowed down aging.
What happens to Xavier does not fit to Wolverine or the flasback of X3. Also, Emma Frost appears to be 30 while being way younger in Wolverine, which takes place ten years after this.
Now STOP READING if you don't want to get spoiled the fuck. They'll be discussed.
Edited by Chris Myers - 5/25/11 at 12:34pm
