X-men: First Class

With the latest X-men movie (Days of Future Past) out in theaters now, today I look back at the first X-men 'reboot'- First Class.  But first, a bit of backstory.

The X-men is a series of Marvel comics focused on a team of mutants (evolved humans, each with a unique and powerful ability).  Rejected by some humans, embraced by others, the mutants are either fighting to be accepted into society or fighting to rule it.  The 'good' group are called X-men; the bad, the Brotherhood.  The former are led by Professor X, a wheelchair-bound telepath who started an Academy for 'Gifted Youngsters'- a refuge where mutants can learn and develop their abilities without exposing them to the outside world.  The latter are led by Magneto, who can act as a magnet to control any magnetic object.
Professor X believes mutants and humans can and must coexist peacefully, helping each other to better society.  Magneto believes mutants are superior and must crush or be crushed by humanity.  Some humans help Magneto's cause by targeting mutants for extinction.  Thus, many X-men movies focus on the overall struggle of mutant vs. human.

There have been several X-men movies released to date.  From 2000-2006, the first three X-men movies were released, which introduced us to the main mutants on each side and their overall struggle to fit in (or dominate).  The most popular mutant, Wolverine, has had two spin-off movies (2009 and 2013).  And finally, in 2011, we were given X-men: First Class, which is today's review.

First Class is a prequel- it shows the team before they were a team, and answers questions like how they formed, how they harnessed their powers, and how Professor X and Magneto became the leaders of rival factions.  At the beginning of First Class, though, the Professor and Magneto are allies, and they (with other mutants) are helping the CIA struggle for the upper hand at the height of the Cold War (1960s) against the Russians.  Sebastian Shaw, a mutant who is manipulating military leaders on both sides of the struggle in an attempt to trigger nuclear war, is the primary antagonist, aided by a small group of other bad mutants.  The good X-men prepare for a showdown against Shaw & company off the coast of Cuba, with navies from both countries set to obliterate each other.  Can they avert nuclear war?  What do you think?

First Class was extremely well-reviewed after the widely-panned X-men 3 and Wolverine movies.  I enjoyed it overall, and liked seeing how it all began.  It wasn't as action-oriented as the prior offerings, which was fine by me.  On the downside, it felt long at times, and I was surprised how comparatively poor the CG effects were- that's almost unforgivable in this age.  In the end, I'd check this one out, especially if you plan to see Days of Future Past.

Rating: B