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Critics Consensus: With a strong script, stylish direction, and powerful performances from its well-rounded cast, X-Men: First Class is a welcome return to form for the franchise.
Critic Consensus: With a strong script, stylish direction, and powerful performances from its well-rounded cast, X-Men: First Class is a welcome return to form for the franchise.
All Critics (283) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (243) | Rotten (40) | DVD (4)
Why be so harsh and long-winded about a superhero movie? Because it's an ambitious superhero movie.
The climax is the biggest letdown, a giant hash of crosscutting and unremarkable (in an era in which we've seen everything) CGI.
As X-Men films go, this one gets the job done and is certainly better than Last Stand or Wolverine. But there are still just too darn many X-Men.
Looks and feels like a very cheesy Cold War-era B movie...
It uses the themes of the previous movies to build an intelligent, fast-paced, and highly entertaining prequel.
This blazing "pre-boot" breathes new life into the sagging franchise
Although X-Men: First Class is not the best film of its kind, it certainly does its genre justice.
What's most remarkable about First Class, the fifth in the series of X-Men films, is that it's the first one since the original that inspires a want for more.
This is not an empty popcorn film. It has a heart, a mind, and a healthy stock of endorphins.
What if women could only contribute to the plot while in their underwear?
Add in some spectacular battle sequences and crisp characters, and it makes one of the best superhero movies in years.
Good actors make you care, even if the story doesn't.
The greatest achievement of this film is how it makes us care so much about its characters even though we know beforehand that they are not going to die - the big curse of prequels -, while balancing a lot of action and an intelligent social commentary with absolute perfection.
Super Reviewer
Just when people were beginning to lose faith prequels, along comes "X-Men: First Class." In one of the best prequels ever made (not just by comic book standards), we follow Professor Charles Xavier at the peak of his knowledge, while Eric is a troubled man who only wants to hunt down the man who killed his mother. Realizing there are many more people like them out there, they decide to form a team of young recruits, whom will eventually help them form a team to face the evil their most fear, while also having to deal with the humans thinking of these mutants as threats. Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) is the central antagonist of this story, and while all he wants is to harness his powers and find as many mutants to follow him as possible, his past comes back to haunt him in Eric. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender share amazing on-screen chemistry. I truly believe that this is some of the best bonding/friendship I have seen in a very, very long time, especially for comic book films. They grow as personalities throughout this film, bringing a whole other layer to the characters of Professor X and Magneto. Twentieth Century Fox has never been known for their streak of great films, but rather a very bumpy balance between good and bad. Of the last decade or so, I definitely think "X-Men: First Class" shows that they will always eventually have something up their sleeves, even if they do not know it yet. After travesties such as "X-Men: The Last Stand" or "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," they really had to up their game in terms of reviving this franchise, and they did so with flying colors. Matthew Vaughn at the helm as director was just the icing on the cake here. He takes care in his projects. Focusing on slow scenes to further develop the characters we already know, placing side characters in the forefront, and showcasing everyone equally, leaving out fan favorites, instead of adding in moments to a film that did not need any further assistance. With a terrific screenplay, tasteful direction, and cast that elevates this film even more, "X-Men: First Class" is easily one of the best films in the franchise, and some may even argue that it is the best. What this film is at it's core, is a loose prequel to the stories we know, which also acts as a springboard for stories that can be told between the two timelines. This is a very smart film and I can not wait to see where the filmmakers take it from here. The future looks pretty bright for this franchise if this pace can be kept up. This film is definitely substance over style, and for a superhero film, that is all that can be asked. "X-Men: First Class" is wonderful entertainment.
Brings credibility back to the X-Men franchise thanks mainly to Michael Fassbender's excellent portrayal of a young Magneto. James McAvoy does a good job too as Xavier, but he and everyone else surrenders the screen as soon as Michael Fassbender steps in. The chemistry and bond between the two characters drives the movie and although the story is going places already shown in later films of the series, it's still nice to see it all happen and done in a manner that it's still exciting and suspenseful. This is the best installment since X-2. Sometimes taking a step back really is the way to move forward.
I was expecting a solid movie. Matthew Vaughn is easily one of my favorite directors. The cast is loaded from top to bottom with a good group of actors even if you have not heard of many of them. After two hours of solid fun I was ready for more. If any movie deserves sequels its this one. Keep Vaughn and Singer on board and the cast and you will have money. Easily in the top two of all the X-Men films. I am not an X-Men fanboy. I could care less about the five hundred zillion reboots retcons and who knows what else that happens in comics. Sorry. I do like the characters though and they did a wonderful job of bringing this group to the screen.
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