X-Men: First Class reviewed by Mark Kermode

[MrHopeTelevision]

BUT. BUT. BUT. BUT

[hanshotfirst1138]

Bring back Bryan Singer!

[jamesthemod]

I love their professional relationship. Cracks me up...

Mayo: So you were the only one who went "hmmm"...?

Kermode: Yes

Mayo: So you're unique? You're the ONLY one who went "hmmm"?

They are perfect for each other...

[SavageVandar]

This film really would've been served better if it didn't have all the baggage from the previous films to wrestle with. Yes, it should have been a 100% reboot, which sadly it was not. And yes, it would have probably been much stronger had it just been the Erik/Charles/Raven show and left the actual founding of the X-Men school and team for the sequel. Sebastian Shaw & the Hellfire Club were kinda wasted in their potential here. I think it would have been better if the Shadow King was the villain

[happeninholly]

I find it hard to believe that anyone in any screening of First Class could have groaned at that cameo. It was so brilliantly executed, so unexpected, and just the response you would have expected that character to give. Still, I agree with Kermode on the "too many women in underwear" thing. That did drive me bonkers when I watched it. Every time another near-naked woman popped up I facepalmed, thinking 'Audiences at superhero movies are no longer exclusively virginal straight males!' Yeesh.

[keflar5]

So naken women are bad but giant muscular men are just fine then?

[TheOshman4]

Brett Ratners X-men last stand always gets alot of stick. On watching the 3 films recently, I feel it is just as good as 1 but below 2. can people give their views as to why this film is bad?

[TheSamuraiGoomba]

@TheOshman4 Terrible casting for the smaller roles, like Juggernaut. Too many mutants in general, so we don't end up focusing in on just a few of the most interesting ones. Poor film logic, but explaining this would take a lot of time. Short Version: Magneto makes loads of assumptions about his ability to control a character he very obviously has no control over.

Mostly, I just feel like it's the Spider-Man 3 thing of too much going on to fit into a single film.

[simondavis91]

i have to ask a question here, i may be wrong but at the end of the movie prof x is injured in the spine, then him being in a wheelchair as a result. But at the end of the wolverine film prof x saves all the escaped mutants and is walking and not in a wheelchair at all. Help?

[Baktor]

@simondavis91 First Class is considered a hybrid. It's a prequel, but also a reimagining. It's a comfortable way of making a prequel without having to nail every detail. I did think the movie was ok, not great, but ok. And I laughed out loud at the cameo he mentions, the movie was worth watching just for that.

[Chfez6000]

"i went 'mmmm'" "oh, so you were unique" haha

[leviterande]

I went in highly un-optimistic, went out highly Thrilled, although some things could be better. but I clap my hands for this one , .. o yeah and I must say this: damn you LUcas you did it again... only real StarWarsers see what I mean

[heyitshorse]

lol this guy is so pessimistic. i don't really care about his crtiques but i enjoy his complaints about movies i don't like. he's entertaining to watch. and that makes him funny. i mean ya hes got good arguements to hate movies, but he hates everything hahah.

[TheThing88]

@heyitshorse Go watch his reviews for Pan's Labyrinth, In The Loop, A History of Violence, Thor, The Dark Knight, Bridesmaids, Harry Potter, Source Code and Senna, for a start. He does hate everything, far from it.

[KurosawasHouseBand]

The Magneto section of the film was pretty good, but everything else around that story line was pretty crap.

[DannyBoy777]

Didn't like this at all... Xavier and Magneto were fascinating together but everyone and everything else felt so immature and underdeveloped to me.

[skinwalkerxxx]

@DannyBoy777 my thoughts of the movie as well. Fassbender and McCavoy were also pretty good(in fact my favorite acting of both in ANY movies) but the rest too silly. I would be interested in a movie just with Magneto before he met these characters(except for Shaw). Just have him travel the World with no costumes. Sort of like the Devil in Omen 4 as far as approach.

[crazyrabbits]

3:11 - The film is very tightly structured, and clocks in at two hours. I think that there wasn't enough time to focus on every single character (a TV series might have worked better), but everyone got a moment to shine. Most superhero movies don't even care enough to do that.

4:20 - The Wolverine cameo seems to have gone over pretty well with people, judging from the reports I've read.

I liked First Class better than Wolverine, X2 and X3. It had a few problems, but by and large, I enjoyed it.

[Elmgren76]

First Class was quite good and Fassbender was awesome as Magneto. Of course the film had some problems but on the whole really entertaining.

[DeckyStrikesBack]

First Class was shite-the only good point was the 'cameo'! But hey,it was still better than Transformers 3 and Green Lantern.

[ahegele]

i generally agree with Mark. The movie completely wipes out the interesting friendship and history between Xavier and Magneto. According to First Class, their relationship began and ended within two weeks...

[crazyrabbits]

@ahegele

According to what's said in the film, they spend upwards of a year or more working together, finding mutants and training.

I love Kermode, but I don't agree with his review:

2:16 - Believe it or not, there was a point to those scenes. The first (Hellfire Club models) is in Vegas, and is done to establish the setting. The other two (Emma and Raven) have them using their sexuality to get what they want.

(continued).

[KingMinosxxvi]

men always walk around in there underwear to you feminist faggot:P

[PompamooseMagique]

This film is a solid bit of superfun, Kermode, remove the stick from yo' ass. Also, any underdressed women featured were totally justified. I like Kermode, but sometimes he needs to just lighten up a bit.

[skinwalkerxxx]

Kermode's gayness always somehow appear from time to time like when he say stuff like "there was too much underdressed women" and how it made him uncomfortable.

I think First Class did not really gelled together as a concept. I understand Kermode's problem with it as Vaugh is an average director and like Kickass he did not push things as far as it could go. Like a Chris Nolan for instance. DK had a better balance of realism and super-hero things. It was more a fully realised vision.

[CRACKFOXROX]

LOL, someone just put ''Hope there's a sequel''...Yeah, It's called x-men.

[CRACKFOXROX]

Kermode always says he goes in with an open mind, but he went in comparing kick ass...he's never gonna see it to real potential if he does that! X-Men does what all the other comic books fail to do, to have a good message (and a 10 min superpower training montage!)

[0509112x]

The film was okay. Dialogues, costumes and art direction were terrible. Actors did good jobs though.

[SDempsey92]

"I watched Kick-Ass and went, hat's a film." WOW I would have hoped for something a tad more substantial.

First Class is not only the best X-Men movie but easily in the top 10 comic book films.

It doesn't rely on crude potty mouthed children and is a step up to Kick-Ass.

I like the Doctor and I agree a lot of the time, but cannot help but feel he misses the mark sometimes and is just another stuffy critic.

[solameimkool]

Acting in this is fantastic, however I have to agree with Kermode on this one.

[dookula]

fully agree!

[stcolreplover]

i've never had doubts about kermode until now

[lmen1990]

I hated kick ass so bad, I will never understand anybodies love for that film.

[92TheNick]

Sorry mark have to disagree went to see this yesterday and loved it, but it was a bit to long

[sunnygirly2k4]

I partly agree with Mark, though at its best it was very good, at worst it was fairly cringeworthy(e.g. when they're sat around showing off their powers and Magneto's back story wasn't well directed), so overall, it evened out at good(loved the ending-it me goosebumps).

The Cameo was so-so - I preferred the Other Cameo, a mutant death didn't affect me like it should've, it looked like a fancy dress version of the 60s too, pacing issues, Shaw wasn't that threatening and some effects were bad.

[jubzfree]

Still... kick ass 10/10

Xmen 8/10

[jubzfree]

I also disagree with kermode (rare).

I found the characters facinating when portrayed younger. Specially chemistry between proffX and magneto.

[ThorFan4Life]

He's just anti American

[DontTouchMyVicodin]

@ThorFan4Life

What with the stars in the movie being an Irishman and a Scotsman, playing an Englishman and a German, and being directed by the son of an Englishman, of course not liking this movie all that much must mean he's anti-American.

[apathyriot]

I rarely disagree with the good doctor, but I will have too here, I watched it really because it had McAvoy in it, but I really enjoyed it, McAvoy and Fassbender (surely the next Bond?!) really make this work for me I could have done without the cuban missile storyline and happily watched those two finding their way to the characters we know them as later, one of my favourite films of the year so far.

[3rduncle]

I thought it was cringeworthy. The film just doesn't work. I wasn't able to suspend my disbelief once. Which isn't normal for me. The young characters, apart from Xavier and Magneto were toe curlingly poor and Beast...hahahahahahahahahaha!

I don't think it's the best of the X-men films either which seems to be the consensus.

[marveladdict]

I'm gonna disagree with Kermode too, I don't think this film was just eye candy and I honestly think it's the best X-men so far, although X-2 is a very close second. I agree though about the loss of focus, there's lots going on, the history, the very strong gay rights theme ("mutant and proud") and trying to show the characters to be more than they're powers. It's hard to get an incite into the characters really. Which is why they should make an X-men live action series :D

[davko79]

Fassbender as the next JAMES BOND please?

[davko79]

Disagree with good doctor. I loved it and djdnt like te first three movies.

[rick694uk]

When Mark is in full blown discourse, his arms majestically aloft, is it the case that when his left arm is uppermost he is retrieving memory data and when his right arm is uppermost he is disseminating data? Or is he just getting both arms ready to slap Mayo for shuffling papers and not paying attention? ;)

[gerardlough]

He's spot on... sadly.

[ethanjroberts]

Completely agree.

[InfiniteWhizBang]

There are actually TWO cameos, Mr Kermode. I think you may have missed one.

[3rduncle]

@InfiniteWhizBang Yeah, at the risk of sounding like a Heat magazine reader...she was a bit round in the face, wasn't she?

[adamski182]

nail on the head once again, fully agree that the film really seemed to be confused as to whether it was a melodrama or a summer blockbuster. and kevin bacon, despite his best efforts was hilarious throughout minus a few sinister accents

[filmotel]

X-Men Origins: Magneto would have been a better flick than Wolverine, but I think that would have made the franchise more limited.

In the case of First Class, I thought it was well-balanced with its characters who do have their moments to shine, even though the young class members are overshadowed by the fantastic performances from a pre-Professor X and a pre-Magneto. By the way, it's a great film, not as good as Kick-Ass, but in par with X2!

[mbagely]

I'm still unsure whether I liked the film or not - but there's definitely a lot of great stuff in there. I can't see how Kermode can be so dismissive, I feel that he needs to re-watch it, maybe from a different perspective

[01rai01]

"particularly hot"

[clonard]

I usually agree with Kermode's reviews...but with this one, I have to disagree. Saw it last night, and was really entertained by it!

[shawndimery]

@clonard You could be entertained by Sex in the City, doesn't mean its a good film.

[SirHprdgn]

Haha, I remember seeing the first X-Men movie and thinking "what the shit?" during the first scene with the Holocaust.

[Regenmacher175]

It's funny how people can watcha and agree with a critic as long as he has more or less the same opinion. And when the critic at one point disses a film some people like the he's satan; get a life, people on youtube. people hear this guy, not you and he makes a good point. people who get upset becase of oter people's opinions are sad, intolerant people.

[VirtuesPenumbra]

Ass = Totally acceptable

Bastard = Naughty

[fuzzydunlop1]

I understand what he means, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of this terrific movie. Hope there's a sequel!

[mspirit]

Kick Ass sucked compared to the comic book and Watchmen is just a brilliant movie. I still haven't seen X-men but I respect Kermode's view on any kind of judgment he may have on a movie. You don't need to agree with an opinion to find it entertaining... It actually helps you to go deeper on why you love or don't love a movie based on that opposite opinion. Of course I realize that this is not something fanboys can understand.

[AHALambda101]

I do respect kermode, and of course its his opinion but i really really liked first class! =(

[Deavi783]

I don't know what Kermode is rambling on about.

Kick Ass was rubbish.

[senorfatso]

I don't like Mark's assumption that no comic book movie can take itself seriously. Thor was camp, First Class was not.

[101ChrisTube]

Ultimate douche

[WeAreQPR1882]

What a load of shite!

[ttandc]

I agree with most of what has been said. The comic which the film franchise is supposed to be based on is over 50 years old and is still going today. It has done this for so long because it has that winning recipe that connects with so many people. To see the butchery that Fox studios have made of these stories is just disgusting. They have missed the entire philosophy behind the stories. I can completely understand why 50 years worth of comic fans are boycotting the film franchise.

[AcheKah]

@ttandc

Actually, this film is pretty good. And I fail to see the explicit campness, sure its very James Bond, and is quite suave at times, but thats part of the setting and the look.

[eleven38]

@AcheKah <LAUGHED AT

[ttandc]

@AcheKah

The film by itself isn't that bad but forgetting about all the comic mistakes they made, they did not even stick to the continuity of their own franchise which is just pathetic.

[AcheKah]

@ttandc

Yeah but its intended also as a semi-reboot to the series, to they had to take liberties with certain elements. I get most of the things they've changed yeah, but I think it was neccessary to avoid having to re-hash things.

[ttandc]

@AcheKah Semi-reboot? Even Bryan Singer has said it's not a reboot it is a prequel. But in the end I guess it really doesn't matter. After everything is said and done we either liked the movie or didn't. I didn't hate the movie but I wouldn't call it great either :)

[tanx2u]

FINALLY! This guy speaks the truth people. Do NOT overhype X-Men: First Class. Don't fall for it. Years from now you'll all know how campy & a let down this movie was.

[mybestfreindplank]

@tanx2u >durr he has the same opinion as me so it's the truth.

Critics and fans agree it's a good movie, cry more. Butthurt hater.

[JMcauley211]

@tanx2u He doesn't speak the "Truth". What's true to him may not be true to others in vice versa. It's an opinion plus he's coming from a critics point of view. I haven't seen it yet but who cares if it's campy, not all films have to be "Dark". Some films are made just for fun entertainment.

[Lilja124]

@JMcauley211

Most movies with superheroes and flying girls in leather are made just for fun entertainment. Personally, I usually find they don't try too hard to be either fun or entertaining but really just tick boxes in most cases, but hey. Target audience seems to like the formula, if nothing else.

[extremepietbh]

@JMcauley211 yeah, and some films like this aren't fun to watch or entertaining.

[HamGreenandEggs]

Agreed with kermode on this, though I was surprised he didn't bring up some of the god awful dialogue prevalent throughout the film

[SpeedFreakNO]

The two first was very good IMO, the third was a load of crap, Origins: Wolverine was awful. I'm glad they brought back Brian Singer.

Also, I doubt X-Men: First Class is a reboot.

[vikingfaen]

fuck him, first class was good.

[greygalah]

the comic book genre is DULL and stupid (with a few exceptions).

[ExtremeBogom]

Good review.

[Horicert]

I am sooo tired of superhero films.

[Morrgore]

Why do people hate X3? I cried twice! This film, I was on the edge of my seat. I didn't know all the mutants, but they all had a story. Every thing fitted with the first three apart from the beginning of X3. I'm going to watch it again in digital projection.

[DodgerRiley]

@Morrgore Are you joking? Ok, here is jusdt one problem with X3 among many. The X-Men fight alongside the military to attack their fellow mutants. The same military that hunted them down in X2 and had created weapons designed to depower mutants.

[bcheeseful]

sometimes it almost feels like he actively tries not to like a film

[6000mphx]

I have to say I fully disagree with Kermode, I though this film was teriffic.

[Sanaa2k]

@6000mphx It wasn't that ter·rif·ic, It was a great film enough to to say "we're sorry for the last shitty three films"

[MintyMurray007]

It is an amazing film and shows that Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman can do no wrong... It's super stylish and has a great plot... I can't really fault it although it does not match to the uniqueness and brilliance of Kick-Ass... But the best X-Men movie to date :)

[13evilpriest13]

whole audience went wild for that cameo when i saw it

[Jacquesvoller]

@13evilpriest13 Same here. Everyone who was in the cinema with me loved that cameo, as did I, and to be honest, the cameo was the truest screen representation of that character since X-men 2. This is also the first time i have disagreed with the good doctor in a long time.

[realMUSICisMUSE]

i have a feeling i will like this as i have loved all of matthew vaugns works... most notebly Kick-ass

[Chronolyse]

Wasn't a fan of Thor. This looks equally tired. X-2 was the height of the series.

How many more comic book films do we have for the rest of the year? I mean, I don't mind the adaptations, but shouldn't there be a finite limit in the time span of only a few months.

[EcologicalFighter]

@Chronolyse I agree, Hollywood is nothing more than sequels to sequels to reboots of films based off of a comic-book/tv-movie/action figure/video game. I literally roll my eyes so hard at this and every other super hero movie of same ilk, the whole earth could spin. The only people these are drawing are fan-boys, kids, and bored stoners on a Saturday night. That being said, not all superhero movies are bad. I love Burton's Batman films especially Returns.

[Regenmacher175]

As long as it does not suprpass The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, Spiderman 2 or X-Men 2 i'm not interested. looks like this is not one of the great comicbook adaptations and in one year noone will remember it.

[ScottishAtheist]

These reboots piss me off. Fair enough Star Trek was a much needed reboot, and rebooting old TV series can be entertaining, but X-men was still very recent, so too with Hulk. Just greed plain and simple.

[noowhoo]

@ScottishAtheist thor is considered the best action movie of the year, xmen was better than thor.

Ive noticed mark kermode just doesn't like the big budget movies, action movies in particular. he will always criticise them. His movie reviews have nothing to do with how good / bad a movie is , it's just an expression/ rant on his dislike of the big budget american movie industry.

[Regenmacher175]

@noowhoo Nope. he likes big splatter films like Nightmare on Elmstreet (1984) and he likes comicbook adaptations like Kick-Ass and Batman Begins, which is, according to him, the best comickook adaptation. he has nothing against big budget films. he just has something against unoriginal films. from a technical point of view he is right: this film is full of stuff and never discovers what it really wants to be. this is what the Avengers will be as well: too many characters and no clear focus.

[harrinski]

@noowhoo I'm pretty sure Inception was a big budget action movie and that was his favourite film of 2010....

[noowhoo]

this guy has no credibility what so ever

X-men 1st class is the best action movie of the year so far

[ScottishAtheist]

@noowhoo That isn't saying much mate.

[Listenkids]

After hearing his Thor review, I expected First Class to blow his mind.

Oh opinions, how you ruin us all.

[66633]

I disagree, I really enjoyed X-men first class.

[NativeAlternative]

I like the criticism that it had to 'tick boxes', that's a fair point and after watching the original X-men film again it seems a lost effort when there's still endless plot holes between the films. The campiness is also a fair complaint, I rolled my eyes when they tried to shoehorn in the codenames for the mutants and one or two untouchable staples of X-men. That said I think this film a greater success because it can tick those boxes tastfully yet produce something highly watchable.

[dinolast]

I totally disagree. It's a great film.

[MattAndersonFilms]

For the first time I'm sorry to say I don't agree with Kermode. Probably because I am a massive fan of the mythology, but I really enjoyed the film.

[LePierre]

Bratner! classic.

[jd899]

I have been eager to hear the good doctor's opinion on X Men First Class.

[666deadman1988]

I thought it was great. Kick-Ass was vulgar nonsense.

[sean2mush]

@666deadman1988 i'm surprised you say that. wouldn't you also classify proffessional wrestling as vulgar nonsense

[TheSilhouette]

"Is there a reason for that, is it particularly hot?"

Lol, I cracked when Mayo said that.

[MrKermodian]

S U P E R i can't wait thats all i'm saying

[sean2mush]

i really enjoyed, fassbender was the best thing about it

[badhead]

"particulary hot"

[samroslyn]

I'll probably still go see this. but that's because I'm a nerd.

[spugesdu]

A little unfair I think, but understandable.

[flosy123]

I miss Nightcrawler...

[comedystylings]

kisimbo kwasa