Movie reviews
Because the main protagonists will live on to battle in the episodes we’ve already seen, there’s a certain lack of drama when we know their deaths will not be an issue. It’s testament, then, to director Matthew Vaughn’s (Kick Ass, Stardust) skill that this is not an issue in X-Men: First Class (12A).
A straightforward prequel it may be, but Vaughn moves the proceedings with such a kinetic pace that it’s easy to get caught up in the fun. Poland, 1944, and Erik Lehnsherr’s (future talent Bill Milner, Son of Rambow) unique talent to bend metal to his will is spotted by Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), a Nazi scientist who subjects the boy to terrible experiments. Erik grows up (into Michael Fassbender) and sets about hunting down Shaw who has now the backing of a small band of mutants, among them January Jones’ telepath Emma Frost/White Queen. Meanwhile, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) has been using his own telepathic powers to woo ladies in college, but puts that aside when he is approached by a CIA Agent (Rose Byrne) to help track Shaw down as she suspects he is pushing Russia and America towards World War III.
