X-Men: First Class
2011 · Directed by Matthew Vaughn
Original language: English
- action
- science fiction
- adventure
The story
Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were arch-enemies, they were closest of friends, working together with other mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known.
What it’s like
Warm, saturated 1960s palettes give way to cold steel grey and hard shadow across this prequel, with Matthew Vaughn's camera moving with brisk, kinetic energy through sixties Cold War interiors: Playboy-era lounges in amber lamplight, naval decks in wet grey daylight, and stark government corridors under flat fluorescent glare. The mood is brash and playful at first, then tightens into tense, heavy unease as the stakes climb toward nuclear brinkmanship. Its sound leans on a propulsive orchestral score with retro swing touches, punctuated by sharp, bright bursts of mutant power. Pacing is brisk and rhythmic, with long set-up scenes of banter and flirtation giving way to sudden, bruising set pieces. Emotionally it follows two young men, close as brothers, drifting toward opposing ideals, and the warmth of their early friendship makes the split land hard. Violence is frequent and sometimes sharp, with action-movie impacts, brief bloodless injuries, and the odd startling death, but no gore to speak of. Sexual innuendo and nudity are light and playful. It suits a Friday night with friends or a comic-book comfort rewatch, for people who want stylish, character-driven spectacle with a sixties sheen.
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