X-Men: First Class is a prequel film in the X-Men franchise, which details the lives of extraordinary humans with mutated DNA. These mutations allow them to perform superhuman feats, including telepathy, metal-bending, and shape-shifting.
How to Stream or Download X-Men: First Class
The film is available for streaming or for digital download. You can get it, for example, from Google Play Store or iTunes. Click on the Download button below the film review.
The Movie Review
The movie is directed by Matthew Vaughn, most well known for his directorial work on films like Kick-Ass and Kingsman: The Secret Service. Taking place many decades before the events of the original X-Men movie, X-Men: First Class gives us a closer look at some of the most iconic X-Men in their youth.
This includes Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), Erik “Magneto” Lensherr (Michael Fassbender), and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence). With a bigger focus on drama, X-Men: First Class manages to stand out among the other X-Men films. In a sea of other comic book origin stories, X-Men: First Class proves that there is plenty of excitement to be had in the past.
The narrative in X-Men: First Class mainly centers around the youth and early lives of several iconic mutants from the original X-Men films. We get to see the early life of the metal-bending mutant Erik Lensherr, who was experimented on by various Nazi scientists during his time in a concentration camp during World War II. We also get some insights on the upbringing of Charles Xavier, who would eventually go on to found Xavier’s School for Gifted Children, the focal school in the original X-Men movies.
As Charles navigates his college years with his close friend and fellow mutant Mystique, Erik’s adult life sees him hunting down the Nazis responsible for the terrors of his childhood.
Erick, Charles, and Mystique are eventually recruited by the CIA agent, Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne). Desperate for help in hunting down the elusive Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), a man they believe to hold immense power and ill will against the United States.
Together, the CIA hope that the trio can use their mutant powers for good, aiding the United States government in their fight for homeland security. Together, along with the help of the wickedly smart scientist and mutant Hank (Nicholas Hoult), the team prepare to take down Shaw.
Although X-Men: First Class places a bigger emphasis on character development and drama, the film is not without its fair share of epic action scenes. There’s a great balance between realism and fantasy, making the action feel life-like without betraying the film’s comic book roots. Some of the best scenes are a mixture of intense action and drama, highlighting the film’s mixture of emotion and spectacle.
These scenes are all carried wonderfully by excellent performances from the entire cast. Both James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender deliver standout performances, effortlessly playing younger versions of iconic superhero film characters.
Overall, X-Men: First Class is a remarkably great prequel that brings viewers back into the world of X-Men while simultaneously introducing new elements and characters. It’s a movie that prioritizes character development over excessive CGI fight scenes, which is great considering the mutants and their unique abilities are the best part of the film. Although the story can get occasionally dry and worn out, there’s always something interesting happening in every scene.
It’s not without a few flaws, but X-Men: First Class is easily one of the best X-Men films in the entire franchise. If you only pick one or two X-Men films to check out, make sure First Class is one of them.
