X Men First Class
By: Gemma Skipper
X-MEN, First Class tells the beginning of what has become an epic franchise (well according to Wikipedia); tracing relationships and battle lines back to where they were formed. Starting with a thesis that cracks the mutant shell open, Xavier (played by the cute James McAvoy) and his crew come together to stop a war, enact revenge and find their place in the world.
Behind each character is a sameness of difference that separates them from the rest of the human race. How each approaches this difference distinguishes the heroes and the villains. What the film really excels at is developing how each character answers the question of how to be the ‘better man’ through examining the nature and nurture which led to the current condition.
Mystique is fascinatingly confusing for this. Alongside this, a suspenseful plot line had me and the eight year old next to me bugged eyed as a fast pace was set through jam-packed action scenes and moments of comedy (Wolverine!). I was left wishing I had powers (Magneto’s for sure) and scouring the internet for the cartoon TV series for more of my favourite mutants.