I finally got a chance to watch X-Men First Class with the family over the weekend (Netflix DVD). I enjoy many of the modern superhero stories being reinvented for the modern age with amazing special effects and more depth of character. I particularly like beginnings, the story of how someone discovered and came to terms with a special ability.
But I’m afraid I have to rate this one B for BORING.
There was no new depth of information or character in this show that I couldn’t have gotten from the original X-Men series. There was no depth or growth in any of the characters, main or otherwise. The darkness in Magnito was there from the start. Charles Xavier’s idealistic philosophy was practically inborn from his wealth and privilege. For that matter, the ideology and philosophizing didn’t grow or change. It was completely circular, with no new developments or angles, no fresh points of view.
The conflict in this movie was senseless, and too closely related to the major theme which they hammered home with all the subtlety of a mallet. The antagonist (who Magnito essentially replaced at the end) wanted mutant domination.
The dialog was painful at times.
The acting was good despite all this, but I’ve always been of the opinion that good writing can overcome back acting easier than good acting can overcome bad writing. This is a case in point.