Great review! I totally agree. I tried to stay away from the hype that preceeded it and ended up in the "good, not fantastic" boat myself. I'm glad I saw it in the theater.
Jen On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 12:28 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > It was very clearly intended to be a prequel to the series and not a > reboot. There was footage from the old movies in the trailers, fer kurt's > sake. > > This summary from boxofficemojo.com nails it. A good read! > > The best bits excerpted below, and the full link if you want to follow it > below that! > > *X-Men: First Class*'s opening reiterates the danger of rebooting a still > prominent franchise without a clean break and the passage of a lot of time ( > *Wolverine* was just two years ago). While wanting to restart things after > the quality issues of *Wolverine* and *X-Men: The Last > Stand<http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=x3.htm> > * was understandable, *First Class* was just a Wolverine-less prequel to > the public and couldn't shake the baggage of those last two movies. *First > Class*'s marketing, which sent mixed messages by including references to > the previous movies, didn't go into the movie's actual story. It merely > focused on seeing what the X-Men were like when they were young and the > brewing disagreement between Professor X and Magneto, which was already > covered in the previous movies. All things considered, then, *First Class*'s > $56 million start wasn't too shabby and certainly displayed the continued > popularity of the franchise. > > In its marketing, *X-Men: First Class* has straddled a murky line between > prequel and reinvention. On the one hand, there's a see-how-it-all-started > angle, replete with actual clips of Professor X and Magneto from the > previous movies, and it's only been two years since the last movie, which > was a prequel itself. On the other, there's a new direction, new cast and no > Wolverine. It seems like a reboot should only occur when a franchise cycle > runs its course and quite a few years have passed, but such a move is not > unprecedented (James Bond rebooted with*Casino > Royale<http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=jamesbond21.htm> > * even though there was no lull under the previous regime). Despite hopes > of starting over after*Wolverine*'s dip from *Last Stand*, *First Class* is > most likely to be seen as a prequel by the public. A reboot needs to be > cleaner than this (like *Batman > Begins<http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=batmanbegins.htm> > * or *Star Trek <http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=startrek11.htm>*) > and should start a new story continuity, otherwise it's weighted down by > franchise baggage. > As it stands, *First Class* will rely on the legion of *X-Men* fans to > power its grosses. Prequels may be obsessively consumed in the comic book > world, but they often amount to fanboy fantasias as far as the mainstream is > concerned. If these back stories were so essential, then that's where the > franchises should have started. The story needs to progress, not regress. > *First Class* seems to mine territory that was covered in the previous > movies, namely the back stories and conflicting views of Professor X and > Magneto. To its credit, *First Class* is not as redundant as *X-Men > Origins: Wolverine*, which was one of the most redundant movies of all > time given how thoroughly Wolverine's origin was covered in the previous > movies. But due to the ill-advised decision to make the third *X-Men* movie > the final one, despite the franchise's rising popularity at the time, the > franchise was sort of forced into prequel-mode in order to continue. > > http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=3177&p=.htm > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jason Service <[email protected]> > To: theuniquegeek <[email protected]> > Sent: Mon, Jun 6, 2011 1:14 am > Subject: Re: [The Unique Geek] X-Men First Class *** SPOILERS *** > > The more i think about what you mentioned, the less i can say you are > able to take this film out of X-Men film continuity. > > *Emma Frost can turn into crystal...just like she could in Wolverine > Origins. > *Magneto's scene at the Nazi camps in WWII where he bends the fence is the > same scene that we saw in X-Men > *Rebecca Romijn is the 'older look' of Mystique as she attempts to seduce > Magneto > *The same look is given to the mansion, especially the 'bunkers' that we > see in the X-Men films > > If this is supposed to be a 'reeboot' then it should have had none of the > feel or scenes or even established characters that we have seen in the other > movies. If it isn't a reboot (and this clearly wasn't) then this is a > prequil, which means the X-Men films we have already seen are within > continuity WITH this film. > > I chose not to read much press before the films, but the trailer i remember > showed an empty wheelchair and Magneto's Helmet and something to the effect > of Before he was the professor and before he was Magneto... > > On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 7:59 AM, Edward Crosby <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Haven't seen the movie yet but I decided to read these post anyway even >> though it reads **SPOILERS**. >> You stated: "One of the issues that may have been at work here was the >> fact that you know none of these characters can *really* lose. We see >> many of them in 'future' films." >> Even though some have labeled this movie as a prequel, I was under the >> impression that it was known to the geek world that we were not to actually >> treat this movie as prequel since they have the continuity out of wack, as >> far as some of the characters goes (Havok, Emma Frost, etc.) . At least when >> I plan on seeing this movie this coming weekend, I wanted to go in thinking >> this was a stand alone film and has absolutely nothing to do with the >> previous X-Men movies, even though this is a X-Men film. >> >> ---------------------------------------- >> Have a Better One, >> Edward Crosby >> http://about.me/edwardcrosby >> >> >> >> On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 7:50 AM, Jason Service <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Saw it on Sunday and it was...good. Not great. The 60's feel was >>> fantastic. That feel permeated the film. Raven nailed it when he said it was >>> "an early James Bond movie with super-heroes." Initially liked January Jones >>> (Emma Frost) but the more i think about that, the more i realize she was >>> playing a different character in the wrong place. January Jones plays Betty >>> Draper on Mad Men (where she is fantastic BTW) and her portrayal of Emma >>> Frost was just her portrayal of Betty Draper. That character works on Mad >>> Men but the dynamic character of Emma Frost needed to be stronger. >>> >>> Lots of nods to the comics, which i loved. Great cameo by Hugh Jackman to >>> say one line as Wolverine. Whole theater erupted in laughter. >>> >>> Overall i had a good time but by NO means would i call this the best >>> superhero film ever. Iron Man or Batman Begins or even the Dark Knight woudl >>> still be superior to this movie. I wanted to see where the story went, but i >>> was never heavily invested in any of the characters. Wait, i was very >>> interested in Magento and following his character through the film was >>> fantastic, but Charles, McCoy/Beast, Raven/Mystique, Havok and >>> Banshee...meh. >>> >>> One of the issues that may have been at work here was the fact that you >>> know none of these characters can *really* lose. We see many of them in >>> 'future' films. There was just never a point where i was on the edge of my >>> seat, concerned for the consequences of what may happen. Everything that >>> they faced, was clearly able to be accomplished from the very start. I never >>> felt that they were exposed to any great danger, and if in my head, as the >>> film is running i can say, "yeah Charles can make them appear invisible, or >>> Magneto can hold up the shells and rockets" why would i fear for the >>> security of these characters? >>> >>> Good, not great. >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 6, 2011 at 2:48 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> of course that should read "too many characters." >>>> >>>> PS - Banshee's intro made exactly zero sense. Very poorly handled. >>>> What did he do to the fish? How did he do it without breaking the glass? >>>> Did he kill them? It was very very confusing and...off. Then, a few >>>> minutes later, we meet Darwin, and he shows off his power by sticking his >>>> head in a fish tank. TOO MANY FISH!! They also made it seem like that was >>>> his power...having gills. It's not explained until later when they're >>>> beating him with the chair, which is fine, but...also not. Very strange >>>> choices there. >>>> >>>> Really liked how Xavier couldn't disguise his disgust for how Mystique >>>> looked. Like, that was great character stuff. He's the best of all the >>>> good guys but he can't pretend she's not gross. Just very...real. >>>> Also...loved loved loved Beast. Super cool in both incarnations. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: ravenface <[email protected]> >>>> To: theuniquegeek <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Sun, Jun 5, 2011 7:38 pm >>>> Subject: Re: [The Unique Geek] X-Men First Class *** SPOILERS *** >>>> >>>> Saw it. Thought it was excellent. Loved the 60s vibe. It was totally >>>> an early James Bond movie with super-heroes. They managed a huge cast >>>> pretty well. There were aaaalmost to many characters, but everyone had a >>>> place. A few terrible effects but many amazing effects. Kevin Bacon was >>>> great great great. Hated Mystique, but thought everyone else was cool. >>>> Emma Frost was...not the best actress in the world, but they seemed to >>>> know >>>> that and minimized her. >>>> >>>> Well paced, and only two or three really stupid moments. Exciting, >>>> unpredictable and Ham Tyler too! >>>> >>>> Hard not to put it in the top three super-hero movies ever. Really >>>> fun. Every time it tried to make itself suck, it pulled itself up and >>>> ruled >>>> instead! >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Michael Bailey <[email protected]> >>>> To: theuniquegeek <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Fri, Jun 3, 2011 8:24 pm >>>> Subject: Re: [The Unique Geek] X-Men First Class *** SPOILERS *** >>>> >>>> IT WAS SO FREAKING GOOD! >>>> >>>> I have a few plot hole problems and the woman playing Emma Frost was God >>>> awful, but I am with Shag...this might be the best super-hero movie ever. >>>> >>>> On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 11:25 PM, Cary Preston <[email protected]>wrote: >>>> >>>>> Fantastic movie. Some reviewer said it's not a good comics movie, >>>>> it's a good movie. Very apt. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Jun 3, 2011, at 11:18 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Okay folks... question for those of you that saw the film. >>>>> >>>>> Was this just the best X-Men movie ever, or the best superhero movie >>>>> ever?!?!?!?! OMG! I LOVED this movie! Admittedly I just saw the film >>>>> and >>>>> I'm riding high on adrenaline right now. I'm might change my opinion once >>>>> this buzz wears off, but I don't recall being this jazzed right after >>>>> seeing >>>>> a film since I was a kid. >>>>> >>>>> Who cares if it didn't match X-Men comic continuity. It was simply >>>>> an awesome movie!!! >>>>> >>>>> The Irredeemable Shag >>>>> <http://firestormfan.com/>http://firestormfan.com >>>>> <http://onceuponageek.com/>http://onceuponageek.com >>>>> <http://twitter.com/onceuponageek>http://twitter.com/onceuponageek >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "The Unique Geek" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> [email protected]. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "The Unique Geek" group. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>>> [email protected]. >>>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> This post/e-mail was written by Michael Bailey, Superman Apologist >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "The Unique Geek" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "The Unique Geek" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "The Unique Geek" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "The Unique Geek" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "The Unique Geek" group. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected]. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Unique Geek" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "The Unique Geek" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/theuniquegeek?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Unique Geek" group. 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