Burton Reviews…Xmen: First Class

Xmen: First Class is out for general release today! Burton got hold of a copy and reviewed it for you lot that missed it at the cinema…

The film follows Charles Xavier, and Erik Lensherr as they learn of their super-human powers as kids growing up during WW2. As adults, they quickly recruit a bandit of super-human teens, who, unlike Xavier and Lensherr, are far less impressed and think their powers suck because they mark them out as different.

Throughout the film, there’s a big focus on how these guys and girls deal with being different (and dangerously powerful!) in the real world, which can get a bit Oprah-like at times with ‘mutant and proud’ being a reoccurring moto, but is an important part of the story. Watch as Hank makes a potion to normalise his feet-hands (we’re not sure which…) and accidentally turns into a blue woolly ferocious bear – think Sully from Monsters Inc and you’re on the right track. Situation = worsened. Error!

The film’s set against Xmen’s version of the history of the Cold War (that you won’t have been taught at school) and uses the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis and a looming Nuclear War to set up the heroes and the villains for the later films.

Burton gives this film a big old rating of 8 out of 10 mainly cos the film didn’t need to be made at all, but adds to the Xmen trilogy in a way that makes you wonder why they didn’t start there in the first place. Plus, Wolverine makes a VERY brief appearance. And he’s awesome!

And if action heroes and comic-book-style action really are your thing, then check out our printed tshirts – our awesome Super Power Up Tshirt, £20, would make Xmen’s super-human teens proud!