Director: Matthew Vaughn
Writers: Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn
Producers: Gregory Goodman, Simon Kinberg, Lauren Shuler Donner, Bryan Singer
Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne
The X-Men franchise set the standard for super hero movies back in 2000 when the first film was released. Since then there have been five X-Men movies that have dealt with the modern day X-Men and their struggles to survive in a world that does not understand them. First Class takes us back to the beginning before Charles Xavier (McAvoy) was Professor X and Erik Lehnsherr (Fassbender) was Magneto, although we do see them grow up before our very eyes.
The film takes place in the early 1960's when Charles and Erik are first starting to realize what they are capable of and that they are not alone. Instead of the government trying to oppress mutants like in the other films, they are trying to understand the concept that mutants do exist. Some government officials want to help Xavier while others are not convinced that mutants belong in the world. It does not help their cause when Sebastian Shaw (Bacon), a mutant with tremendous power to control energy, wants to turn the Americans and the Soviets against each other in an all out nuclear war.
First Class has a tremendous cast led by an upcoming star in their director Matthew Vaughn ("Kick-Ass," "Layer Cake"). McAvoy and Fassbender steal the show with their outstanding on-screen presence. Even Hugh Jackman makes a hilarious cameo as the riveting Wolverine. There is a true connection between the actors and the characters they portray. Vaughn clearly gets enough and then some from each one of his actors which is refreshing to see.
The script is intelligent, the characters are believable, and there is plenty of action to get the audience through the movie without it feeling like two hours have passed. I would say without the action, the movie would still be a breeze because the depth of the characters and the actors who personify them. However, action is what super hero movies are all about and this one brings the heat. The final battle with the X-Men against the military is a heart stopper. X-Men: First Class is by far the best movie of the franchise and possibly one of the best super hero movies to date.
Verdict: Must See
Grade: A
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Super 8 Review
Director: J.J. Abrams
Writer: J.J. Abrams
Producers: J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg
Starring: Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler
Super 8 is a phenomenal film that is full of thrills and adventure. J.J. Abrams wrote every scene intelligently while setting up scene after scene. The rising star claims this film is his ode to Spielberg and it did not disappoint. Super 8 can be mostly related to Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, while there are also hints of E.T. in it.
Super 8 first surfaced a couple of years ago when word got out that J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg were teaming up to create a science fiction thriller. No one knew the plot or what the big "mystery" was behind the film. Everything was kept under wraps and not even the actors themselves knew what was going on. “I haven’t even seen the movie yet,” claimed Fanning. ”We’re going to find out (the secret) the same time you guys do.” Elle Fanning and the other actors filmed mostly on a green screen, therefore, not having a clue what the "monster" was going to look like. A teaser was first released summer of 2010 during the screening of Iron Man 2. All the teaser showed was a train derailing with something pounding on the side of an Air Force train cart. Needless to say the marketing behind the film was remarkable.
Super 8 is a story with middle-school-age kids who set out to make a zombie flick with their Super 8 camera, accidentally witness a train crash, and become involved in a tale of extraterrestrial mystery. With the endless thrills (the train crash is the ultimate movie magic), there is also a love story that holds the movie together. The uncontrollable emotions that pour out of the characters throughout the film eventually leads to the audience with their own emotional roller coaster.
The film has all the thrills a science fiction movie should have while keeping the audience in suspense until the very end. The entire cast did an incredible job making the film come to life. Elle Fanning and the other kids were remarkable working together on screen, playing off each other perfectly. I truly can not say enough on the job they did. TV's Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler also did an incredible job as the town's police deputy.
Verdict: Must See
Grade: A-
Writer: J.J. Abrams
Producers: J.J. Abrams, Steven Spielberg
Starring: Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler
Super 8 is a phenomenal film that is full of thrills and adventure. J.J. Abrams wrote every scene intelligently while setting up scene after scene. The rising star claims this film is his ode to Spielberg and it did not disappoint. Super 8 can be mostly related to Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, while there are also hints of E.T. in it.
Super 8 first surfaced a couple of years ago when word got out that J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg were teaming up to create a science fiction thriller. No one knew the plot or what the big "mystery" was behind the film. Everything was kept under wraps and not even the actors themselves knew what was going on. “I haven’t even seen the movie yet,” claimed Fanning. ”We’re going to find out (the secret) the same time you guys do.” Elle Fanning and the other actors filmed mostly on a green screen, therefore, not having a clue what the "monster" was going to look like. A teaser was first released summer of 2010 during the screening of Iron Man 2. All the teaser showed was a train derailing with something pounding on the side of an Air Force train cart. Needless to say the marketing behind the film was remarkable.
Super 8 is a story with middle-school-age kids who set out to make a zombie flick with their Super 8 camera, accidentally witness a train crash, and become involved in a tale of extraterrestrial mystery. With the endless thrills (the train crash is the ultimate movie magic), there is also a love story that holds the movie together. The uncontrollable emotions that pour out of the characters throughout the film eventually leads to the audience with their own emotional roller coaster.
The film has all the thrills a science fiction movie should have while keeping the audience in suspense until the very end. The entire cast did an incredible job making the film come to life. Elle Fanning and the other kids were remarkable working together on screen, playing off each other perfectly. I truly can not say enough on the job they did. TV's Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler also did an incredible job as the town's police deputy.
Verdict: Must See
Grade: A-
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