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See Page 4 for more details. THE JOURNAL, New Ulm, MN Friday, June 10, 2011 19 Double Take: X-Men: First Class
ness of name-checking, and fun, and shot in a so- Matt: Passes with image this: McDonald’s phisticated way that they Honors, finances a good, smart can convey violence with- Josh: One small film that is fun to watch. out going over PG-13. Josh Now image, after all the evolutionary great stuff the films had Matt: Go. Enjoy your- Moniz done, all the characters go self! There are plenty step, one giant to McDonald’s for no rea- more superhero movies & son and spend the last five yet to come this summer, leap for super- minutes of film talking but I doubt any will be as hero movies Matt about how good it is. Re- good as First Class. Voigts ally off-kilter and annoy- Josh: Go see this film. Matt: Go. See it. Now. ing because of how good It’s a film you’ll actually The rest of this summer’s the film was, right? be glad you saw. releases are going to have a tough time outdoing X- Gone is the self-serious Matt: Prequels run a Matt: 8/10, Josh: 8.5/10 Men: First Class, which tone that made Bryan risk of being superfluous hits near perfectly the Singer’s first two entries The X-Men are shocked to find there is some creativity because we all know sweet spot of fun, style, so sluggish and in its left in Hollywood. where the story goes. character development, place is not just sheer fun While not exactly needed Synopsis: and action. And this com- but also a refreshing am- for more period pieces of story. per say, I have to give ing from someone who biguity to the sides in the mutant armies battling As Matt mentioned, First Class props for not Meeting in their 20s, doesn’t much like the se- mutant war. First Class through the 70s and 80s, this film dominates your feeling unnecessary. Per- psychic Charles Xavier ries. sees Professor X as a but it’s possible the most interest with ambiguous, haps the general incoher- and Erik Lehnsherr – a Yes, director Matthew brash, somewhat naïve significant plot develop- adult ideas/story lines, but ence of 2009’s Wolverine concentration camp sur- Vaughn (Stardust, Kick- idealist and Magneto as a ments will relate to Pro- not in a manner that re- made the producers real- vivor with the power to Ass, Layer Cake) has violent, scarred pragma- fessor X’s male pattern quires you to be a philos- ize they would have to manipulate metal with treated the material like it tist – depictions more baldness. ophy major to understand. bring their A-game if the his mind – work with belongs in a real movie, complex than the good Rather, it’s the ideas that franchise was to continue. the CIA to build a team rather than just an excuse and evil of most super- Josh: X-Men: First are fun to ponder on their Unfortunately, early box of super-powered mu- for hastily-scripted explo- hero movies and the Class is not so much a su- own merits, but with the office totals, for whatever tants. As the Cuban sions. Unlike the over- bluntness of the previous perhero film as a great added benefit of having reasons, have been lower Missile Crisis heats up, stuffed X3, First Class X-Men films. film that happens to coin- them played out in color- than expected. It’s kind of tensions mount be- actually knows what to do Still, there are a few cidentally involve super- ful scenarios. a shame, given how many tween the two over how with its mutants – and caveats. It is embarrass- heroes. That’s a good The film’s problem is much worse movies will much to trust regular how to effectively inte- ingly conspicuous for a distinction to make; all how it tries to shoe-horn no doubt out-gross it this humans. grate their powers into the series that trumpets the the best superhero films in melodramatic aspects year, but then, the same storyline. It’s a movie that value of diversity that have it. So far, the only of comic books for brand- could be said of any num- Director: Matthew puts its characters first, only Caucasian mutants one that has really mas- recognition purposes. It’s ber of movies, many of Vaughn and allows their actions to choose to side with tered it is The Dark especially thick at the end which don’t involve su- Writers: Ashley drive the “action” in the Xavier and live to tell Knight. Unfortunately, when they try to tie the perheroes. Miller, Zack Stentz, “action movie.” Action about it. And if First Class First Class falls just short film to the previously Jane Goldman, Matthew and dialogue intermingle is meant as the start of a of The Dark Knight be- made ones. I don’t think Josh: I also have to Vaughn in scenes that actually ad- new trilogy, it doesn’t cause of cheesy bits it’s needed, because I mention, the film should Starring: James vance the plot, often bode well that before the forced in (seemingly by think this film is strong get bonus points for style. McAvoy, Micahel Fass- while taking just the right credits the boundaries for the produces). However, enough to branch off to its It uses the 60s era closes bender, Jennifer amount of time to build the series’ central conflict it’s still a great, fun flick own interpretation of X- and style without being Lawrence, Kevin Bacon atmosphere and revel in have more or less been that will hopefully show Men characters and its kitsch. It actually adds to the 1960s setting’s retro- set, rather than “set up” to producers that they will own franchise. the film’s visual look. The cool. be explored later. 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