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X-Men: First Class
- Review Date: June 3, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Superhero film has action, thrills, tough moral questions.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this exciting X-Men prequel/origin story has plenty of action as the heroes and villains battle it out using their wide variety of special abilities, many of which can be deadly. Though overall the film has a bit of a retro feel due to the 1960s setting, there are big explosions/attacks, as well as hand-to-hand battles and a few intense death scenes -- including one in which a boy's mother is killed in front of him and another in which a coin becomes a lethal weapon. The threat of nuclear war hangs over most of the movie. Expect moderate drinking and smoking; female characters sometimes appear in their underwear, skimpy costumes, or less, though there's no actual nudity. Language is infrequent but does include one use of "f--k." The movie includes weighty discussions about morality, self-acceptance, and fear of the unknown and -- staying true to the original comic books -- makes comparisons between the Holocaust and how people react to the presence of mutants.
What's the story?
James McAvoy stars as Charles Xavier, a powerful telepath who recruits a band of fellow mutants -- each with unique abilities -- in this prequel to the popular X-Men franchise. After a World War II-era opening sequence, the bulk of the story takes place at the height of the Cold War in the early 1960s, as Xavier teams up with another powerful mutant, Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender), to track down the nefarious Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). Shaw and his colleagues are trying to kick off a nuclear disaster, while Xavier and the newly formed X-Men (including Xavier's childhood friend/foster sister, Raven/Mystique, who's played by Jennifer Lawrence) try to prevent World War III. Meanwhile, Erik may be pursuing his own agenda.
Is it any good?
Although X-MEN: FIRST CLASS isn't perfect -- it's a bit too long, some scene transitions are abrupt (it can feel like you're being handed classified intelligence dossiers left and right), and the dialogue has its bumpy moments -- it's more fun to focus on what's right. The brilliant casting, for starters, especially when it comes to McAvoy and Fassbender. Compared to the others, they're practically conducting a master class in thespianism, regardless of the movie's otherwordly plotlines.
And the story is both an exciting action yarn and a weighty debate about racism, genocide, and good vs. evil. By explicitly linking the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany (Erik is a concentration camp survivor) with ordinary folks' growing fear of mutants -- a theme that has always been part of the X-Men story, from the comic books' earliest days -- the film asks whether the heroes actually have a duty to protect the world. Parts of that debate can get heavy-handed, but it does help elevate the X-Men films beyond standard superhero stories.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the movie's messages. What do the mutants' struggles have in common with other challenges that people have faced? Why do people tend to fear what is different?
What does the movie say about revenge? Is Erik justified in his pursuit of vengeance? Do the ends ever justify the means?
What distinguishes the "good guys" and the "bad guys" in this movie? Do any of Shaw's arguments make sense?
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Parent
June 6, 2011
AGE
Love the previous movies, but this one really put me off.
I should qualify my review by telling you I left after 30 minutes or so. The movie seems to revolve around the sexualization and degradation of women (prostitutes, strippers, many many women in next to nothing). I was so disappointed in this. A friend brought her son and walked out of the movie for this reason. Since she was upset about it, I decided to preview the movie before bringing my son. Glad I did. I saw enough in the first half hour to know I won't be bringing my son. We LOVE the previous X-men movies, so I'm highly disappointed and annoyed with how they did this one.
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Adult
June 6, 2011
AGE
Families like superheros too, so quit trying to turn us away.
The movie plot and special effects were great. Character development was well-done and story line matched my memories of comic books as a kid. BUT once again movie producers worked hard to pander to the natural man as best they could. There was no real reason for underwear-clad prostitutes or several of the other scenes. Don't go thinking that it's just a few innuendos: the director does his best to make me and my family uncomfortable while staying just under the rated-R line.
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Parent of 11 and 14 year old
June 7, 2011
AGE
Degradation of women
I'm surprised the reviewer didn't give more detail about the scantily-clad women in this movie. It's not just that they are in lingerie--- it's that the majority of women in this movie are portrayed as prostitutes/hookers. I don't have a problem, necessarily, with my 14 yo son seeing women in lingerie when they are portrayed in positive, healthy relationships-- but these women in the movie were not. Pop culture is rife with this, and I hope we can begin to address the sexualization, degradation, and violence against women in our culture. I think it's silly that we get excited about the F bomb but totally miss the boat on healthy vs unhealthy sexuality.
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Parent
June 3, 2011
AGE
Thought it was just fine
I started a tradition with my son (7 1/2) that my dad did with me. I pulled my son out of school at 11am we went to the first showing of a movie that opened today. It was X-men First Class. It was a good movie (saw it in 2D. not worth 3D but other than Avatar what is). The violence was nothing that he hasn't seen in cartoons or Star Wars cartoons or movies. That said here are the heads up that I love to get from other parents:
1) Approx 5% is in subtitles. Not an issue just a heads up. I chose to whisper what was going on to my son, but you can go either way.
2) Just one F-bomb. Actually appropirate for the character and the scene. I would love to say my son has never heard that but I would be lying. Only once, quick and scene moved on. My son never asked or even brought it up.
3) Don't bother staying till the end of the credits. A lot of Marvel movies have a 1 min film at the end (Iron Man, Thor). This one did not.
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Teen, 15 years old
June 6, 2011
AGE
decent prequel
i enjoyed this movie. The is plenty of positive mesages. the movie is very action packed and the sexual content is not bad. The language is average for a pg-13. the worst part is one use of the f-word
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Teen, 14 years old
June 3, 2011
AGE
It lives up to it's name: First Class
It's quite a good movie, and I would have said it's OK for 9+, except for the one scene with a memorable and hilarious one use of the F-Bomb. Nothing too sexual, not that much violence and possibly the best movie of 2011 (except Paul, maybe)
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Parent
June 5, 2011
AGE
Good Movie - Iffy Content
This movie provided great backstory info. for the other X-Men movies. However, there are several scenes with skimpily clad women and one use of the f-word along with other minor expletives.
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Adult
June 4, 2011
AGE
Language and Behavior
The one memorable use of the F word sticks with you for days. It may come out as funny but it is extremely inappropriate in the sense of the use of the word. There are many girls who are dressed with very little clothing. They are in Las Vegas so there are plenty of Hookers, and Strippers and Call girls. It's not something I'd take my little ones to see. My 15 year old probably but none under that.
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Kid, 10 years old
June 4, 2011
AGE
X-Men: First Class
This X-Men was a WHOLE lot better than Wolverine. There was deaths, and tons of action. Wolverine (cameo) slips an f*** word. Emma Frost creates an image to have sex with a Russian general. You see the general and the image having sex, and the real Emma sitting on the side. Mystique (as in the original) is naked, though has a reptilian blue skin. Angel also works as a stripper. This was a fun, entertaining film.
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Adult
June 3, 2011
AGE
Great Superhero Flick
X-Men First Class isn't just a good superhero movie, it's a good movie, period. I thought the way they tied in actual history to the plot was brilliant. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline. I wish we could have seen more of Xavier and Magneto's friendship though, I thought the scenes between the two of them were the best. And sure it is a superhero film so ya the dialogue is cheesy at times but thats about my only complaint. The ending also does a perfect job of setting up a sequel which I am totally on board for. While it is not quite on the level of X-Men 2, it's still a very good film
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox |
| Director: | Matthew Vaughn |
| Cast: | James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon, Michael Fassbender |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 132 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 3, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | September 9, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sequences of action and violence, some sexual content including brief partial nudity and language |
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