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X-Men: First Class, a review by Dragonfire

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with X-Men: First Class, but I did want to see the movie. 

The movie is sort of a prequel to the other X-Men movies, though the continuity is messed up.  I've read a few things that says the movie is a reboot and start of a new series that will ignore the previous movies.  Even if that is the case, this movie isn't following things established in the comic books either.  I'm far from an expert on them, but I do know enough to know that stuff has been changed.  Sometimes it is just something little here and there, but other times it is a bigger change. 

Erik receives the most attention, and I do like the way his story develops.  His origin story is really one of the the best origin stories.  He's got a reason to be angry and he is already heading down the path that makes him fully the Magneto of the previous movies..and Charles's enemy.  The two of them are shown meeting and working together, though I don't think their friendship is developed enough.  In the previous movies, Charles and Erik have a complicated relationship, frequently being on opposite sides of an issue, but the friendship still shows through.  Things just move too fast in this movie to set up that depth of a complex relationship between the two.  It is like the writers or the studio or someone decided that certain things had to happen by the end of the movie - including Charles and Erik going their separate ways - while also dealing with other things.  Things are just too rushed to properly deal with the friendship, and that is disappointing.


Several characters are introduced, with many of them just sort of being there without getting much attention or much to do.  Beast is the only character in the movie who was actually one of the first members of the X-Men in the comics..the other first members are missing from the movie, replaced with a mix of other characters.  I know Havoc and Banshee end up with the X-Men, but not when the team was first forming.  Mystique was never a member of the X-Men..that is the change that is bothering me the most.  I'm sure that was done to add her to the movie since fans - especially men - liked her in the previous movies.  When she is in her natural blue state, she does have basically the same look...blue covered with some kind of scales and no clothes. 

Sebastian Shaw is a villain in the comic books as well.  He's also part of the Hellfire Club along with Emma Frost.  The Hellfire Club in the movie seems to just be a club in Vegas instead of what it was in the comics.  Sebastian is a bit different from how he was in the comics.  He has a few flunkies around that have cool powers, but, as far as I know, they weren't connected with Shaw or the Hellfire club in the comics.  A few other mutant characters pop up that seem a bit out of place with how they are used in the movie.  It is like someone decides to pick characters based on how cool they thought the powers would be..never mind if they actually fit in the setting and the groups they are stuck in. 

The action scenes are entertaining and done well, along with the special effects.  Beast spends most of the movie looking more normal before finally showing his blue, furry form.  In that form, he looks a little off to me..like he should he a little bigger.  The shade of blue seems slightly off too.  The cast do well with their parts and no one is annoying.

I liked the movie overall and think it is worth seeing.  I just find some of the ...character and story choices odd.  I think it would have been better if there had been more of an attempt to tie in with the previous movies.



I did get a review posted on Epinions.

X-Men: First Class

(From X-Men: First Class on June 10th, 2011)

Ray, a review by addicted2dvd

Title: Ray: Widescreen
Year: 2004
Director: Taylor Hackford
Rating: PG-13
Length: 152 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Jamie Foxx
Kerry Washington
Regina King
Clifton Powell
Harry Lennix
Bokeem Woodbine

Plot:
Jamie Foxx (Collateral) stars as the one-of-a-kind innovator of soul who overcame impossible odds to become a music legend. Ray is the triumphant and remarkable story of one of America's true musical geniuses, Ray Charles. From his humble beginnings in the South through his meteoric rise to the top of American music charts, Ray's inspirational journey is a tale of hope, redemption and the power of the human spirit. "Ray is Electrifying" hails Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Witness the incredible true story of a musician who fought harder and went further than anyone could imagine.

Extras:
Scene Access
Audio Commentary
Feature Trailers
Bonus Trailers
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Production Notes
Music Videos

My Thoughts:
I made a promise... and I new I was going to keep that promise. But I thought I would shock you all and let it be the first one I watch out of all of the ones sent to me! (plus it gets it out of the way!)

Ok... what to say about the movie. First let me say... wow.. this one has a lot of music in it. Made it impossible to just ignore the music like I can normally do. Which kinda sucked for me... because the movie can't change how I feel about music. It is what it is... and there is nothing I can do about that. Now the story on the other had I enjoyed very much. Such a detailed look at his life... both the good and the bad. Instead of starting the movie from the beginning and going in chronological order (which I normally prefer) this movie uses flashbacks. I normally don't care for flashbacks because they can easily make a story confusing. But in the case of Ray the flashbacks works extremely well and I think makes a more powerful movie. I've only known Jamie Foxx as a comedian... but I must say he impressed me here. I thought he did a wonderful job in the title role.

I find it hard to believe that I am saying this... but this is one musical I am glad I have in my collection... and yes... I can see myself watching it again. So there you go... a surprise for both of us. A surprise for you all that I actually watched a musical... and it being the first one in my marathon. As well as a surprise for me as I enjoyed it much more then I thought I would.



(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Unwatched DVDs on July 30th, 2010)

Firefly Marathon, a review by Tom

06. Our Mrs Reynolds
Writer: Joss Whedon (Writer)
Director: Vondie Curtis Hall
Cast: Nathan Fillion (Mal), Gina Torres (Zoe), Alan Tudyk (Wash), Morena Baccarin (Inara), Adam Baldwin (Jayne), Jewel Staite (Kaylee), Sean Maher (Simon), Summer Glau (River), Ron Glass (Shepherd Book), Christina Hendricks (Saffron), Benito Martinez (Boss), Erik Passoja (Bree), Bob Fimiani (Elder Gommen), Alex Stemkovsky (Bandit #1)

My favorite Firefly episode. It is just a lot of fun. Like the reaction of the crew of finding out that Mal is married. The teasing. And of course Jayne trying to trade is favorite gun for Saffron. Also Inara insistance of having hit her head to hide the fact she kissed Mal's poisoneous lips.

Rating:

(From Firefly Marathon on February 27th, 2010)