The film begins in much the same way the original X-Men film did, in the early 40’s with a young Erik Lensherr in a Nazi concentration camp. His separation from his mother causes him to unleash his mutant ability; control magnetism. This leads Erik to have a confrontation with a scientist (Kevin Bacon), where his abilities are unleashed to severe consequences.  The film then introduces us to a young Charles Xavier, born into privilege, who too is discovering his abilities; telepathy. One night everything changes for him as he meets a fellow mutant named Raven (Mystique) who’s natural appearance is blue and can shape shift. Fast-forward the early 60’s, where both men are now in their 20’s (Charles played by James McAvoy and Erik played by Michael Fassbender), where one man is completing his education and the other is seeking revenge. One day thanks to the CIA and Moira MacTaggert (Rose Bryne) they are recruited to help stop Sebastian Shaw (the scientist from earlier) who plans to start World War III. On their way they discover new mutants, and what it means for them to belong and the difficulties they will face being different.

There is a lot going on in this film, but most importantly is the introduction and development of our main characters. Charles and Erik both grew up vastly different, coming back different backgrounds. However one is on a much darker path, and when the other saves him things change for them both. A friendship and lifelong bond is formed, and through their actions they find others like them. Their up bringing certainly impacts them deeply with their actions and how they feel about being mutants and how others feel towards them. This film manages to make this all feel very real and the development their characters face seems very natural and emotional. While those are at the heart and soul of the film, the other characters are also well developed including Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) and Hank McCoy (Nicholas Hoult).  They both have similar issues with their abilities and those issues very much turn them into two very different people. On the other side of the fence, the villain of the story is an interesting one and while we don’t know too much about him he is a very real threat. His team (including January Jones as Emma Frost, Jason Flemyng as Azazel and Alex Gonzalez as Riptide) are all very interesting mutants and they seem to fit as an ensemble.

A really great part about this film is that for its plot device, it takes a real world event and puts a new spin on it. What if mutants really did exist, how would that change tragic events? I really liked this, and some how the way things played out seemed to really fit with everything. The scale is quite grand, and it is quite the site to see. The film definitely takes a much darker approach while still having some lighter touches to round it out. It felt like it had the right mix of elements and it still felt like a comic book film but not at all in a campy or cartoon-ish way that other films have suffered from. The performances are all fantastic; everyone was a perfect fit for their characters. James McAvoy played Charles as a charmer and a good-hearted man, he was very easy to relate to and get behind. Michael Fassbender as well played Erik as a man with demons, and a man suffering. They both formed their ideals, and played off each other perfectly. Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult also made for two very relatable and grounded characters, what they both were going through was portrayed from the heart. Kevin Bacon can basically played the villain in his sleep; Shaw however was not your typical run of the mill type. He was quite layered while still being semi-mysterious, he did a great job and it just shows what a strong actor he is. People like January Jones, Rose Bryne and Oliver Platt were all quite good as well, the entire cast were great.

Matthew Vaughn is a strong director; he understands the source material and played as true as possible to the spirit of X-Men and what Singer had done before him. The film looks amazing, all the different elements blended together to make for me the perfect comic book film.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

If, for some reason, you haven’t, let us present to you two reasons why you should see the film.

Reason #1:

Reason #2:

January Jones as Emma Frost, ladies and gentlemen.

Source: THR

Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-MEN.

Source: Superhero Hype

X-men: First Class opens on June 3rd.

The film stars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Bacon, and January Jones.

X-men: First Class opens on June 3rd.

“I’m in that a lot,” the actress said of the “sparkly bikini-top thing (her words)” that was first revealed in the recently leaked cast photo (here). “I have a lot of very interesting costumes in that movie. So I’m in that one a lot.”

“I really like [the one in the leaked photo] because I really like the cape. It was really great,” she added. “I didn’t get to wear the cape as much as I wanted to because the CGI when I turn into diamonds was difficult. But, there’s nothing like a cape that makes you feel really tough. There’s something [about having something] following behind you.”

You X-fans still excited?

X-men: First Class opens on June 3, 2011.

Click the thumbnail to enlarge.

Source: KinoGallery

Looks good. The first thing many fans will see is the classic costumes from the comics will be used in the movie as rumored, unlike Singer has done with his films. Also, you can see January Jones will be more revealing as Emma Frost, and you can even see Nick Hoult as Beast in the background. Now, how about that trailer?

X-men: First Class opens on June 3, 2011.

*UPDATE* Here are cleaner images of the cast in costume.

Click for larger image.

Click for larger image.

Click for larger image.

]]> http://www.killerfilm.com/articles-2/read/first-look-at-x-men-first-class-cast-60650/feed 6 http://www.killerfilm.com/articles-2/read/january-jones-talks-x-men-first-class-costume-58666 http://www.killerfilm.com/articles-2/read/january-jones-talks-x-men-first-class-costume-58666#comments Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:15:07 +0000 Matt Keith http://www.killerfilm.com/?p=58666 X-men fans know that Emma Frost AKA White Queen has always been drawn in revealing outfits, but many haven’t felt that from the recent set images from the film (here). Neither of the four X-men films have used the original outfits for any of the characters, but were disappointed when those photos came online, and featured January Jones in a trench coat and Russian hat. However, fans need not worry as you will be seeing a lot more of Ms. Jones in the film.

Jones spoke with Hero Complex about the starring in Matthew Vaughn’s prequel, and revealed the costumes will be more revealing. ”The costumes are insane. It’s a lot of very body-conscious stuff. If you look at the comic book, she’s barely dressed. She’s got quite the bod, which is very intimidating,” she said. Although, she was asked to avoid working out to maintain a body that fit with the 1960s, which the film is set. Jones also mentioned that Frost will have the same powers as her comic book counter-part, and that she won’t use prosthetics to create her diamond form.

X-men: First Class opens in June.

Source: IMPAwards, Trailer Addict

“Liam Neeson stars as Dr. Martin Harris, who awakens after a car accident in Berlin to discover that his wife (January Jones) suddenly doesn’t recognize him and another man (Aidan Quinn) has assumed his identity. Ignored by disbelieving authorities and hunted by mysterious assassins, he finds himself alone, tired, and on the run. Aided by an unlikely ally (Diane Kruger), Martin plunges headlong into a deadly mystery that will force him to question his sanity, his identity, and just how far he’s willing to go to uncover the truth.”

X-Men: First Class will tell the story of how Charles Xavier and Erick Lensherr became friends and what drove them apart to become enemies.

X-Men: First Class will open on June 3, 2011.