X-Men: First Class

I was pleased to see that Bryan Singer was returning to the X-Men franchise after bailing to make the Superman Returns movie. I enjoyed the first two X-Men movies (not so much with the third).

X-Men: First Class is an origin story of how the X-Men first form. You will see the early stories of Professor X and Magneto and how their friendship forms to become a working alliance.

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender do fantastic jobs in their roles but the Oscar should go to Kevin Bacon who plays the villain. It's been a while since I've seen Bacon in anything worth seeing and he does a perfect bad guy.

The other characters are just there for filler. They do tie in to the other films and there are a couple cameos that may come as a surprise. But all in all this is a fun summer movie. You don't have to think too hard, the special effects are "special" enough without being hokey and there is enough emotional resonance to keep people plugged in. (Fassbender finds his strength here)

This movie proposes that mutants were actually involved in some of the Cuban Missile ramp ups. It ties comic book and actual history in a nice package.

A fine addition to the Bryan Singer X-Men movies.