Even Heroes Have the Right to Bleed

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011)

This is the Origins film we X-Men fans wanted, not the ridiculous X-Men: Origins Wolverine (2009) that we got. This time the emphasis is on Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto. They are played by the charming James McAvoy and the uniquely talented Michael Fassbender. We always saw Ian Mckellen and Patrick Stewart sharing something more than just rivalry in the previous X-Men films. Here, we see it develop and by the end it becomes a mature back-story in the X-Men film cannon. We actually empathize with Magneto. We see how Magneto and Professor X, sadly, do not want the same end and hence must choose different means henceforth. It’s a brilliant moment. One that separates the film from being a good one from being a very good one.

What works for this film is the casting. Fassbender (who we saw in Hunger, Inglorious Basterds and Fish Tank) and McAvoy make this film click. Not to mention Jennifer Lawrence who is fresh off of her Oscar nomination for Winter's Bone (2010) and Kevin Bacon. There is also January Jones. How can you go wrong with this stupendous cast? They do their jobs well and then some.

X-Men: First Class tries to mesh historical events with the history of the characters. Making it not just X-Men history but our history also. For me, it wonderfully succeeds here. Not as much as Watchmen, but it does. Although, the Cold-War backdrop in this movie has more to do with Dr. Strangelove (1964) than fact. The absurdity included. There are several in-jokes and jaw-dropping action set-pieces, and satisfactory amount of character development to keep the fanboy and the serious filmgoer in me pleased at the same time. To see a character like Mystique getting so much attention was tremendously refreshing. 

But the most surprising achievement of this film is the wonderful score by Henry Jackman. Especially Magneto's theme is incredible! Jackman has worked with Hans Zimmer and its shows. I'm looking forward to his work and a better-structured, cohesive, individualistic score.

X-Men: First Class is no Dark Knight or Spider-Man 2. But it is the best X-Men movie yet. Let’s just say it is definitely as good as the first two.

GREEN LANTERN (2011)

Green Lantern is campy fun. It has the feel of the comic-book universe that we saw in the first Superman (1978) and Batman (1989). Those are better movies but I'm talking about the artifice that runs common between the two movies and almost every comic-book. For better or for worse, we are now in the post-Dark Knight age. Now, anything below 'more-than-a-superhero-movie' is rejected. To be honest, I know Green Lantern is a film which does not necessarily excel. I know that the writing is not of the highest caliber. Fear is bad, courage is good, we know! Complexity and originality aren't this film's strong points. But there was that superhero campy-ness that was sprinkled all over the film that I couldn't resist lapping up as it was offered.

Green Lantern is not Spider-Man 2 (2004), but it is the first Spider-Man (2000). Let's face it, we all enjoyed the first Spider-Man film, even after the sequel pointed fingers at its flaws.

Ryan Reynolds as Hal Jordan/ Green Lantern is strictly okay, he is his usual self. Funny in parts. Mildly convincing. But he isn't repulsive. Which is fine. Peter Saarsgard is the one who adds real weight to this movie. He makes his villain so believable that when he is on screen you are riveted. I am also thoroughly impressed by Blake Lively. If you see her in Gossip Girl, The Town (2010) and this, her acting range is clearly visible. She had the corniest dialogues in the film and not that she did some great work here but just the versatility and her ability to lose herself and embody different characters is sprouting. Not to mention how hot she is. Of course. (ahem) It was nice to see Tim Robbins on screen. Mark Strong's talent needed more excavation. But we have a sequel for that. 


(Spoiler, kind of)


But all you haters of this movie, do not tell me... no.. don't even try telling me you did NOT let out a laugh/sigh of relief when Carol (Lively) looks at Hal (Renolds) in his Green Lantern avatar and recognizes him behind that excuse for a mask!  She actually does! 

Okay let's do a round-up of all the major superhero burdened battling with identity crisis - so Spider-Man's face his hidden, so is Iron Man's. The whole "Who is Spidey/ Iron Man?" thing going on is understandable. Batman, okay, let's give him this one. Fake masculine voice (since having Man in your pseudonym is not enough), half-masked face - fine. But Superman, hello? What happened there? Even a 1 year old can look at him and tell it's the same friggin' guy!

(End of kind of-spoiler) 

But let me get back to what I loved about this film - Parallax and Hector Hammond. In one word: awesome. The villainy is camp at its best. I loved Oa and its inhabitants. The film is not a triumph, but certainly not a misfire either. It is an enjoyable summer blockbuster.

Ratings:

X-Men First Class: ****

Green Lantern: *** 1/2