Movies to see this summer: June 3rd, 'X-Men: First Class'

What it’s about:
A prequel to the X-Men franchise, it takes place in the 1960s, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Civil Rights Movement, Kennedy administration, and the beginnings of Charles Xavier and Magneto. The film explores the relationship between these two characters, who begin as best friends and end as adversaries.

Why you might not be excited about it:
A lot of people did not like the third movie. X-Men: The Last Stand is the second-lowest rated film in the X-Men franchise, surpassed in disfavor by X-Men Origins: Wolverine. These two films may have made some people want to give up on the series altogether,

Why you should be excited:
It seems that this movie will focus very much on the themes of diversity and persecution that were the entire point of the X-Men. The fact that this film is a prequel and set in the 1960s has given the filmmakers the opportunity to display these themes amongst their real-life parallels. The X-Men comics were a metaphor for racism, diversity, tolerance, and acceptance. The characters of Charles Xavier and Magneto themselves are considered to be representative of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Xavier represents Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose approach to racial equality was one of peace and nonviolence. Xavier hopes for the peaceful integration of mutants into society. Magneto represents Malcolm X, who preached black supremacy and felt that white Americans should be punished for hate crimes against blacks. Similarly, Magneto not only wants mutants to stop being hunted, he wants them to rule over non-mutants. These conflicting beliefs put Xavier and Magneto at odds with one another. The interesting subtext of this story makes the films engaging and thought-provoking.


It should also be noted that Bryan Singer has returned to produce this film. Singer is an extremely talented director and producer and his skill with ensemble casts (so crucial for a movie like this, with multiple protagonists) is evident in his work with such films as The Usual Suspects and Valkyrie. As for the the previously mentioned X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Singer was not invovled with those. He directed the first two X-Men films, which were solid films at the very least. Singer himself said that he feels very at home with the X-Men universe and hopes to do more with the franchise in the future. This film is in good hands with Bryan Singer. His involvement alone excites me.

Also, it will be exciting to see what the new cast will bring to their characters. I'm particularly excited about the casting of James McAvoy (Professor Charles Xavier) and Michael Fassbender (Magneto).

Plus, the trailer looks really cool.

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrbHykKUfTM