X-Men: First Class

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Before they were X-Men, they were X-boys and girls. This is the story of how they found each other, developed their powers, and chose sides.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence, Rose Byrne, Nicholas Hoult, January Jones, Oliver Platt, Zoe Kravitz, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Till, Edi Gathegi, Alex Gonzalez, Jason Flemyng, Matt Craven, Laurence Belcher, Bill Milner, Demitri Goritsas, Glenn Morshower

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! In the world of superheroes, the story of how they became who they are is always going to be the most interesting part. And that goes for stories about regular people, too.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: There's a lot that's light-hearted and fun, but none of it will really make you laugh.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The ending is really sad, because it has to leave us off where the original films begin. But it's also kind of exciting because we knew they had to get there. Kind of like the end of Revenge of the Sith.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I give it the Award for not using 3D! I guess when you have a good story, you don't have to rely on gimmicks to get the audiences interested.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: The most emotional performance is Mystique's morphing. Can we give acting accolades to the special effects department?

Q: How is the Directing?

A: With Stardust, Kick-Ass and this, Matthew Vaughn can add another to his quickly growing list of films that I've given green lights. Except that I only gave Stardust a green light in my mind, because it came out a few months before I developed my mutant super power of giving out lights.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: I enjoyed how they incorporated the story of mutant superheroes into the actually history of WWII and the Cuban Missile Crisis. It's especially great because now, when we want to confuse our children about where the line is between history and fiction, we no longer have to rely solely on the 24 hour news networks.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: X-Men: First Class Trailer

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Twilight

(Guest Review by Russ)

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A teenage girl moves from her Phoenix home to the small town of Forks in the Pacific Northwest where she meets and falls in love with a vampire. Problems ensue.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Michael Welch, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Cam Giganet, Taylor Lautner, Anna Kendrick, Justin Chon, Elizabeth Reaser, Rachelle Lefevre, Edi Gathegi

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! I know what you're thinking, "Isn’t this that cheesy vampire movie based on that cheesy teen girl book? You’re telling me to go? Really?" Yeah, really, especially since the film is better than the book and it’s an all-around entertaining night at the movies whether you’re a teen girl or not (I am not).

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Everyone knows there’s nothing funnier than deadpan vampire-humor. Plus, Robert Pattinson (as Edward) displays uncanny comic timing as he gets off some good lines that are (purposely) funny in their absurdity.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Probably not. Unless you’re a girl. And 15. And in love with the hottie at school who may or may not be a vampire but nevertheless is very cool.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: It'll sweep MTV and the Teen Choice Awards, but do those buy it any credibility?

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Anyone who has read the bestselling book knows it’s all about the teenage protagonists Bella and Edward, and boy do Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson deliver on these characters. They are one of the primary reasons the film surpasses the book, as both take material that could have been 100% camp and 100% crap and make it all work beautifully. Pattinson brings out all facets of the angsty and menacing sides of his 80 year-old vampire and Stewart deftly keeps her Bella from becoming a trite and shallow teen girl by conveying intelligence and grace. Their chemistry together works on every level and that is everything for a film like this. If you want to see a great example of two young, gifted actors raising the level of the material they’re in, then Twilight is worth seeing for that reason alone.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: It all works and moves along at a brisk pace and Catherine Hardwicke shows off the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with plenty of stunning panoramic helicopter shots that keep the film grounded in a strong sense of place. She also gets credit for finding just the right overall tone for the film that gives it the gravity it should have, yet retains a sly sense of humor about it. One only wishes she had been given a bigger budget to make some of the effects and Spider-Man like climbing scenes look better and more believable. (Edward’s skin in sunlight = cheesy sparkling effect,) After this film makes a gazillion dollars, I’m sure Hardwicke will have that budget for the sequel.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Melissa Rosenberg does a great job adapting Stephanie Meyer’s much-beloved book. Having read the novel recently, I can say that she collapses and condenses much of the repetitive dialogue down to its essence which makes for a more tolerable story that plays better to a wider audience. And judging from the 200 or so screaming teen girls that were in the theater when I saw it, she was also able to satisfy their demand for staying true to the plot and characters of the book. Good work Melissa, here’s hoping you’re hired to write the coming sequels! (There are 4 books in the series.)

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