X-Men: First Class (2011)X-Men: First Class is the acclaimed origin story of Marvel's mutant heroes, released in 2011 and directed by Matthew Vaughn. Set against the backdrop of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the film charts the early friendship between Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) — the men who will become Professor X and Magneto — as they recruit a team of young mutants to prevent a nuclear war engineered by the villainous Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon). Widely regarded as one of the finest entries in the X-Men franchise, the film reinvigorated the series with a period setting, a sharp screenplay and two career-defining performances at its centre. Fassbender in particular is magnetic, bringing genuine menace and pathos to a role that could easily have been one-dimensional. A superb Blu-ray presentation of a modern superhero classic.Highlights McAvoy and Fassbender's chemistry — The heart of the film; their friendship, rivalry and ideological divergence is handled with real intelligence and emotional depth, elevating the film well above standard superhero fare. The Cold War setting — Vaughn uses the period backdrop brilliantly; the Cuban Missile Crisis provides genuine geopolitical stakes and gives the film a distinctive visual and tonal identity. Michael Fassbender as young Magneto — One of the great superhero performances; Fassbender brings complexity, charisma and genuine menace to Erik's journey from Holocaust survivor to radical mutant separatist. The training sequences — Funny, inventive and character-driven; the scenes of the young X-Men discovering and developing their powers are among the most enjoyable in the entire franchise. The finale — A spectacular, emotionally charged set piece on the beach that brings the Xavier-Magneto relationship to its defining moment; perfectly staged and genuinely moving. Disc Details Title: X-Men: First Class Year: 2011 Director: Matthew Vaughn Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Kevin Bacon, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne Studio: 20th Century Fox Certificate: 12A Region: Region B (UK) Format: Blu-ray Runtime: 132 minutes Genre: Action / Superhero / Science Fiction Barcode: 5039036048361 ConditionCondition: VG/VG — see our Condition Grading Guide.Browse our full range of Blu-ray titles. You might also enjoy our Compact Discs or Vinyl Records.
