X-Men: First Class

August 2011 —
A franchise reboot can be the bane of a film buff’s existence — did we really need a reinterpretation of The Karate Kid? But it can also breathe new life into a tired story that has become a parody of itself — hello, Batman Begins! It is best to approach a reboot movie with cautious optimism, taking into consideration the writer, director and stars of the film. X-Men: First Class has a competent director in Matthew Vaughn, charismatically evil Kevin Bacon cast as the villain Sebastian Shaw, charming James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, and Mad Men star January Jones … who is pretty.

The X-Men movies of the 1990s focused on the comic book characters that had become mainstream through a children’s cartoon: Storm, Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, Jean Grey, Professor X, Magneto and Mystique. First Class takes place in the 1960s and tells the story of the mutants who will become the original X-Men or their enemies. Charles Xavier is a brilliant Oxford student who uses cheesy one-liners about mutations at pubs to pick up women while his adopted sister Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) rolls her eyes in the background. The two closeted mutants, along with Holocaust survivor Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) are recruited by CIA agent Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne). Together, the trio seeks out more young mutants, forming a team unlike any other.

X-Men: First Class is problematic in some ways. January Jones’ Emma Frost recalls Halle Berry as Storm — beautiful, but lacking power and intensity. The movie’s version of Moira MacTaggert is so different from her comic book counterpart that fans are sure to be annoyed. But the film is fun and enjoyable to watch. The many action sequences are full of big explosions and well-choreographed fight scenes. This is a summer blockbuster done right.

X-Men: First Class, in theaters now, is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, some sexual content including brief partial nudity and language. Running time: 132 minutes.

The King’s Speech

The opulent wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton shows that the gap between “commoners” and “royals” may be closing — but it’s still there. After all, very few people in the world can honestly say they live in a palace. It’s difficult for regular folks to fathom the life of a prince, even when that prince makes an effort to be down to earth.

Two generations ago, princes were not expected to relate to their subjects. A marriage between a commoner and the future king wasn’t celebrated; when King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce) married American divorcee Wallis Simpson (Eve Best), it was considered quite a scandal and the king abdicated the throne.

The King’s Speech is the story of the man who became king after Edward gave up his sovereignty. King George VI (Colin Firth), known as Bertie to his family, suffered from a severe stutter all his life. As brother to the king, Bertie’s speech impediment was slightly embarrassing, but not a serious issue. However, his ascension to the throne, the threat of war with Germany, and the importance of radio as a form of communication changed everything.

Desperate to find a solution to her husband’s stuttering, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future queen mother of England, seeks out unconventional speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). His unusual techniques help Bertie grow into the king who will lead England through the hardships of World War II.

With a powerhouse cast, wryly written dialogue, and a character-driven plot that makes the king of England seem human, it’s no wonder The King’s Speech is an Oscar winner. Anyone who has felt the pressure of family responsibility and a fear of fitting in will relate to this film.

The King’s Speech, available on DVD, is rated R for language. Running time: 118 minutes.