"X-Men: First Class" (2011) Pre-release

Hello mutated film-watching reader!

With just a few days to the release of X-Men: First Class, I thought it would be an ideal time to reflect on the franchise so far with info on this one, and the story to what has released so far.

About

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Main Stars: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Rose Byrne, January Jones, Oliver Platt, and Kevin Bacon
Studio: Bad Hat Harry Productions, Donners' Company, and Marv Films
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
UK Release date: 1 June, 2011
Running time: 131 minutes
Release platform: 2D

Brief Plot

According to 20th Century Fox, the story is:

Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together, with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto's Brotherhood and Professor X's X-MEN.

Trailer

Story of X-Men so far...

I'm going to do this chronologically, so we can see its place in the films currently existing. This film is to pre-exist everything released so far.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) [spin-off]

Though the events of this film have no direct relation to the X-Men team, there are relating elements, and it is a part of the franchise. The story is about two mutant brothers, Logan and Victor, born 200 years ago, suffer childhood trauma and have only each other to depend on. Basically, they're fighters and killers, living from war to war through U.S. history. In modern times, a U.S. colonel, Stryker, recruits them and other mutants as commandos. Logan quits and becomes a logger, falling in love with a local teacher. When Logan refuses to rejoin Stryker's crew, the colonel sends the murderous Victor, causing acts which demands Logan's revenge, and shaping him into the Wolverine.

X-Men (2000)

In a world where both mutants and humans fear each other, Marie D'Ancanto, better known as Rogue, runs away from home and hitches a ride with another mutant, known as Logan, (aka. Wolverine). Charles Xavier, who owns a school for young mutants, sends Storm and Cyclops to bring them back before it is too late. Magneto, who believes a war is approaching, has an evil plan in mind, and needs young Rogue to help him.

X-Men 2 (2003)

A new war between humans and mutants begins after an attempted assassination of the President of the United States. Now, all the mutants must fight together against a common enemy: General William Stryker. Stryker, to further his plan to eradicate all mutants, uses radical methods to get some information from Magneto, and plans an attack to Professor Xavier's school. Stryker leads a siege on Xavier's mansion - few mutants escape. With the school no longer safe, Magneto out of prison and forming a temporary alliance with the X-Men, and Professor Xavier in the hands of Stryker; the mutants team up to stop Stryker's plans to wipe the mutants off the face of the Earth.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

When a "cure" is created, which apparently can turn any mutant into a normal human being, there is outrage amongst the mutant community. Whilst some mutants do like the idea of a cure, including Rogue, many mutants find that there shouldn't be a cure. Magneto, who still believes a war is coming, recruits a large team of mutants to take down Warren Worthington II and his cure. Might seem easy for the X-Men to stop, but Magneto has a big advantage, which Wolverine doesn't have. Jean Grey has returned, and joined with Magneto. The Phoenix has woken within her, which has the ability to destroy anything in her path, friend or foe.

Hope that helps get people up to speed on the film and what happened earlier in the franchise.

What are your thoughts on the franchise? Are you excited about X-Men: First Class? Where would you like to see the franchise go? Share your thoughts with us!

-Harish, out

UPDATE (03-Jun-2011)

Review is up. Click here.