X-Men: First Class (2011): Mutant Makeover—Swingin’ Sixties Edition 🕶️🧠

Directed by Matthew Vaughn, X-Men: First Class hits reset on the franchise, taking us back to the Cold War era to explore the origins of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr—aka Professor X and Magneto—before the bald heads, wheelchairs, and matching uniforms.

Starring James McAvoy (young Xavier) and Michael Fassbender (young Magneto), the film is dripping with retro flair and emotional depth. Jennifer Lawrence joins as a younger, conflicted Mystique, alongside Nicholas Hoult as Beast and Kevin Bacon hamming it up as the evil Sebastian Shaw.

Plot Summary
It’s 1962, and tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union are about to go nuclear—literally—thanks to the manipulations of mutant supremacist Sebastian Shaw. Charles Xavier is a groovy Oxford telepath working with the CIA to find other mutants, while Magneto is on a personal revenge mission against the Nazis who experimented on him as a child. Their paths collide, and soon, they're training the first class of young mutants to stop global annihilation.

But ideological cracks start to show: Charles believes in peaceful coexistence with humans; Erik, scarred by trauma, believes war is inevitable. Cue emotional breakups, epic battles, and a beach scene that will change everything.

Performances & Direction
McAvoy and Fassbender absolutely carry this film. Their chemistry is electric, and they make Xavier and Magneto’s friendship-turned-rivalry heartbreaking to watch. Fassbender's Magneto origin scenes are especially intense—dude is basically a mutant James Bond with trauma. Jennifer Lawrence brings a grounded vulnerability to Mystique, and the rest of the cast brings solid energy. Vaughn’s direction is slick, energetic, and full of cool style (those split screens! the costumes! the soundtrack!).

My Review
First Class is easily one of the franchise’s best. It’s not just a prequel—it’s a fresh start that dives into identity, fear, and the roots of division. The Cold War backdrop adds real stakes, and the emotional story between Charles and Erik is the true heart of the film.

It asks big questions: Can people really change? Can peace ever win when fear runs the show? And most importantly—how does Magneto still look that good in a turtleneck while tossing missiles with his mind?

It’s got swagger, smarts, and feels. What more could you want? 🧲🕺