X-Men: O Início

Não se deixe enganar pela alta classificação :-) Vaughn não continua onde o Bryan Singer parou, está mais próximo do terceiro filme de Ratner. No que Vaughn ultrapassa Ratner, contudo, é o equilíbrio entre a infantilidade e a maturidade do fornecimento de temas (ambos estão aqui presentes, Ratner era apenas infantil), significativamente mais personagens e um ritmo muito mais rápido (em «modo» normal o filme teria sido de três horas), e muito MAIS ação épica e over-the-top que nunca parece ter medo ou exagerar. A pressão para os parâmetros de um espetáculo colorido de eye-candy que irá cativar até mesmo os adolescentes (para quem as obras de Singer eram desnecessariamente psicológicas) confirma e faz mais leve o facto de que a melhor cena de um filme forte é o papel cameo de «go-fuck-yourself» de vários segundos de Hugh Jackman, a vadiar num bar cinzento e cheio de fumo. Com autores provam que levam a substância numa nova direção não porque não conseguem lidar com ela de maneira de Singer, mas porque sabem como levar esta direção pop à «perfeição» e assim impressionar um público AMPLO melhor do que ninguém antes deles. Dos atores, Michael Fassbender, que poderia ser o novo Ethan Hunt ou James Bond, lidera claramente (a segunda melhor cena do filme, coincidentemente também de um bar, é a de Fassbender na Argentina), e Kevin Bacon faz muito bem a representação dum vilão. James McAvoy é mais ou menos OK, o que não é suficiente para um personagem Charles Xavier. O resto do elenco é apenas um apoio, embora a abundância de mini-papéis icónicos de atores secundários seja mais do que uma delícia (Platt, Ironside...). (01/06/2011)

Somehow I can’t bring myself to give this movie five stars, mainly because I’ve never been exactly fond of X-Men. The movies were great, but I never thought, like with Watchmen, that they were perfect and that I would devour every movie that had the word X-Men in the title. Anyway, I don’t mind X-men and that was also the reason why I gave this movie a go. However, I must say that this film is probably the best thing that could have happened to the franchise, because in addition to great actors, it features an absolutely perfect story, which, if you do not know the source material, you do not know how it will develop in the next moments. And that it will eventually develop differently than is customary in American films? That’s the icing on the cake. If I said a moment ago that actors were great, then I need to repeat that because they were truly divine. That goes for probably everyone who appears in the film, and there are a lot of characters. For example, the one-minute cameo of Hugh Jackman is totally great. The same goes for the special effects. I felt a bit sorry that X-Men weren’t closer to my heart. But if another film is made, which could easily happen, I will think about going to see it at the cinema. It seems that I’ve grown fond of X-Men after all. (29/12/2012)

Phenomenal! Vaughn brings the series back to where it originally started. As a comic book movie that uses its brain where others flex their muscles, it doesn't for a moment compromise on the audience-appealing spectacle, which doesn't lack wit, exaggeration, and... action. It is mature in its acting, plot, and direction, with no dead spots or lapses in pace. I’ll have more to say (hopefully) after the second viewing. Now I am just reveling in the memories of a film that was satisfying in every way. PS: There is nothing for me to add the second time either. Except that Fassbender rules like nobody’s business. Perfect in every detail. (02/06/2011)

A fun blockbuster, but Singer’s X-Men are still better. Those two hours went very fast and I certainly wasn’t bored, but after the excellent reviews and trailers, I can’t help but feel mildly disappointed. It’s just too shallow and straightforward, played only for effect (so many dramatic looks!) and without any depth. There are some very silly moments (for instance, when Eric moves the big satellite), though fortunately, they are outnumbered by the cool ones. But even in the strongest moments I had the feeling that it could be more polished (Eric agitated in the concentration camp, Shaw’s attack on the CIA, the flying submarine), and the number of scenes of the type “the characters stand stiff waiting for something to happen, and when something does happen, they start moving on command” was above the tolerable limit. I didn’t leave the cinema with negative feelings, though – the last half hour is quite bombastic – but I still feel that it could have been better. PS: The most surprising thing today was the rosy hell of the trailer for The Magical Duvet. Someone must have thought it has the same target audience. :-) (02/06/2011)

I self-critically admit that I expected more from Vaughn than he could realistically do. When the magnetic Fassbender and the musing McAvoy are on the screen, it's as dark, immersive, and adult funny as I'd hoped. First Class has a very serious soul - it revolves around collective guilt, revenge, and the right to rule the world. The best scenes are not the action scenes, but the ones which are most conversational, where it stands out how far the creators can descend and how suggestive this comic book saga can be. The more realistic and mature the X-men look, the more they have trouble dealing with the "teenage" element. Fortunately, Vaughn kept some distance and perspective, yet I was not interested in the first class with the exception of the mentors, and it seemed that it was makeweight. This wasn't the case in Singer's day. It's like all the energy and attraction falls on the central duo. However, this is rewarded with absolutely devastating energy, and although the film sometimes breathes heavily, in the end it offers emotions and depth related to the legendary duo. It's just the comparison with singer's coherence and composure that prevents me from being completely enthusiastic. Anyway, I'd be very surprised if a more stylish and soulful spectacle came to movie theatres this year. (30/05/2011)