X-Men: First Class - Review

I don't wish to sound like an angry Marvel-blogging fanboy - hell-bent on claiming that this film 'doesn't follow the comics'. But...

With 'X-Men: First Class' Fox, Marvel and director Matthew Vaughn had the chance to scour almost half a century of storylines in order to reboot a franchise that has yielded millions at box offices worldwide.

And all the press, the interviews and behind-the-scenes intent pointed towards a fresh start for the X-Men.But clearly the filmakers weren't confident enough to simply start again. Or rather they started again, but clung on to links with their predecessors that simply made me wince - embarrassed to have paid my entrance fee.

'Next thing you know I'll be going bald', quips James McAvoy's Xavier. Some of the lines in this film were so cheesey that when it finished and the lights went up I expected the row behind me to contain Wallace & Gromit or the Mouse from Fonejacker.

"I expected the row behind me to contain Wallace & Gromit or the Mouse from Fonejacker"

And after being taken over by Xavier one Russian military personnel says 'WHAT?' with such comedic melodrama, albeit in Russian, that I can only assume the director had been watching episodes of Family Guy the night before the shoot.

The premise is that this film explores the Xavier/Magneto friendship/rivalry. First thing's first, McAvoy and Michael Fassbender are great as Xavier and Magneto respectively.

McAvoy's more playboy Xavier is refreshing, and the first real time that 'Charles' hasn't been portrayed as the perfect leader who always knows what's happening.

And much like the transformation of Sabretooth from Tyler Mane to Liev Schreiber in X-Men to Wolverine, Fassbender is a better Magneto in many ways than Sir Ian McKellen, and far more believable as a villain.

Kevin Bacon is also a great villain as Sebastien Shaw, but even these three, the best performances on show, are let down by terribly timed lines.

The last line of the film for example: "I prefer to be known as...

...

...

... Magneto."

Why build tension in a line where we all know the one-word answer? Don't be fooled into thinking that this space is filled by hand gestures or facial expressions either - it's just a slow zoom.

The plotline is thread into GCSE history with the holocaust and the Cuban Missile Crisis featuring heavily. In fact you could probably remake this film using some BiteSize revision footage and scenes from the other X-Men films.

Particularly the first scene, a near carbon copy of Magneto bending some Nazi gates that was seen in the first film.

Maybe this is a deliberate hark back to the beginning of the X-Saga, but again I was under the impression this was a fresh start? Why does Beast feature but no Cylcops? Jean Grey? Iceman? Angel? The actual beginnings of the X-Men?

Oh wait there is an Angel. Angel Salvadore. Known these days as Tempest in the comics. But I don't want to sound like a Marvel fanboy.

Darwin is introduced as a new character, with his power to adapt to any circumstance an interesting one to display on screen.

So naturally he's killed after around twenty minutes of screentime.

The only other character to suffer from too little screentime is a cameo for the X-Saga's most successful feature. It has been said that this film will do well to be successful without the clawed-one but this minute-long segment shows that even that wasn't possible.

Sorry if I've listed a couple of spoilers but that is the challenge of this film. A reboot. The four X-Films before have been full of spoilers for 'First Class'.

And I'm afraid it's a challenge the X-Men have failed. I was not a fan of Star Trek or Batman when they rebooted and yet thoroughly enjoyed those films.

I get that the 'in-thing' in Hollywood right now is darker reboots (Thanks for that Christopher Nolan) but this one lacks any punch.

"I don't care whether or not that guy from Skins will learn to be blue."

I don't care about what will happen between Xavier and Mystique in any possible sequel, or whether or not that guy from Skins will learn to be blue. I don't care about Havok or Riptide (Did you know he was in it by the way? He's the suited-up whirlwind guy. Which isn't actually Riptide's power.) OK! OK! So I'm a Marvel fanboy!

But that's not the only reason I don't like this film. As a standalone sci-fi/fantasy it bored me. And in the climatic final battle my fellow cinema-goers and I thought of at least three other ways the good guys could have won in the car on the way home.

As much as my Y chromosome was pleased, as a film fan I grew a little tired of seeing scantily clad girls run about for very, very little reason. Then again January Jones seemingly didn't get the part of Emma Frost on her acting ability.

Verdict: All-in-all 'X-Men First Class' fails to buck a worrying recent trend of blockbuster superhero movies that promise so much and fail to deliver (See Spiderman 3, Wolverine and Iron Man 2). Despite decent performances from actors such as McAvoy and Fassbender, who do the best they can with some terrible lines, and even the return of Bryan Singer, First Class should head straight to detention. Bubs.

6/10

Bournemouth Jobs Fair TV package

Hi!

Below is a segment taken from a recent BAMMJ Convergence newsday, where I reported on the Daily Echo Jobs fair being held at the Premier Inn on Westover Road, Bournemouth. From the time I arrived to film to when the mini-package was broadcast the package had a turnaround time of two and a half hours. Credit also goes to Bob Bamber who worked with some of the editing,titles and levels.



Mark A.

My best and worst of 2010!

Hi!

Well goodbye 2010 - I've enjoyed your company. I feel I need some closure though, before I can start with 2011 I need to decide what the highs and lows were from the comfort of my sofa/bed. Because as we all know the sign of a good year is the quality of film, music and TV produced within those twelve months...

Best track - Frisky, Tinie Tempah
A lot of great music came out in 2010 to be fair, and it was a year that got me back into more dance music. Granted I would class Frisky as R'n'B but it's a song that checks in to your head, unpacks the suitcase and dials up for room service. Good music to me has always been about the elision of rhythm and lyrics and Tinie Tempah's singles have been great for that reason. Had Duck Sauce put a little more variation into Barbara Streisand or Club Can't Handle Me had a little more coverage on the radio and in clubs I could have plumped for either of those.
Worthy Challengers:
Barbara Streisand, Duck Sauce
Club Can't Handle Me, Flo-Rida & David Guetta
F**k You, Cee-Lo Green
Dynamite, Taio Cruz
Runaway, Kanye West Ft. Pusha-T

Best Album - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West
And not just because my girlfriend got it for me for Christmas. It is in fact because this is what an album should be, thought-provoking, funny, catchy, and makes you want to replay the whole thing once you've listened right through to Who Will Survive In America? With cameos galore, no more evident than in the superb All Of The Lights, and more of West's trademark sampling, including Black Sabbath's Iron Man in Hell Of A Life, MBDTW is a superbly produced album that I suspect I'll still be listening to throughout 2011.
Worthy Challengers:
Contra, Vampire Weekend
The Lady Killer, Cee-Lo Green
Postcards From A Young Man, Manic Street Preachers
Foundling, David Gray
Man On The Moon 2: The Legend Of Mr. Rager, Kid CuDi

Worst Artist/Album/Song Of The Year - Ke$ha/Animal/We R Who We R
I could not have foreseen a worse start to the year than on the first of January Ke$ha, being original by being the only artist with a sign of currency in her name, released her album 'Animal'. If only it had been put down. The album. Not Ke$ha. I'm not that harsh. Still - she is terrible. Ironic that she should bring out a song titled 'Blah Blah Blah' when that's all I hear whenever her songs are played.
Worthy Challengers:
Plastic Beach, Gorillaz
This Ain't A Love Song, Scouting For Girls
The Club Is Alive, JLS
Shout, Dizzee Rascal & James Corden

Best Film - Hot Tub Time Machine
One regret this pointless awards ceremony has exposed about my 2010 is that I did not get to the cinema enough. The list of films I fear may have made this list had I seen them is impressive, The Other Guys, Death At A Funeral, Iron Man 2, not to mention Inception and Avatar. But of those I saw, Hot Tub Time Machine made me laugh the most, was very aware of the type of film that it was, and had superb casting and performances. And Worst of the year? Goes to Remember Me, hard to follow and surprising ending made un-surprising by the hype on the Internet by Robert Pattinson hangers-on.
Worthy Challengers:
Kick-Ass
Green Zone
The A-Team

Best TV - Misfits
Again one of the only shows, other than the Football League Show, that I sat down and tuned in for every week, and watched again on 4OD. Regularly funny and with plot twists that I thought I saw coming but were twisted kept me coming back week after week. A clever ending to the Christmas Special means the confirmed Series 3 should be a good one. The biggest disappointment for me in TV this year was the news that both Heroes and Flashforward were to be cancelled by their respective American Networks. Guess I'll have to make do with the box sets then!
Worthy Challengers:
Peep Show
The Apprentice
Derren Brown: Hero at 30,000 feet

Hero of 2010 - Matt Cardle
The man, the hat, the legend. Had a few wobbles but still got me into X-Factor and made sure there was at least one person who I didn't feel was permanently reading off a script. The less you cry on a reality talent show, the more I'll like you.

Villain(s) of 2010 - The England Football Team
'Nuff said? Or maybe Jorge Larrionda, the Uruguayan referee who overruled Frank Lampard's 'goal' against Germany. Yeah definitely him.

Happy New Year to all - Have a great 2011!

Mark A.

This week's column

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This week's Mark My Words column is now live:

Nearly through administration Hull

Mark A.

Latest column at Pompey-fans.com!

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New 'Mark My Words'

Mark A.

Hi!

Mark My Words is back at pompey-fans.com!

Mark My Words- Pompey Are Back?

Mark A.

New blog post on theoffside

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New blog on the Ponpey offside side:

Portsmouth.theoffside.com

Mark A.

Pompey theoffside blog- new post

Hi!

New post on the Portsmouth FC Offside Blog today before the season opener against Coventry:

New lease of life allows for optimism once again

Mark A.

New FansOnline stories

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Two new stories up on the FansOnline network today- Bolton manager Owen Coyle has to deal with transfer rumours surrounding his captain Gary Cahill here, whilst Roy Hodgson has re-signed Fabio Aurelio just two months after he left the club here.

Mark A.

Future of Pompey's World Cup reps in doubt

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Head over to the Portsmouth blog at theoffside.com now to read my first post on whether or not John Utaka, Kanu, Aaron Mokoena and Kevin Prince Boateng will play for the Blues this season.

Blues' World Cup Stars: They may stay but will they play?

Mark A.

New Portsmotuh FC blog at theoffside.com

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I have now joined the team at theoffside, a blog community, where I'll be covering all things Portsmouth. Check out the site now!

theoffside- Portsmouth

Mark A.

Sussex Preview

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Check out my Sussex Cricket Club preview on the Chichester Observer website:

Chichester Today

Mark A.

FansOnline Reboot

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Both www.bootroomdynasty.com and www.trottersindependent.com are back! Latest stories here:

http://fansonline.net/liverpool/article.php?id=533
http://www.fansonline.net/boltonwanderers/article.php?id=355

Mark A.

Don't be a-3d of missing Sky's new channel

Hi!

Today I jumped aboard the 3D bandwagon by watching Manchester United Vs. Chelsea on Sky Sports 3D- the broadcaster's new channel. Apart from donning the very classy glasses the only effect it had on my viewing of the game was a back ache.

My local- the Cuckoo Pint in Stubbington, Fareham- became one of the few but growing number of outlets offering the new way of watching football to punters, following on the crest of excitement generated by 3D films such as Avatar. For a reasonable sum of £2 viewers grab a pair of glasses and squirm to the front of the screen- as the effect of the picture is ironically lost from distance. If nothing else I protest to my local moving the pool tables for any reason...

Still at first some angles looked impressive. John Terry and Gary Neville leading their sides out in 3D was impressive- it looked just like an entrance scene from FIFA 10 so fluid and full were the pictures.

And there is much to be said of the images from the dugouts and stands- each row of fans becomes a layer and there is nothing like a ball boy appearing inches away from you to make a whole pub shake thier drinks.

However the core of watching live football- the lofty position of the camera usually square on to the half-way line, shows no sign of lending itself to 3D viewing. Taking off the glasses reduces the picture quality only because evrything has a thin red/blue border and you find yourself checking how much is left in your glass as everything develops a double.

The quality and excitement of the game itself made the event more of a spectacle- and I would imagine an evening tie would generate more interest, but for the nost part the next step in football spectating is very much a fuzz over nothing.

Mark A.

TV Package

Hi!

Long time no post! See below for video of recently finished TV Package on transport problems over Easter in the south west.

Lots of exciting posts coming soon I hope!!

Cheers,

Mark A.

BUzz

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More new stuff to come soon but in the meantime check out my stories on Bournemouth's BUzz site:

http://buzz.bournemouth.ac.uk/?author=252


Mark A.

Ladies and Gents- the new England captain...

Hi!

Today's the day I feel like weighing in on the England Captaincy debate. Enjoy!

Mark A.

Banned from football for 8 months for failing to attend a drugs test, driving bans in 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2005, never been to a European Championships and currently suspended from adding to his six Premiership appearances so far this season- ladies and gentleman I give you the new England captain.
Rio Ferdinand splits many people down the middle- English defender’s version of marmite if you will- but surely now at a time when the England captaincy is being changed due to unprofessional conduct off the field, the Manchester United centre-back is at the back of the cue.
Now 31, there are also plenty of footballing reasons for the captaincy to turn elsewhere.
Looking at those in the frame for International recognition, you would discount those like David Beckham and Gary Neville because despite their experience they are not playing regular first team football, and arguably lack the pace and fitness required.
But why is this not true for Ferdinand? As mentioned he has made only 6 of his 320 appearances for Manchester United in the 09/10 season and despite helping to keep a clean sheet against Belarus the last time he did play in the White shirt, the previous game saw his error lead to Rob Green being sent off in the 1-0 defeat to Ukraine.
My point is if he is not an automatic choice in the first team how can he be a candidate for the captaincy?
Furthermore has Fabio Capello made a rod for his own back by making Ferdinand captain and thereby increasing the pressure to play the former Leeds defender?
Today’s news that he has dropped his appeal over an extra match extension on his ban for violent conduct is a clear sign he is making a move to become more respectable but critics will say this is a fairly blatant move to improve his position.
The secondary debate over the leadership of the side has been whether or not the captaincy is actually important, and for the record I believe it is vital.
History suggests when teams have a good leader their chances of success increase- and I ask if captaincy isn’t important then why hasn’t John Terry also lost the Chelsea armband?
I am not of course suggesting mistakes made in the past should taint a man, let alone a footballer, for the rest of his life.
It is just interesting that these incidents keep appearing in Mr. Ferdinand’s life, and currently I do not see him as the best man to lead the side forward.
I would normally suggest Steven Gerrard but his court appearance and history of red cards would probably be mentioned, I feel he is a suitable deputy in his current role as vice-captain though.
Honestly, and I couldn’t see myself saying this in the past, but I believe the most deserving is Frank Lampard.
He had a terrible run of form with the national side to the extent of being booed by his own fans at Wembley not so long ago.
But he has come through that spell- and severe personal tragedies- to emerge a better person and player, and a suitable candidate to lead the three lions.

African Nations Cup

Hi!

Enjoyed this year's Cup of Nations despite the off-field incidents. Final review below and my thoughts on the tournament in general to come soon.

Mark A.

Super-sub Mohamed Gedo’s late strike sealed a third consecutive African Cup of Nations for Egypt- the first time any nation has done so.
Ghana’s young side battled valiantly and although offering little in attack they matched the holders for large periods.
But Gedo, who finishes as the tournaments top scorer, came on and played a one-two with Mohamed Zidan before finishing clinically to seal the trophy for the Pharaohs.
It’s the first time any of the African sides have won three competitions in a row, and means the trophy will stay in Cairo.
Egypt were made to work for their seventh Nations Cup by Ghana, as Eric Addo almost snatched a lifeline with nearly the last kick of the game but the ball wouldn’t fall in the box for the substitute.
Asamoah Gyan was Ghana’s main outlet and he hit two long range efforts over and came close with a curling effort from the edge of the box in the second half.
A largely eventless first half saw Kwadwo Asamoah shoot straight at Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary from 25 yards.
Ahmed Hassan went closest for the holders in the first period but failed to test Richard Kingston in the Ghana goal- the ‘keeper having shown signs of several injuries and allowing his defender to take his goal kicks.
And customarily in this year’s tournament there were several cards dished out- not least to Ghana’s Aygemang Opoku, who was lucky to escape with only booking for a two-footed challenge on Ahmed El-Mohamady.
But as time ticked on Egypt held on despite waves of late Ghana pressure and the joy shown by Gedo’s goal celebrations continuing long into the future as the failure to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa is buried by yet another tournament win.

Clash of the south coast titans

Hi!

Today's piece is on the big south coast derby FA Cup game on February 13th, and my concerns over fans behaviour at the game.

Mark A.

South Coast rivals Southampton and Portsmouth have been drawn together in the pick of the FA Cup Fifth Round draw ties.
Though this may seem good news to the neutral, the football will undoubtedly be secondary news to what happens in the stands and around the ground.
The rivalry between these two clubs has so much attached to it, and it does not apply only to football.
The two cities compete for pride in everything from major shopping centres, to which is named as the south central point on the weather maps.
The rivalry is said to have started when both cities were major ports, Southampton’s trading and Portsmouth’s navy.
But this maritime theme lead to the terms ‘scum’ being branded predominantly by Portsmouth fans but occasionally mirrored by their rivals.
However it began the rivalry that fills the 17 miles between the cities is not to be underestimated- as has been shown in recent years.
Only three arrests were made when Southampton ran out 3-0 winners in 2003, this trebled the following year when a BBC cameraman and two police dogs were also injured and in the resulting days dozens more were arrested, then at Fratton Park in 2005 four hundred police offers were needed to keep the peace, making five arrests.
And this year’s meeting between the sides has seen so much change since then. The 4-1 defeat for Southampton last time the sides met contributed to the club’s relegation from the Premier League, something the club is only beginning to recover from.
Harry Redknapp has also come and gone from both clubs, neither Rupert Lowe nor Milan Mandaric own Saints or Pompey respectively anymore and it is Portsmouth who seem set to slip out of the top flight.
Blues fans already have a sense of red mist descending as they protest against their own owners and everyday there seems to be a new piece of bad news.
All of which background and context means this will be the hottest atmosphere the south coast derby has ever seen- there may well be trouble ahead.
Southampton police commander Chief Superintendant Matthew Greening said this week: “We will be delivering a top class police operation to help both clubs and both cities provide a safe and professional event in Southampton that everyone can be proud of and enjoy.”
But no matter how much of the police are detailed to St Mary’s Stadium on February 13th, there will be red on show on the south coast, and not because of Valentine’s.
Of course- I challenge both sets of fans to prove me wrong.

Football stories published!

Hi!

Two more stories published today, FinalWhistle.vg have featured the England column published on the blog previously and a match report from tonight's Carling Cup Manchester derby is now live on the Daily Herald!

Final Whistle
Global Herald

Mark A.