X-Men: First Class revisited...

[fajrdrako]

I went to see X-Men: First Class again today, and I am glad I really did. I'd really missed a lot of the beginning - a lot of the story.

My conclusion this time about Charles and Mystique is that their relationship was ambiguous; one of those that defies easy description. And I like that.

If the movie has a weak point for me, it's the depiction of Mystique. The Mystique in my head was never that young, whatever age she was supposed to be. She should be sharp, angry, self-confident: I'd rather have a dangerous Mystique than an uncertain young girl who hasn't found herself. Who needs advice from Magneto before she knows what she should be.

I love the way Charles isn't too serious, isn't too earnest. I love it that he likes to drink and to party, and uses his powers to flirt. I love the way he puts his fingers to his head when he reads minds (just like in the old comics).

And I love, totally love, this Magneto. Come to think of it, I loved Xavier, too. The one for his lines and his actions, the other for his looks, his smile, and his manner.

Are we supposed to believe this is the same continuity as the previous X-Men movies? Does it matter?

The relationship between Xavier and Magneto was even better than I'd remembered. I came home and immediately went looking for Charles/Eric slash. (And if anyone has any recommendations of stories, I'd love to hear them.)