While the adult Charles is hanging out at Oxford, spouting pick up lines that fail more often than not, Erik is devoting his life to exacting revenge

[lety]

According to a fellow critic who's up on all things X-Men, X-Men: First Class takes more liberties with the source material than what should be expected of from a prequel. Characters act out of character and major events in X-Men mythology are drastically altered in this origin tale which sets up the hostile relationship between Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr that propelled the three previous X-Men films. All of which means true X-Men fans are likely to receive/review this take on the comic book inspired film in a more negative light than audiences whose only knowledge of these mutant characters comes from what they've learned from X-Men 1, 2, and 3. I'm included in the latter group, having never picked up an X-Men comic. If it weren't for the films, I'd have no idea whatsoever who Professor X or Magneto are, or that Wolverine's anything other than a fearsome furry creature.

So, coming from the point of view of an X-Men novice, how well did X-Men: First Class do at explaining the mutant world and how Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr came to hold opposing points of view on how best to deal with humans? Very well in that the film walks the audience through the childhood of both characters, exploring how their upbringing helped to create a Charles Xavier (played by James McAvoy) who believes humans are worth saving and an Erik Lensherr (played by Michael Fassbender) who despises those who don't have special powers. X-Men: First Class also does a great job of showing how mutants were identified and let in on the secret that they weren't alone, that being a mutant wasn't something they needed to be ashamed about.

X-Men: First Class - The Story

 

Who would have known the Cuban Missile Crisis was actually perpetrated by mutants and it was mutants, and not the work of US President John F Kennedy and Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev, that saved the world from a full-blown nuclear war. X-Men: First Class uses real historic events - including the Holocaust - to explain the emergence of mutants as a potent fighting force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, a young Charles Xavier is growing up in the lap of luxury. When a young Raven Darkholme breaks into his family's mansion looking for food, he welcomes her with open arms. The blue-skinned shapeshifter becomes like a little sister to him, and the twosome grow up together in a nurturing environment. As Charles achieves success at Oxford, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) is always by his side. And Charles, unlike Erik, has grown up to be quite the charming ladies man. He likes humans, women in particular, and is accepting of our flaws. He's also got a full head of hair and the ability to use both of his legs, unlike the older version of Charles Xavier we see in the other X-Men films. Meanwhile, a young Charles Xavier is growing up in the lap of luxury. When a young Raven Darkholme breaks into his family's mansion looking for food, he welcomes her with open arms. The blue-skinned shapeshifter becomes like a little sister to him, and the twosome grow up together in a nurturing environment. As Charles achieves success at Oxford, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) is always by his side. And Charles, unlike Erik, has grown up to be quite the charming ladies man. He likes humans, women in particular, and is accepting of our flaws. He's also got a full head of hair and the ability to use both of his legs, unlike the older version of Charles Xavier we see in the other X-Men films.

While the adult Charles is hanging out at Oxford, spouting pick up lines that fail more often than not, Erik is devoting his life to exacting revenge on Sebastian Shaw. He's on the hunt and nothing will stop him from seeking out and killing Sebastian. But Sebastian's surrounded by a mutant crew - Emma Frost (January Jones in very revealing costumes), Azazel (Jason Flemyng), and Riptide (Alex Gonzalez) - that makes him nearly untouchable. Sebastian's master plan is to use their mutant powers to force the Soviet Union to launch nuclear weapons against the US. The United States will then retaliate, the human race will be obliterated, and mutants will take over the planet (because the nuclear blasts won't affect them).

Fortunately for our planet, telepathic Charles Xavier is able to convince Erik Lensherr to team up to help the CIA stop Shaw. Working closely with Dr Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) and another CIA bigwig (Oliver Platt) who fully supports mutants, the two super-powerful mutants assemble a team of young up-and-coming mutants to work for the 'good guys'. Charles and Erik set out to train the group for the ultimate mission: stop the Soviets from crossing a line in the sea that would force the United States' hand and lead to World War III.