X-Men: First Class (2011)

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  Michael as: Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto
  Cast: James McAvoy, January Jones, Jennifer Lawrence
  Director: Matthew Vaughn
  Written by: Ashley Miller & Zack Stentz
  Release Date: June 3, 2011
  Genre: Action / Adventure / Drama / Fantasy
  Language: English / German / French / Spanish / Russian
  Rated: PG
  Runtime: 132 min.

In 1962, Charles Xavier starts up a school and later a team, for humans with superhuman abilities. Among them is Erik Lensherr, his best friend… and future archenemy.

Trivia & Facts

- Josh Schwartz wrote an early version of the screenplay, but once Bryan Singer became attached, Schwartz’s script was ditched as Singer wanted to take the story in a different direction. Jamie Moss was subsequently hired to write a new draft.

- Bryan Singer, who directed X-Men (2000) and X2 (2003), was approached to direct this film in October 2009, but in March 2010 declined due to his commitment to Jack the Giant Killer (2012) and was replaced with Matthew Vaughn in May 2010. Singer however stayed on as producer.

- Amber Heard was rumored to play Mystique before Jennifer Lawrence was cast.

- Taylor Lautner was considered to play Hank McCoy (aka Beast) but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Nicholas Hoult was later cast.

- Rosamund Pike was considered to play Moira McTaggert and later for Emma Frost.

- Alice Eve was cast as Emma Frost, but a deal couldn’t be reached and January Jones was cast instead.

- Both Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy appeared in Band of Brothers (2001) at the start of their careers. This marks their first appearance together since then.

- Matthew Vaughn was originally hired to direct X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), but left citing pressure from the studio to finish the film within a short time.

- A telepathic battle between Professor X and Emma Frost was going to be in the film, but upon the release of Inception (2010) the concept was scrapped.

- Michael Fassbender, who plays the Jewish Holocaust survivor character Magneto in this film, had earlier played an Allied Forces soldier in Inglourious Basterds (2009). Paradoxically and ironically, Sir Ian McKellen, who also played Magneto, had earlier played a Nazi in Apt Pupil (1998).

- To prepare for his role as Erik Lensherr, Michael Fassbender studied Sir Ian McKellen’s performance as Lensherr in the previous X-Films, but also looked through the comics as he decided to make his own version of Magneto: “You want to respect what someone else has done, especially because the fan base really liked what Ian has done with it. But while I could have gone and studied him as a young man and brought that to the performance, I don’t think Matthew is very interested in that. So I’m just going my own way and working with whatever is in the comic books and the script.”

- The film was originally to be a prequel about Magneto. Screenwriter Sheldon Turner wrote a treatment which he described as “X-Men (2000) meets The Pianist (2002)”: the story focused on Magneto’s early years as a prisoner of war in a Nazi concentration camp, until liberation by a squad of Allied Forces led by Charles Xavier. They later meet after the war and become friends, and later become rivals. The studio decided to change the film’s direction to the early years of the X-Men, but incorporated aspects of Turner’s script into the film.

- The filmmakers had only two choices for the role of Sebastian Shaw: Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon. They decided to go with Bacon as he was American and seemed more menacing than Firth.

- It took an entire make up team 7 hours to entirely paint Jennifer Lawrence’s body blue for the character Mystique.

Goofs and Errors

Revealing Mistakes: When the young Raven is in her true form, the seams of her costume are clearly visible.

Anachronisms: The 5 Reichsmark coin carries the year 1934, but the design with Reichsadler and Swastika was introduced after 1936.

Anachronisms: Edith Piaf’s “La Vie en rose” is playing on a phonograph in the concentration camp. That song was not recorded until 1946.

Plot Holes: When standing at the shore of the island and watching the approaching missiles, all the mutants seem to have forgotten that Azazel could have easily teleported them all away.

Continuity: When Erik wants Charles to shoot at him with a gun, the distance from the gun to Erik’s head varies between different views. When the camera is shooting over Charles’ shoulder, the gun is against Erik’s forehead. When the camera view is over Erik’s shoulder, the gun is 3-4 inches from Erik’s forehead.

Movie Quotes

Professor Charles Xavier: “Ready for this?”
Erik Lehnsherr: “Let’s find out!”

Professor Charles Xavier: “Listen to me very carefully, my friend: Killing will not bring you peace.”
Erik Lehnsherr: “Peace was never an option.”

Sean Cassidy:: “You truly believe I will fly this time?”
Professor Charles Xavier: “Unreservedly.”
Sean Cassidy:: “I trust you.”
Professor Charles Xavier: “I am touched.”
Sean Cassidy:: “I don’t trust him.”
Professor Charles Xavier: “Say nothing.”
Sean Cassidy: “I’m gonna die!”
Professor Charles Xavier: “Alright. Look, we’re not gonna make you do anything without…”
Erik Lehnsherr: “Here, let me help you.”
Professor Charles Xavier: “Erik!”
Erik Lehnsherr: “What? You know you were thinking the same.”

Erik Lehnsherr: “Tomorrow, mankind will know that mutants exist. They will fear us, and that fear will turn to hatred.”

Professor Charles Xavier: “You have a chance to become a part of something much bigger than yourself.”
Erik Lehnsherr: “What do you know about me?”
Professor Charles Xavier: “Everything.”

Professor Charles Xavier: “That’s enough, Erik! There are hundreds of people aboard those ships, who are just following orders!”
Erik Lehnsherr: “I’ve been at the mercy of men just following orders. Never again.”

Emma Frost: “Erik, that is?”
Erik Lehnsherr: “I prefer Magneto.”

Erik Lehnsherr: “What an adorable lab rat you make, Charles.”
Professor Charles Xavier: “Don’t spoil this for me, Erik.”
Erik Lehnsherr: “I’ve been a lab rat. I know when I see one.”