Let me just say right off the bat, if you are one of those fan boys who loathes any changes made to a comic book movie, just stop reading right now. Turn off the computer and run really fast head first into the wall 'cause this is not going to be the movie for you. Yes, Matthew Vaughn, Sheldon Turner, Bryan Singer with screenplay duties by Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Jane Goldman did make some dramatic changes to the X-men mythology, but the genius part of it is that they never (the key part here) violated the heart of the story. When it comes down to it, this movie feels like one of those graphic novels that have a different spin on the X-men mythology, but it totally embraces all the elements of the comic books and its characteristics.

The premise of First Class sets a young Professor X and Magneto in the 1960's era at the height of the Cold War. This version of the movie melds the mythology of the X-men with the historical events of the Cuban Missile crisis. Magneto/ Erik Lehnsherr grows up seeing and experiencing the harshest sides of humanity, while Professor X lives a more sheltered and loving upbringing. The film shows us first hand why and how they have come to logger-heads over how to deal with the mutant-human situation. The philosophical debate seem deeper and provides expansive layers than older X-men films and one can come away from it almost feeling an understanding of both sides. You can understand why mutants flip from Magneto to Xavier in the future.

The character development is great, and without leaving too much to the imagination you see the young Mystique/Raven cultivate her sense of identity and merge it to Magnetos vision. You see the young X-men, who are lost and trying to find themselves in the world not just as teenagers, but as beings with powers that sets them apart and compromises their chances of being accepted by humanity. Their compounded identity crisis is the tool others (CIA, Sebastian Shaw & Magneto) will take advantage of to recruit these powerful mutants.

Sebastian Shaw is played amazingly by Kevin Bacon. He captures the balance of a powerful ruthless mutant with the fatherly love of an elder statesmen to the other mutants in the film, including Erik Lehnsherr. Everything Sebastian Shaw is- is a reflection of what Magneto can become at his worst.

Ultimately, this film is worth the ticket price. When I first saw the previews and the initial movie covers, heard about the new characters that were going to be presented in the film. I thought this was going to be a throw away film. An afterthought to the X-men cinematic universe. I was wrong. It is a unique episode that is worth taking a look at. It can stand all on its own without trying to attatch itself to other X-men movies- but it still does. A few nods and winks at future and past X-men movies are done but they dont seem like they are forced at all.

I personally feel X-men First Class is a must see. What about you readers out there? What did you think about it? I personally feel this could be one of the best- if not the best X-men movie to come out yet. Where does it stand on your list of X-men movies- or comic book movies for that matter?