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DVD: X-Men: First Class (12)

 

Ben Walsh
Friday 04 November 2011 01:00 GMT
Comments

Matthew Vaughn's so-so sci-fi prequel, which charts the beginning of the mutant saga, benefits hugely from another impressive, intensive performance from Michael Fassbender as the quite rightly furious Magneto.

His mother is shot dead in front of him at the concentration camp in which they've been interned, and Kevin Bacon's crazed scientist is responsible. The best scene is where Magneto tracks down a Nazi to a grotty bar – it's reminiscent of Fassbender's memorable turn in Inglorious Basterds. The rest of this frenetic, shrill actioner is rather forgettable, particularly James McAvoy's smug Professor X and his badly characterised young charges.

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