Film Analysis: "X-Men: First Class" and How to be Truly Powerful

What makes someone completely powerful? Is it the ability to throw heavy objects at great length? Is it the ability to read the thoughts of those around you? While these abilities are incredible, the true utilization of power stems from the capability to express compassion towards others. If someone is able to live their life through performing acts of kindness and empathy towards others, then they are a noble person; thus being powerful in heart and mind. However, if someone chooses to live their life through inflicting physical pain unto others, than by all accounts, that person can be considered as being weak; as they would lack the ability to express compassion. Thus, when examining these qualities, it is easy to figure out who can be considered as being a powerful hero, and who can be considered as a tremendously weak villian. A good visual example of this concept can be seen in example Director Matthew Vaughn’s riveting summer blockbuster “X-Men: First Class;”during which, we are introduced to two indiviuals who possess extraordinary abilities-- such as excellent mind-reading skills and spectacular magnetism. And, by observing them throughout the movie, we can see which one i can be thought of as being 'powerful'. Thus, I can say with utmost confidence:


"X-Men: First Class" Features an Enthralling Story that Demonstrates what it Means to be Truly 'Powerful'

As Mathew Vaughn’s film opens, we see meet Erik Lehnsherr; a small boy frighteningly separated from his mother at a concentration camp in Poland during The Holocaust in 1944. However, he is no ordinary child; as he is able to bend an immense metal gate simply by waving his small hands; as he does so in an act of desperation to be with his mother. However, his feat is observed by of Dr. Schmidt; a Nazi operative devilishly played by Kevin Bacon. Schmidt tries to get the terrified boy to use his powers; even going as far as to threaten to kill his mother. Erik refuses to oblige and the mad doctor kills the boy’s mother; thus leading the boy to utilize his magnetic powers in a fury of rage and full violence upon two Nazi workers. Meanwhile, in a lavish home in New York, a young boy named Charles Xavier wakes up to the sound of clamoring in his kitchen. He enters the kitchen to see what appears to be his mother; and she notices him and offers him some hot chocolate. However, by using fantastic mind-reading abilities, the boy deduces that she is not really his mother; and, in actuality, she is a small blue-skinned, shape-shifting girl named Raven-- who will ultimately go by the nickname “Mystique.” However, instead of running off in terror, Charles introduces himself and offers her to stay; making her very happy and the two of them become friends. The film then cuts to 1962, where Erik Lehnsherr, played by Michael Fassbender, is all grown up and is on a deadly quest for revenge against the man who killed his mother; going as far as to kill anyone along his way by means of his extremely magnetizing capabilities.
















Image of Michael Fassbended as Erik Lehnsherr taken from http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cdn.screenrant.com/wp-content/uploads/michael-fassbender-magneto.jpg&imgrefurl=http://screenrant.com/michael-fassbender-magneto-x-men-first-class-cast-rob-66085/&usg=__6XKJgzCsfyGzsu47dU7dGVfoex8=&h=330&w=500&sz=43&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=4VmitqJbwMQgcM:&tbnh=105&tbnw=159&ei=foMHTszOCMXV0QGLrL37Cg&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522X-MEN:%2BFIRST%2BCLASS%2522%2B%252B%2B%2522Michael%2BFassbender%2522%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D596%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=811&vpy=63&dur=1625&hovh=182&hovw=276&tx=101&ty=126&page=1&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0&biw=1280&bih=596




Menwhile, at Oxford, Charles Xavier, all grown up and played by James McAvoy, is giving lectures on mutation; and while at a tavern, a government agent named Dr. Moira MacTaggert, played by Rose Byrne, approaches Xavier and Raven-- played with great honesty by Jennifer Lawrence, who is pretending to be his sister. Dr. MacTaggert asks Xavier to meet her supervisors for a meeting; suring which, the agents are startled by Raven's astounding shape-shifting abilities. Soon, one of the agents, played by Oliver Platt, takes her, Xavier and MacTaggert to his safe base, where they meet Hank McCoy, played gingerly by Nicholas Hoult, a young man with incredible knowledge and mammal-like feet; who will eventually become known as the agile and entirely-blue-haired character “Beast." There, the government agent asks Xavier to help him detect Russian boats that carry missiles. While all this takes place, Lehnsherr, who has learned that Dr. Schmidt is now going by the name of Sebastian Shaw and is engaging in activities with the Russians, sneaks aboard his nemesis’ yacht in hopes of achieving vengeance. However, it turns out that Shaw is also a superpowered mutant; and he has enlisted a group of young mutants to help him unleash destruction. And, when he tries to confront his nemesis, Lensherr ultimately finds himself being thrown overboard following a scuffle with Shaw's forces. However, he is noticed by Charles Xavier; who is working with Oliver Platt's CIA agent in an effort to detect any nuclear activity in the works by Russian forces. And, following this fateful meeting, the two men find themselves forming a friendship on the account that they both know what its like to grow up with supernatural abilities. And, as we watch the film, it is exciting to see how the utilization of Lensherr's and Xavier's abilities challenge the meaning of the word 'powerful'.
Image of James McAvoy as Charles Xavier and Jennifer Lawrence as "Raven" taken from
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/xmen-first-class-new-casitngs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/movie-news/first-look-james-mcavoy-and-jennifer-lawrence-in-x-men-first-class.php&usg=__b82T73wlByB86cglTFAyils4sOw=&h=240&w=620&sz=51&hl=en&start=92&zoom=1&tbnid=5c0tCvMM2sngAM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=204&ei=fYQHTqeFIMXq0gHD-ez5Cg&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522X-MEN:%2BFIRST%2BCLASS%2522%2B%252B%2B%2522James%2BMcAvoy%2522%2BAND%2B%2522Mystique%2522%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D596%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=297&page=6&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:92&tx=124&ty=29






WhenMichael Fassbender's Erik Lehnsherr is in possession of the incredible ability to extract metal and employ it in a forceful manner, he is not at all 'powerful'. As we see early in the film, Lehnsherr had to terrifyingly observe his mother getting shot by Kevin Bacon’s antagonist. This horrific act permanently and emotionally scars Lehnsher for the rest of his life; as he is now consumed by thoughts of revenge and murder-- thus making him emotionally-fragile. And, when he finally has his long-awaited confrontation, it is evident to see that Lehnsherr is bent on seeking out his mortal enemy; and murder him by use of his advanced magnetism. In short terms, Lehnsherr’s violent nature makes him incredibly weak-- in body and mind.




But, while Michael Fassbender's Erik Lehnsherr frequently employs his capabilities for acts of extreme violence, James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier is the complete opposite; he uses his mind-reading skills in order to reach out to those who are experiencing abandonment, loss, and fear. For instance, when he first encounters Raven in his kitchen when they were both children, he was able to figure out that she was alone in the world and scared by reading her mind; leading him to welcome her into his home and his life. Later on in the film, as he and Lehnsherr are traveling the world to enlist new recruits for their new organization, Xavier was able to understand what these young, genetically-enhanced, and lonely individuals want in life: aceptance. Thus, he helps them introducing them to an organization where they would be with people like themselves. Thus, Charles Xavier is a 'powerful' person; as he only wants to ensure the well-being of others.
Image of Jennifer Lawrence as Raven, Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy, James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, and Michael Fassbender as Erik Lehnsherr taken from http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/xmen-first-class-new-casitngs.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.obsessedwithfilm.com/movie-news/first-look-james-mcavoy-and-jennifer-lawrence-in-x-men-first-class.php&usg=__b82T73wlByB86cglTFAyils4sOw=&h=240&w=620&sz=51&hl=en&start=92&zoom=1&tbnid=5c0tCvMM2sngAM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=204&ei=fYQHTqeFIMXq0gHD-ez5Cg&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522X-MEN:%2BFIRST%2BCLASS%2522%2B%252B%2B%2522James%2BMcAvoy%2522%2BAND%2B%2522Mystique%2522%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D596%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=297&page=6&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:92&tx=124&ty=29




And this is how Erik Lehnsherr and Charles Xavier completely contrast; they utilize their amazing abilities to fulfill different goals- which ultimately defines them as either 'powerful' or 'weak'. James McAvoy’s Xavier uses his marvelous mind-reading skills to help those in need; such as Raven, the young mutants that join their organization, and Erik Lehnsherr. Therefore, Xavier is powerful in the sense that he wants to selflessly help others for their own good. However, on the other end of the spectrum, Michael Fassbender’s Erik Lehnsherr mostly employs his powers for for reasons pertaining to violence; as comitting acts of sheer violence appears to be his preferred meathod of dealing with his grief. And, when he, Xavier, and their team arrive at Cuba to prevent an uncoming nuclear attack between The Russians and The United States, Lehnsherr is completely focused on murdering Kevin Bacon's Sebastian Shaw; and will soon have the opportunity to face his enemy in an intense stand-off. Needless to say, he is no better than his enemy; who has orchestrated the entire nuclear threat. Thus, seeing as James McAvoy's Charles Xavier wants to prevent the strike and spare the lives of many innocent people; he is the one who is truly powerful.




And, thanks in large part to Michael Fassbender’s and James McAvoy’s grand performances, their respective characters truly are believable throughout the film. As Erik Lehnsherr, Fassbender provides a strong emotional hold on the iconic character that will become known as the villainous “Magneto.” You believe the pain that Fassbender’s character is experiencing; right from the moment that Kevin Bacon’s character kills his mother, and right up to the final showdown at the film’s climax. Also, McAvoy ensures that his character Charles Xavier, who takes the title of “Professor X” by his students, as well as the ultimate leader of the “X-Men.” McAvoy provides an affecting performance throughout the film; thus giving his character an aura of immense sincerity. In short terms; the performances of these two actors provide great life to their on-screen alter-egoes; thus making them appear completely real.

Therefore, the relationship between Michael Fassbender’s Erik Lehnsherr and James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier accurately depicts what it means to be powerful. And, even though he primarily wants to utilize his incredible magnetism for violent reasons, Michael Fassbender's Erik Lehnsherr proves to be an incredibly weak indiviual-- and not at all valiant . James McAvoy’s Charles Xavier, on the other hand, truly is a powerful hero; seeing as he possesses the greatest superpower in the world: Goodwill towards all people.





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