X-Men: First Class sets the curve

I finally had my opportunity to see X-Men: First Class, and in my humble opinion, this is the best of the bunch. While there were some questionable choices, including some of the characters they chose to include, all in all, this was a great effort and a very entertaining watch. The time period was used well, and never got really cheesy, as is such a danger with anything set in the 60's. Special effects & makeup were solid, and the pacing was spot on.

The casting for the main 2 characters was dead on, and after this, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Michael Fassbender fast tracked to play James Bond. Admittedly his Irish lilt popped out in a few scenes which consequently jolted me out of his portrayal of Magneto, but that's about the only criticism that I could come up with in regards to his performance. James MacAvoy played the role of the dickish yet brilliant Professor X to perfection. January Jones, not so much, as I'm pretty convinced that she couldn't act her way out of a paper sack. Unfortunately emotions are hard, but at least she was nice eye candy, and the effect they used for Emma's diamond form was amazing!

As per usual I don't want to give anything away, but there are some cameos that are nothing but pure awesome. In fact, if I could just have a movie of Professor X & Magneto schmooze with prospective mutant recruits, I'd be completely down.

Anyway, go see this flick, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Just don't bother staying past the credits, as there's no sweet extra scene attached to this one. Enjoy!

Holding out hope for the First Class. Will my blue ring break?

So, X-Men: First Class opens tonight, and I face it with a mix of excitement and trepidation. After all, X-3 damn near single handedly sunk the franchise, and the Wolverine movie almost put the nails in the coffin. Now with a 60's retro flair, will Matthew Vaughn succeed and bring this venerable franchise back to life or is it going to be dead like disco?

It's a little weird to admit, but this is the first comic book movie that my lovely wife Racheal has been more excited to see than I. CONSIDERABLY more excited. Like freaking out excited. I, on the other hand, have been approaching First Class with caution and guarded optimism. Every little clip that I see instills hope, but on such a tenuous foundation that it could all come crumbling down in an instant. I guess we'll see this weekend, after which I'll post a spoiler free review.

83% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes seems to indicate that maybe, JUST MAYBE, they got it right this time. =)

Sketches o'the Day...

Here's a couple that I did today. I knocked this first one out before my regular RPG group this evening. I took a anatomical study/creature design that I hated, and salvaged it into a bust of Colossus from the X-Men. Played with several pens that I unearthed after gathering my supplies from the studio. India ink, Copic brush pens, Sakura opaque white ink pen, toned in Photoshop.

In Mother Russia, steroids inject YOU.

Second one I did during the game tonight and is a drawing of my long standing Rifts character, who I got to knock the rust off of tonight after a triumphant return to our alpha campaign. I taunted a pantheon of gods. It makes me happy. =) Anyway, I present Cymrian the elf, with a rapier tongue and a predilection for calling people, places & things "asshole".

Well, mister mighty warrior thunder god guy, that hammer is compensating for things lacking down below beneath smelly, sweaty bearskin, yes?