I was fairly sure that the X-Men franchise was gradually going to come to an end after the X-Men Origins: Wolverine title did a little worse than movie executives thought. X-Men: First Class was the way in which the X-Men franchise was able to properly gain steam, and I believe that Fox’s work with this Blu-Ray is strong enough to properly foster additional interest in the series. X-Men: First Class is a prequel to the events that occurred during the original X-Men trilogy, and does a great job in filling viewers into the happenings that ultimately made each member of the team the way that they are shown in these releases. I found myself most in awe about the backstory rendered for Charles Xavier; as the elder statesman in charge of the X-Men, it is interesting to see the specific events that lead up to the foundation of the X-Men as they are seen in First Class and beyond.
I feel that the featurettes that were included here are a key reason why individuals will stay interested in X-Men films. The “X Marks the Spot” mode is a pop-up video for the movie – interesting and otherwise unknown facts are provided at a regular basis. The Children of the Atom documentary is a full 70 minutes; it provides one with a look into all facets of the movies. How one takes storylines from the comics and transfers them into a video format, the types of characters that they ultimately wanted to use, and a discussion into the possible sequel options that they have are all here. What results in the X-Men: First Class combo pack is something that has tremendous value; it will be the perfect type of holiday gift for anyone that is a fan of comics or of the X-Men series of films.
Rating: 8.7/10
X-Men: First Class (Blu-Ray) / 2011 Fox / 132 Minutes / http://www.fox.com