X-Men Movies: The next film will be set in the 1990's

In what certainly is a trend of era settings after beginning the franchise anew with the X-Men Prequel films starting with 2011's "X-Men: First Class", X-Men Movies producer  Simon Kinberg has confirmed to Coming Soon that the next installment will be set in the 1990's, a period when the mutants were handled famously by artist Jim Lee and writer Chris Claremont, split into Teams "Blue" and "Gold" and the New Mutants evolved into X-Force.

While no details were privy after Kinberg confirmed the setting, it does follow the decade pattern that started with the 1960's in First Class, followed by the 1970's in 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past, and then now in the 1980's with this year's upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse. What the next film will be about is anyone's guess, but it will certainly be interesting if it still involved James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender's Professor X and Magneto, or spinoff to a new group of mutant protagonists.

X-Men: Apocalypse, the latest film in the series, will open on May 18 internationally and May 27 in the US.

X-Men: Apocalypse: New Theatrical Trailer released

After releasing two posters that showcase Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen and Charles Xavier and his X-Men, 20th Century Fox and Marvel have released a brand new theatrical trailer for "X-Men: Apocalypse" that pretty much seals the deal that it is going to be one intense new film in the new timeline started by X-Men: First Class.

Check out the trailer below.


X-Men: Apocalypse hits theaters on May 27 in the US.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past: First look at Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique!

Continuing his trend of set photo teases from his official Twitter page, director Bryan Singer has revealed this awesome photo of Jennifer Lawrence reprising her role at the shapeshifting mutant Mystique in the upcoming new X-Men film for 2014 "X-Men: Days Of Future Past"! Embracing her heritage this time around, Lawrence is looking like how Rebecca Romijn played the role back in the first three X-Men films, with no clothing and all revealing in blue!

Based on the 1981 X-Men comic book storyline of the same name by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, Days Of Future Past puts Singer back in the director's chair since X2: X-Men United, and will see him combining acting talents spanning all the films of the X-Men film franchise by 20th Century Fox and Marvel!

With the likes of X-Men film veterans Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Ian McKellen teaming with the cast of the 2011 film X-Men: First Class like James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, this will be one film of epic proportions that fans dare not miss.

For more details and information, visit Superherohype and Bryan Singer's official Twitter page.

X-Men: Days Of Future Past is slated for release on July 18, 2014.

Hugh Jackman officially returns as Wolverine in X-Men: Days of Future Past

After a buzz of speculation of classic X-appearances would happen in the next X-Men film helmed by Bryan Singer, it's been officially confirmed that Hollywood star Hugh Jackman will be reprising his role once more as Wolverine in the next X-Flick, X-Men: Days of Future Past! Based on the classic 80's storyline by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, the new X-Flick is a sequel to the 2011 hit X-Men: First Class, and sees the mutants time-hopping to a dystopian future featuring their older selves!

X-Men: Days of Future Past sees the return of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen

Announced in his official Twitter page and then reported by Marvel.com, Bryan Singer is bringing back legendary actors Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen to play their signature roles of Professor X and Magneto in 20th Century Fox's upcoming sequel to X-Men: First Class - X-Men: Days of Future Past. Their younger selves in the successful 2011 X-Flick played by James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender will also be returning, as well as Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games) and Nicholas Hoult, who will reprise their roles as Mystique and Beast respectively.

Remembering Great Things About 2011!

As we approach the end of 2011 and the beginning of a new year, I can't think of anything better or appropriate to describe my wishes for 2012 other than this simple panel from the Batman Adventures Holiday Special issue, featuring a quiet and tender discussion between two old friends of justice, The Dark Knight Batman and Police Commissioner James Gordon.

Seriously though, it's time for an annual list of popculture related things I found memorable within the year, and boy are there a lot to enumerate. Next year still ushers in The Dark Knight Rises, but this year also had big moments for the Caped Crusader, and he'll be featured extensively as I go on. Here goes some of the stuff I found so memorable for 2011.

COMICS: DC The New 52

Yes the big reboot. Call me biased or a sucker for Jim Lee's artistic talents, but I do love it when a plan, or in this case big gamble comes together, and 2011 saw the relaunch of the DC Universe in a somewhat new and unexpected way. Sure, it divided the comic continuity in a way where they weren't sure how taking the undies would make a difference, but it certainly sold numbers by the record, highlighted by the dominance of the publisher's flagship team-up title, Justice League, which is written by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. Other nods go to Scott Snyder's Batman run, Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman's Animal Man, and Grant Morrison's take on a younger Superman in Action Comics. Those books fared well. There are titles that have their flaws though, such as ones that treat heroines like sex objects (Starfire in Red Hood and the Outlaws) and books that readers fail to grasp like The Fury of Firestorm, but it's only been 5 months since the relaunch as of this writing, and it would be unfair to lay judgement right away without seeing a full year of this gamble take its course. So yes, 2011 in comics definitely was highlighted by DC The New 52. It was a big year indeed.


GAMES: Batman: Arkham City

Best. Comic. Book. Video. Game. Sequel. Ever. If you thought 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum was a sophisticated and brilliant piece of work, this will blow you off the edge, much like how Christopher Nolan raised his bar by making The Dark Knight an even better movie sequel to Batman Begins! The Dark Knight reigned supreme in 2011 in terms of comics and games alright. Just wait til 2011 for the epic conclusion to Nolan's Batman universe!




TV SHOW: Game Of Thrones

I'd be lying if I said The Walking Dead Season 2 was my favorite pick of this year. No, that honor goes to HBO's live action TV series adaptation of George R.R Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels, using the title of the first book of the series as its name - "Game of Thrones". As the name implies, the series evokes a world where chivalry is all but dead and treachery and conspiracy run rampant, as different factions fight and battle one another for the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms, not knowing what evil is slowly crawling out of the shadows. Martin has been called the "Modern J.R.R Tolkien", so that's saying a lot, plus Sean "Boromir" Bean of The Lord of The Rings fame is here as Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell... How can you go wrong with epic here?!

MOVIES: X-Men First Class

Frankly, it was a toss between this and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, but you can't go wrong with a formula that brings a classic Marvel superhero franchise together with an excellent cast and a near flawless script. The fact that this movie begs to be a semi-reboot of the X-Men film series bolds well for the franchise, and James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender outperformed themeselves as Charles Xavier and Magneto, leading to the birth of the "FassAvoy" and "McBender" era of internet memes. Actually, the origin also got accepted and embraced somewhat into mainstream Marvel continuity, so how's that for a domino effect. Definitely, X-Men First Class deserves the top spot for my movie of 2011!

ANIMATED MOVIE: Batman: Year One

Yes. This one takes the cake for perfectly adapting one of the most recognizable and seminal works of DC Comics, not to mention one of the series that returned Batman back to his darker roots. If you haven't watched this DC Animated Movie feature, I implore you to do so!

MUSIC: Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger ft. Christina Aguilera

As for BEST SONG, there are too many to count... But honorable mention is THIS:




Maroon 5 - Moves Like Jagger ft. Christina Aguilera

And there you have it... The Best I could pick out for 2011! 2012 is here, so Happy New Year!

Movie Review: X-Men: First Class

Simple. Effective. Astonishing.

These words epitomize what could be described as the greatest prequel, possible reboot, and much needed jumpstarter of a comic book film franchise full of potential and stories to exploit. Despite the ups and downs it has generated with the four films it has amassed over the years, there's no denying that the X-Men movies are some of the boldest and greatest works in film history which I have had the privilege of viewing since it all started back in 1999. True, it all boils down to the people behind the project, most notably scriptwriters like David Hayter and the careful and crafty hands of a director like Bryan Singer, but when Singer packed his bags and left the X-Franchise to direct Superman Returns, a void was left wide open for 20th Century Fox to fill as the pressure and demand for more sequels opened up. Matthew Vaughn was initially brought in as a replacement, but after only making some casting choices, he soon dropped out due to family concerns and the fact that time constraints wouldn't produce the movie he wanted. Rush Hour director Brett Ratner filled that gap, and soon Fox released the lukewarm X-Men: The Last Stand to complete the trilogy with mixed reactions from the fanbase in general. A few years later, X-Men Origins: Wolverine was released, a spin-off vehicle for Hugh Jackman's character of Wolverine would explore the origins of the feral mutant, only for the Gavin Hood directed film to receive mixed reactions as well, with fans lamenting on how the once mighty X-Men franchise has fallen from the good to the obscure.

All that changes now. Like I said, X-Men: First Class is that game changer the franchise needed to turn the tide and bring it back into the halls of praise and worship fans will so definitely line into. Helmed by Matthew Vaughn, with a returning Bryan Singer co-producing and co-writing the screenplay, this prequel movie redefines the timeless and somewhat analog tale of mutants for the new generation, and it works for the most part. The key elements here are storytelling and casting, and despite being a superhero movie this flick can be considered one of the best blends of both that I've ever seen.

Movie: X-Men: First Class

Starring: James McAvoy, MichaelFassbender, Rose Byrne, January Jones, Kevin Bacon

Directed By: Matthew Vaughn

Set primarily in the 1960's during the era of the Cold War, X-Men: First Class introduces audiences to a younger Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr, whose origins are explored and destinies are intertwined as they face a common threat that will threaten the futures of both human and mutantkind. Growing up with the dream of meeting and uniting others like himself, Xavier believes in a peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans, while Lehnsherr reflects a darker upbringing wrought with tragedy, fear, and pain, foreshadowing his eventual path of pursuing a war between his race and normal people. Before all that transpires, these two unlikely individuals meet and become the best of friends, working together to stop a mad mutant with nuclear war ambitions alongside a ragtag band of mutants, thus forming a team that will come to be known in the future as "X-Men".

X-Men: First Class Theatrical Trailer

I have to say - the casting is literally perfect for this movie. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Kevin Bacon stole the show for me right here, and their roles as Charles Xavier, Erik Lehnsherr, and Sebastian Shaw were priceless. I was expecially fond of Fassbender, who starred previously in movies like 300 and Jonah Hex. He played his part exceptionally well, and delivered the kind of intensity and anger necessary to portray the man who would eventually become Magneto. Heck, since the setting and many of his scenes in this movie shout "James Bond", the man could very well be a potential candidate for the franchise in the future. I was very impressed with his performance, and this film would serve well to catapult his career even further down the line. That's not to say that James McAvoy was overshadowed either. The "Shameless" and "Wanted" star also played a convincing young Charles Xavier, and he's got the demeanor and accent of the character down to a tee. The chemistry between these two bring the movie to life, which is only enhanced further by the rest of the cast starring in this movie. Oh, and Kevin Bacon's still got his chops for acting alright. His Sebastian Shaw may look more charming than intimidating, but that's the whole point behind his character, and he plays the part of a formidable antagonist well.

Story wise, I love how they crafted and managed to insert the early beginnings of mutant warfare into a 1960's setting and pay homage in turn to the James Bond movies of that era by adding a unique blend of espionage and technological wonder that goes well with all the mutant action the audience is craving for. Fans will be delighted (or disappointed) to see how some classic faces and devices from the X-Men's comic history are brought to life in this movie. I especially grew fond of the film's version of the Hellfire Club. Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost, Azazel, and Riptide make for one heck of a bad guy line-up, but that's not to say that the young and first class of X-Men are pushovers either. It's a good blend of energetic and talented youngsters, and besides Charles and Erik, we have Banshee, Beast, Havoc, and Mystique, and we see how they use and adapt to their powers through the course of the movie. While there may be some continuity issues, the film also does well to establish relationships and ties between these characters that were or were not explored in previous X-Films. Heck, you get to see one heck of a cameo in this movie, but it isn't a post credits scene. You'll get what I mean once you sit down and watch this from start to finish, and if you're an X-Men movie fan, you're definitely going to get a kick out of it.

Bottomline, X-Men: First Class is definitely a must see for the diehard fan or uninitiated. Despite being a superhero film in general, anybody looking for a straightforward movie to watch will be surprised to see the great production values and talents this movie has to offer. I may have been impressed by Thor a month ago, but this takes the cake, and could possibly be the best Marvel/ superhero flick, heck even one of THE BEST MOVIES OF 2011. If there was anyway to reinvigorate a franchise, Matthew Vaughn and Bryan Singer have certainly gotten the formula and overdid themselves here. Simply Astonishing.

Rating - 5/5

X-Men First Class Update: More TV Spots!

Marvel.com and Superherohype have posted up some new TV Spots to promote the newest film and prequel to the X-men franchise, X-Men: First Class! The latter site also has some new photos, showing off a stunning and sexy January Jones as Emma Frost! Check out SHH for more pics and info, while seeing the new TV Spots in the embedded players below.

X-Men: FIrst Class TV Spot 9
Marvel.com's X-Men: First Class TV Spot 2

X-Men: First Class arrives with the mutant population in theaters this June!

X-men First Class Update: A New teaser poster, TV Spot, and French Trailer!

Besides this new teaser poster appearing about a week or so ago, Screen Rant has posted up these cool looking X-Men: First Class trailers, one of which gives viewers a look at a very young Charles Xavier, Raven Darkholme, and Erik Lehnsherr (aka Professor X, Mystique, and Magneto respectively). It's just a quick TV Spot, but pretty awesome to check out for those short extra scenes not seen in any of the previous theatrical trailers shown already.

X-Men: First Class TV Spot
There's also a new French trailer that also has a few new scenes, including more Magneto moments. For that as well as other updates, check out the source post at Screen Rant.

X-Men: First Class debuts in theaters this June 3.

X-men First Class Update: New International Trailer and Poster debuts!

After seeing that epic looking theatrical trailer a few hours back, a new international trailer has been released for 20th Century Fox and Marvel's X-Men First Class! This one's a new cut that features new scenes and builds up the story of the movie quite well, so check it out in the embedded player below!

X-Men First Class International Trailer

Also, Yahoo! has released a new poster for the movie. It's not exactly an improvement over the last few disappointing posters, but it's not bad either. For more info, check out the source post at Slash Film!

X-Men First Class delivers the first of Xavier's team on June 1st this year!

X-men First Class Theatrical Trailer Debuts!

Fresh off seeing the local premiere of Marvel Studios' "Thor" (which I shall review soon!), and now a new trailer for another of their superhero flicks emerges!

As posted in Yahoo! Movies and Slash Film, 20th Century Fox has released the full theatrical trailer to their X-men prequel flick directed by Matthew Vaughn - "X-men First Class". This new trailer boasts the same epic sounding score and majority of the sequences found in the teaser released a few months back, but more dialogue, scenes, and interaction between the characters are found here, giving viewers more insight into the movie that tells the early days of Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr when they worked together as allies alongside other young mutants. Check out the trailer in the embedded player below!

X-men First Class reveals itself to theaters this June 3!

X-men First Class Trailer Debuts!

After a long wait, here it is! The first trailer of the prequel that will set the stage of war between Mutants and Humans and Professor X and Magneto begins here, as X-men: First Class finally has footage for fans to squeal and talk about! Take a look at it here, courtesy of the official Facebook page of the movie, You Tube, and Slash Film!

X-men: First Class Trailer

X-men First Class, directed by Matthew Vaughn and starring the likes of James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, will unveil Mutants to the world for the first time on June 3, 2011!