Origin Stories - One Lump or More?

Is it harder to tell one origin story or multiple origin stories within one film? That’s the question that Marvel Studios had to answer this summer. With “The Avengers” now shooting, it’s necessary to fill in movies for all the lead characters to fill in the gaps. But at the same time, they also decided to reboot the “X-Men” franchise. So this summer gives us not only “X-Men: First Class”, they also gave us “Thor” and “Captain America” (to be reviewed later).

What’s the better choice? Multiple storylines – by a long shot.

Before I go much further, let me explain that I HAVE read some of the comics, and I have always found Thor to be the most boring character. He has no real intellect, and his superpower is a hammer. He speaks using outdated language. His alter-ego is a doctor. Yawn.

The cinematic version of “Thor” is just as boring. The villain is Thor’s brother Loki, who eventually becomes Sub-Mariner, but we don’t go there. Here he just whines a lot and looks like Magneto when he’s having a bad hair day (but looks better than Anthony Hopkins, tragically miscast). As far as effects go, the world of Asgard is brightly colored with more gold than an Oscar celebration. But once we get to Earth, everything falls flat. Natalie Portman puts in an appearance as geeky researcher Jane (the love interest), but unfortunately she has no chemistry with the lead. Kenneth Branagh would have done better to make another period piece than this dreck.

Conversely, “X-Men: First Class” is quite entertaining. It’s respectful to its predecessors but still stands as its own entity. I wanted to know the origin of the different mutants, some of which I was familiar with; others not.

The only downside is the involvement of the CIA Agent, played by Rose Byrne. Although I love her to death as an actress, her part wasn’t necessary. We know that the Government will get involved in all matters mutant-related, but to take it to that level was unneeded. James McAvoy NAILS being Professor Xavier, but Michael Fassbender steals the movie as Magneto, giving him a human side I hadn’t before seen. January Jones tries to show that she’s more than just Betty Draper, and she pulls off Femme Fatale Emma Frost as well as can be expected.

I know the previous “X-Men” franchise films were full of cameos, and the two here are right on the money. This film doesn’t suffer under the weight of any one lead character; it is a true ensemble film. That makes it even better. We don’t have to suffer through seeing everything from one point of view; it’s possible to see the story as a whole, which makes it more entertaining.

I concede that the Marvel Universe needs to be expanded. I just prefer the ensemble way to the solo variety. And I doubt VERY seriously that “Captain America” will be changing my mind on that.