X-Men First Class 1-2* X-rated

Preview. Confusingly cuts around the world, excessively violent. Male costumes fully cover up, females' are bare and tight. In 1944 Holocaust camp, Nazi Schmidt aka Shaw (Kevin Bacon) murders mother of Jewish Erik Lensherr (Michael Fassbender) to provoke telekinesis, and gives boy coin that expands and becomes title. In NY kitchen, rich boy Charles Xavier (James McAvoy - I keep seeing him learn assassin trade from mentor Angelina Jolie in amazing Wanted) offers food and home to hungry blue shape-shifter Raven/ Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence). Shaw kills mama, gives Erik coin that expands to title.

In 1962, Erik follows Shaw from Geneva to Argentina, "Frankenstein's monster looking for his creator". Charles saves Erik from sacrificing self; Erik covinces Charles the Cerebrus helmet that finds other mutants, although created by CIA's Hank/ Beast (Nicholas Hoult) - nerd with crush on Raven, can help the duo recruit without official interference. Shaw stays young by absorbing energy, picks up his own telepath Emma Frost (January Jones) flaunting skin, polar hideout, and aligns with Russians who make helmet that blocks mind-reading.

Explosions and violent murders by the bad guys versus tying up and running by good guys escalate to the confrontation Cuban missile crisis and exploding ships. Charles demonstrates ability to change individual commands, why does he not stop the missile orders? The finale makes even less sense than previous side-swapping. The rest of the team have characters about as deeply developed as the Hugh Jackman cameo, where he brushes off Erik and Charles. Attempt to humanize motives, balance fails, Charles = white, others = black.

Extras: Making of = staff interview talking heads to stills. Dull.

Gnomeo & Juliet 5*

Lady Gaga sings with Elton John in my favorite scene the night flower meeting Preview Animated garden gnomes are in a split duplex: Capulet red magnificently courageously vital Juliet, and Montague blue, her equal, Romeo. (James McAvoy). (Means more in British accents - The Manchester United "Reds" and Chelsea "Blues" have near a century of competition in English Premier League soccer football.)

The motherless maiden, and fatherless garden rulers' only children are lucky daredevils. Elton John (he modified himself) songs both pump up emotion for important events, such as race between houses, and midnight raids, our couple disguised in black, and hint truth in the background, "How wonderful life is when you're in the world". I'm not a fan of musicals where people burst into song and dance unreasonably; this hits the spot. Spotted tracker doggy "Shroom" and Cuban plastic flamingo Featherstone (Jim Cummings - TV Tigger, Pooh) add more humor. Spoonerisms at the start, sweetness throughout.

The casting is impeccable. Delightful to recognize red cantakerous curmudgeon Richard Wilson from One Foot in the Grave's similar Victor Meldrew, again over the fence (also Doctor Who's Dr Constantine, Merlin's mentor Gaius). Lead roles are voiced by James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, parents Lady Bluebury Maggie Smith and Lord Redbrick, oh well, Michael Caine. Juliet's frog nurse Nanette Ashley Jensen I didn't remember from Phlegma the Fierce (added to the wonderful animated film, not in Book 1, How to Train Your Dragon). Who could do a better Terrafirminator than a real wrestler, like Hulk Hogan? Jason Statham, known for fierce fictional race-car driving, fills the same role in red Tybalt. Patrick Stewart is Shakespeare statue. Parton is the one and only Dolly in the world.

Spoiler: At the chorus finale, I couldn't help mourn the death. Thankfully, in the Disney world, clay bodies can be glued.

Extras:

Features show setting is Stratford-on-Avon. Opening, endings, deleted scenes were unused for good reasons. Worst part is repeated "see what you think" by director. GSI investigators, ruse wedding, quarrelling weathervanes just hohum in storyboard versions. I expected to see London in the credits, but Toronto? Nelly Furtado?

Did you know Don Featherstone invented the pink plastic flamingo in 1957, produced in pairs, signed on the backsides, and much other garden kitsch sculpture? Hunh.