"American Reunion" Review by Chris

Jim, Oz, Kevin, Finch and Stifler are back on the silver screen after a 13-year absence, but have they been gone too long for a sequel? The short answer is yes. After 13 years, a little maturity from adult characters is expected, but it seems like time stood still for these guys. There are plenty of cookie cutter back-stories for what each character has been doing, but their individual details form only sub plots, while "getting laid" is still the focus of the "story."

But none of that stops this from being a hilarious and raunchy film. Being a "reunion" movie, some humor references the original film, but the majority is new, while still capturing the same awkward, fan-pleasing, “American Pie” humor. The characters also hold to their classic shtick: Stifler remains an ass, Finch is mysterious, and the moments between Jim and his father (Eugene Levy) continue to steal the show. Like seeing old friends, it feels comfortable and easy to fit back into their lives.

That comfort isn't necessarily a good thing though. Despite all the new jokes, it begins to feel like we've seen this all before. The humor and story follow the same patterns of previous films, and the characters all act like desperate high school students. Things like marriage, children and careers have barely affected them. It seems like the story is picking up where it left off 13 years ago.

"American Reunion" is a hilarious film that keeps the laughs rolling. The humor is still funny today, but unlike the characters, the film’s target audience has matured and moved on with their lives. Like a real high school reunion, you'll have fun seeing everyone again and when it's over, you'll go back to your life, forget about them, and say to yourself, “thank god I got that over with.”

2.5 "Flutes" out of 5

Written by Chris
Edited by Aaron

"X-men First Class" review and illustration by Chris

To get this out of the way, "First Class" makes little effort to be part of the continuity established by the first four X-men movies, but that’s one of its strengths. If you remove "X-men Origins" and "X3" from the timeline (and honestly, who would blame you?) you can maintain some continuity through the series, but it's best just to ignore what you've seen before and enjoy this adventure solo.

This movie is nothing like the comic books either, especially compared to the "X-men: First Class" series. They take character traits, powers and appearance and put them in a timeline that doesn’t exactly make sense. If, like the continuity, you can set that aside and consider this its own universe, you'll see that all the changes have made this a much more accessible film.

The story focuses on the friendship of Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender). Both desire happiness and acceptance for mutants, but in drastically different forms, and their rivaling opinions drive the story and make it difficult to decide which one is right. Their relationship alone would have been enough to build a solid movie, but side characters like Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) shine on their own as well. Although a childhood friend of Charles, Raven finds a like mind in Erik, who causes her to rethink her beliefs. Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon) fills the role of villain almost to the point of overflowing. His plans manipulate humans on the global scale and an ability to absorb energy makes him almost invincible. He's the villain that you love to hate, making him the perfect counterpart for Erik who is struggling to not become a villain himself.

The other mutants are all great additions as well, despite being a little less hashed-out. None of the battles would be as exciting without them, and what battles there are. Whether it's one on one or one versus an army, each fight is brilliantly choreographed and easy to follow. None of the characters are so powerful that the fights are a breeze. Their struggles keep them feeling like, truly, the first class of x-men trying to figure it all out. The power of each character is unique and the visuals are spectacular. Whether it's red energy blasts from Havok or the stunning diamond form of Emma Frost, each has a personal flare that grabs the eye.

"X-men first class" isn't without its flaws. During a few zooms and reveals there is a weird visual warping at the edge of the shot. It's brief and doesn't ruin anything, but it is noticeable and doesn't feel intentional. There are many cameo shots, such as a glimpse at a young Storm and the cameo of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), that are great for the fans but aren't necessary to the film. They just add to its already extensive length. These moments could have been removed for the sake of time to keep the movie more self-contained.

Despite its inaccuracy and lack of continuity, "X-men First Class" is a grand adventure that you should experience. Anyone who's seen the films or read the comics won't be surprised by the plot twists, but everything is told in a fresh way that makes it worth the time. This is a super super hero movie that sets a high bar.

Four "X genes" out of Five!

Written by Chris
Edited by Aaron