Part 3: Professor X talks to Magneto

5:57 - 9:21 (3:24)

Cut to Washington, and this time we don't get a helpful subtitle telling us where we are because who needs consistency? Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) is talking to congress about mutants and advocating for against some anti-mutant legislation. Some dickhole senator (Bruce Davison) interrupts to tell us that mutants are to be feared. And here we get our real first evidence that this isn't going to be a GREAT movie. Not only do we get a lame ass introduction to an important character but we get a whole chunk of clumsy non-dramatic world building dialogue. Show not tell, guys. Come on!

After the testimony we watch Professor X (Captin Jean Luc Picard, nailing it!) follow the now fully adult Magneto (Gandalf the Grey, also nailing it!) out into the hallway and we get this nice exchange that sets up the central conflict of the movie:

XAVIER: Erik. What are you doing here?
ERIK: Why do you ask questions to which you already know the answers?
XAVIER: Don't give up on them, Erik.
ERIK: What would you have me do, Charles? I've heard these arguments before.
XAVIER: That was a long time ago. Mankind has evolved since then.
ERIK: Yes... Into us.
ERIK: Are you sneaking around in there, Charles? Whatever are you looking for?
XAVIER: I'm looking for hope.
ERIK: I will give you hope, old friend. And I ask only one thing in return. Don't get in my way.
ERIK: We are the future, Charles, not them. They no longer matter.   

Patrick Stewart and Ian Mckellen absolutely embody these roles and make all their line readings awesome. I also love that although they are on complete opposite sides philosophically they're always polite and friendly in their personal exchanges. They give off a real history and it comes across in the performances and writing.

I also love this production detail on the wheels of Professor X's wheelchair. It's a friggin' X.