Archeological examination of bones from medieval battle sites show that, in man-to-man combat, most wounds were on the legs.  This makes perfect sense, as a combatant needn't be dead to be rendered completely ineffective with a broadsword, he simply needs to be out on his ass.  In making the medieval British actioner Ironclad, however, director Jonathan English thankfully opted for theatricality over historical accuracy, and as a result, the film is satisfyingly packed with the old ultra-violence.  An enterprising YouTuber has compiled some of the film's best and biggest kills into one splatterific edit featuring Paul Giamatti, James Purefoy, and lots of viscera.

In the medieval action epic Ironclad, Paul Giamatti plays King John, a despotic ruler intent on brutally subjugating the people of England.  When he and his forces move against one small castle, they find it unexpectedly defended by a tenacious band of the baddest knights in the land, led by James Purefoy and Jason Flemyng.  What follows is a brutal, months-long siege pitting a small force of determined fighters against the king's seemingly endless military forces.  There is, of course, no shortage of bloody, sword-swinging action, which is on display in these six exclusive new images from Ironclad.

Looking at any superhero, fashion is clearly an important component in superheroics.  In their cinematic adventures so far, the X-Men have typically worn tight black leather costumes, but in the new franchise prequel X-Men: First Class, Charles Xavier's (James McAvoy) inaugural group of gifted youngsters wear snazzy flight suits that better reflect the 1962 setting and the film's comic book roots.  More importantly, the new X-installment shows the origin of the iconic helmet sported by Magneto (Michael Fassbender).  To place the striking new look of Magneto's favorite accessory in the proper historical and aesthetic context, IAR presents selected versions of the helmet from its nearly 50 year history.

With X-Men: First Class little more than a week away, it's time to ask yourself how much of the film you want to spoil.  Six new clips from the film contain oodles and oodles of mutant action, but they also include important, and even climactic, action beats that will probably play better in the context of the final film.  Still, if your Thursday could use some mutant powers, then these clips – which feature Michael Fassbender, James McAvoy, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, Jason Flemyng, Lucas Till, and Caleb Landry Jones all using their abilities to the fullest – could make your day.

We're less than two weeks away from the release of director Matthew Vaughn's prequel X-Men: First Class, and early word from those who've seen the film, including IAR's own Jami Philbrick, is every shade of positive.  That news, while a relief, is likely to make the wait seem even longer for a long of X-fans out there, and we've got some goodies to stoke the fires of your anticipation.  Eight new international posters highlight individual characters in the ensemble, while a new TV spot throws down with a lot of visual effects, action, and Michael Fassbender's Magneto making a bold statement.

When is a sequel not a sequel?  When it is a prequel, of course.  If this summer's X-Men: First Class proves successful for Fox, the studio will be more than happy to move ahead with another installment of 1960's-set mutant happenings, and we'll be looking at a sequel to a prequel; a pre-sequel or a se-prequel.  In fact, if the proposed First Class trilogy happens, the X-Men prequel films will outnumber those in the original timeline, since X-Men Origins: Wolverine was also a prequel.  Strange times.  Anyways, two new international posters for the next round of mutant action have hit, and they features much of our the new ensemble, with James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender leading the way.

Hey, remember the really nifty X-Men: First Class trailer that was crazy impressive, despite all the dialogue being in Russian?  You know, the one that showcased Michael Fassbender's Magneto and the huge scale of the prequel's Cuban Missile Crisis storyline?  The trailer is now available online in English, so those of us who don't speak Russian can understand what James McAvoy is actually saying.  Check it out, courtesy of traileraddict.

Kick-Ass director Matthew Vaughn was, for a time, set to direct the third film in the X-franchise, X-Men: The Last Stand, but he departed the project and was replaced by Brett Ratner.  He's back with the franchise now and directing the prequel X-Men: First Class, and it looks like the 1962 setting of the film has allowed Vaughn to cut loose stylistically in ways that The Last Stand would not.  The print edition of Empire Magazine (via Movieweb) has premiered new images of the cast, including James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, January Jones, and Jennifer Lawrence.  Give the photos a gander.

"Mad Men" actress January Jones and rock and roll royalty Zoe Kravitz have both joined Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class, reports Deadline.com. The two board a cast that literally grows larger by the day - yesterday we wrote about Oliver Platt and Jason Flemyng joining up, and the day before that we touted the Rose Byrne announcement. At the moment, there are approximately 3,259 actors in the film, and there's no sign of letting up...

Thespians Oliver Platt and Jason Flemyng are the latest names added to Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class - and is it me or has this movie had the longest casting process ever? Well, in any event, the production better get moving along, because the film's June 3rd 2011 release date must loom over the team like a cloud...