Tuesday, May 27, 2008

X-flick sentiments

Hex of X
(The X-men Chronicles part 3 of 4, published in Panay News)
“Some people fail to see beyond their two eyes”
Kurt Wagner AKA Nightcrawler
Like the vastness of the universe, there’s so much tales to be told about the X-men mythology. Comic book stories aren’t all about kid stuff and childish in wider perspective. Like any other fictions and real-life drama, the super-powered beings often feared or hated by the judgmental society called “mutants” are humans too, real people who also learns to dream and live a normal life.
After all, the validity of being human isn’t all about having normal looks or characters that conform to society’s norms. But having a heart that embraces compassion and affirm other’s existence makes someone a better human being.
X2: X-men United debuted in worldwide cinemas in May 6, 2002. History reveals that the film sold more than $ 214, 948 alone in North America that certified X2 as a worldwide blockbuster film of 2002. Reuniting with the old cast, they were joined by new set of Hollywood actors like Alan Cumming as the teleporter blue-skined Nightcrawler and Kelly Hu as the vicious Lady Deathstrike. Of course, a bunch of comic book characters had cameo roles like Colossus, Shadowcat, Jubillee, Beast and the temperamental Pyro.
As usual, the sequel tackles disturbing social issues similar to our present world, mutant hysteria is worsening and normal humans are restless with the existence of different few. In the beginning of the film, Nightcrawler engaged in a ferocious fight to assassinate the US president as if he is mentally controlled by an unknown force. Charles Xavier and his X-men were alarmed that Nightcrawler’s move would trigger a war between humans and mutants.
The untamed fighting-beast, Wolverine has just gone back from his search for his gloomy origin. The telekinetic Dr. Jean Grey underwent inner struggles to suppress an unexplained rising of a vicious force inside her. Her lover, Cyclops was concerned for Jean’s erratic behavior.
The young mutant apprentices Bobby Drake/Iceman, Rogue and Pyro deals with growing-up, teenage relationships and developing mutant abilities. Meanwhile, Mystique freed Magneto from his plastic-made prison as Cyclops and Xavier were mysteriously kidnapped by the new villain, Lady Deathstrike under Col. Jeff Stryker.
Worse, the school for gifted youngsters or Xavier’s Mansion was invaded by Strykers’ forces to capture its young mutant residents and take hold of Xavier’s invention called Cerebro. The remaining X-men had no choice but to runaway for their lives and regroup to rescue Xavier and Cyclops from the clutches of Col. Stryker. Stryker viciously devised a plan to mind-wipe all the existing mutants around the world with use of Xavier under the mental manipulation of his mutant son Mastermind and the Cerebro.
Stryker is responsible behind the threatening mutant hysteria and a madman obsessed to eliminate mutantkind due to his frustration over his own mutant son- Mastermind. His move proved to be a relevant reflection of Hitler’s World War II madness and lunatic schemes that cost millions of lives during the holocaust.
But the X-men were righteously brought up by Xavier’s dream of human-mutant co-existence. The X-men joined forces with Magneto to oppose Stryker and their action proved to be triumphant. But for their archenemy, Magneto turned the situation to his advantage by using Mystique to counter the mind-wipe among the mutant population and redirect the attack to all human beings around the globe.
Storm’s elemental prowess and Nightcrawler’s teleporting ability thwarted the jaded Mastermind from using Xavier to mind-wipe humanity. With Wolverine’s encounter with Stryker and his ferocious to-the-death-fight with Lady Deathstrike, it leaves hanging queries about Stryker’s connection regarding his dark past.
The young Pyro abandoned his vow to the team and escape with Magneto. Moreover, the confused Jean Grey struggling with her own inner demon, she uses her expanding powers to sacrifice her life and save her family-the X-men in the midst of a rampaging flood due to a shattered dam.
Her death was deeply mourned by the X-men. Worse, Cyclops (Jean’s lover) and team mate Wolverine, two men longing for her affection were deeply saddened. In her words before she embraced death while red-fiery energy veiling her body, “...this is the only way, goodbye!” we can conclude that this mutant mythology is far from over (though Xavier and his X-men prevented a declaration of war among the mutant population by the US president in the end of the film).
In fact, brilliant writer/director Bryan Singer was definitely prepared to push the limits further by toppling what Chris Claremont (prominent writer for various X-men titles) did in the comic book realm to relive a tragic storyline that destined the X-men to rise from the ashes towards greater fame.
Is it a prelude to the Phoenix Saga?
But Singer wasn’t prepared for consequential backlashes: his lavish production plans were dropped by the producers, cast tensions and project abandonment...
The Asian release of X-men 3: The Last Stand in theaters is two days ahead its US
debut. If you want to be a member of the mutant friendster-like website, check out or sign in at www.x-planet.net for awesome web surfing and chat forums.
(To be continued)
writer's note: No matter how we say it but sometimes the world is a dark, lonely place for souls who are different. Most of the time, the world failed to see the light inside them and the passion they posses to change the world. The X-men is a reflection this real world revolving in an endless cycle of enmity. I must say that my difference is a gift that I must turn into a something good to end the curse bestowed upon me and those who share the same dellimma.

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