| I
really enjoyed this movie, first I watched with pen in
hand to critique it, but then (and I don't do this often)
I watched it again for the fun of it. I should point out
that I didn't like it because it's main characters were
psychics, I liked it because it sent out a message to
young and old alike regarding discrimination and the difficulties
it can cause to the entire population beyond the individuals
or group it is aimed at. Because of it's overall message
I feel that this is an important movie in the spiritual
genre this year. Why important? Because before one can
understand the basic philosophies of psychic spirituality
which is haphazardly thrown around in the current new-age
industry, one must first understand where these philosophies
came from to begin with; that is, one must understand
the psychic peoples themselves. |
I particularly liked the School in which psychics (please
don't call us mutants by the way) are free to be themselves
and yet must learn the value of being as vulnerable to emotions
and daily life tribulations as anyone else. I also appreciated
that the movie pointed out the following little understood
issues regarding psychism:
- Not all psychics have the same or multiple abilities
- Psychics are genetically gifted and being born psychic is
the only way to achieve the abilities
- Psychics have rules and etiquette standards regarding the
use of their abilities which is not just understood by the
psychic rather it is something taught and learned.
(A KD Golden Rule : just because you can -- intrude on other's
thoughts, etc. -- doesn't mean you should.)
- Not all psychics are nice people
- Just because one is psychic doesn't mean they know how to
use their ability, what their ability is, how not to hurt
themselves or anyone else with it, or when (when
not) to use it appropriately
- Not all psychics are teachers, and even teachers make mistakes
(KD's golden rule: psychics must remember that they
are human first, psychic second!)
- While psychism is a genetic aberration, we can call ourselves
mutants but we don't like it when outsider's use the term,
it's considered demeaning…well, obviously we psychics have
our pet peeves too!
- Psychics come from all walks in life
- Psychics have more important things to do that just sit
around talking to "dead things"; that is to say: we live in
the here and now like everyone else and our insight
does not necessarily make life easier for us. There is more
but the telling of it would ruin the movie and
as we use the reviews in an educational format, I wouldn't
be doing you a favor if I did all your homework
for you! It's a good movie, watch, learn, have fun. The following
will assist you in learning while you watch.
The Movie Crew:
From the original Marvel Comic Book series X-Men by Stan Lee
Story by: Tom DeSanto & Bryan Singer Screenplay by David Hayter
Produced by Lauren Shuler Donner and Ralph Winter Executive
Producers: Avi Arad, Stan Lee, Richard Donner, Tom DeSanto
Filmed in Toronto, Canada
Cast:
I have listed the psychic abilities of each character in more
accurate terminology than the writer's provided.
Magneto:
(Ian McKellen), Telekinetic and Energy Manipulation particular
and limited to magnetic energies and properties (metals) Professor
Charles Xavier:
(Patrick Stewart), telepathic, subconscious infiltration
Rogue (Marie):
(Anna Paquin), Energy Vampire and absorbs others abilities
short term by skin touch only (*gloves wouldn't help as in
movie)
Wolverine (Logan):
(Hugh Jackman), regenerative psychokinesis with metal implants
(via surgery) on entire skeletal structure including weapons
that are psychokinetically utilized
Cyclops (Scott):
(James Marsden), Telekinesis and Pyrokinesis particular and
limited to visual range or visual directives
Jean:
telekinetic and telepathic according to the movie but I feel
she is more accurately described as a telekinetic and telempathic
than simply telepathic because of her reading of Wolverine
and the assessment she made on his personality for Professor
Xavier - she diagnosed his emotional standing (telempathically)
not just his intellectual properties (which would be telepathic).
Storm: (Halle Berry):
elemental telekinetic limited to controlling the weather.
Mystique: (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos):
psychokinesis particular to the glamour or changeling as is
commonly referred to.
Bobby:
energy manipulation specific to slowing elemental kinetic
energy (making ice), an opposite of pyrokinetic (creating
heat).
Sabertooth: (Tyler Mane):
a mutant with overall strength and psychical attributes of
a Lion. I am unsure as to what they were portraying as his
actual psychic ability(s) as he seemed more of a human with
a lion gene spliced in. A hybrid was all I gathered.
Toad: (Ray Park):
seems the same type as Sabertooth but is a human-frog hybrid.
Senator: (Bruce Davison): bigot/racist who is
turned into a mutant himself as poetic justice by Magneto,
but his body rejects it and results in his agonizing death
after he has sought Professor Xavier's assistance and sanctuary.
He dies with Storm in attendance who, despite this man's bigotry,
offers him compassion.
Xavier's School for Gifted Children:
(affectionately called Mutant High by it's students). The
Professor found the mutants (psychics), gathered them together,
sheltered them, educated them and they in return teach the
new generation of mutants. Xavier says to Jean that perhaps
he shouldn't have involved them in this (war with Magneto)
and just let them live their lives. Jean gracefully but adamantly
disagrees.
The Story:
I loved the scene when Jean reads Wolverine's mind after he
dares her or taunts her with the old "read my mind- afraid
you'll like it" schtick that psychics hear so often? Mutant
flirting so to speak.
Cyclops catches his girlfriend/wife Jean reading Wolverine's
mind. After realizing Cyclops has been watching them, Jean
and Wolverine act like they were caught doing something bad.
This is a truism, telepathy is by far more intimate than sex,
to another psychic this could indeed be perceived as an adulterous
action when done outside of business/spiritual requirement.
Used recreationally, telepathy and telempathy, are not considered
acceptable, particularly not when used to flirt or share deep
thoughts, dreams, goals - which is actually considered by
psychics to be adulterous. Many people don't realize they
are indeed cheating on their mate because they aren't having
extramarital sex. Having sex with a person other than one's
mate is not an accurate description of "having an affair".
The deep thoughts, goals, dreams, fears - the inner being
of oneself are something one shares to the fullest extent
with their life partner, it is the sacredness of the monogamous
relationship, part of the commitment two people share and
reserve for each other only; sharing one's inner self with
someone other than one's life partner is more often a deeper
stab of betrayal than the act of extra-marital sexual intercourse,
and better defines "cheating" from a psychic's perspective.
As in psychic circles, the telepaths of this movie always
stick together. It is one of the most difficult abilities
-- entering, viewing and interpreting another being's thoughts
and feelings. Jean is Charles Xavier's special student in
that he is helping her to expand her telepathic sense, and
as a telepath himself, finds an affinity with her that is
reliable and stable. She is the obvious choice as successor
to his position should he pass over. Once they are linked
this deeply, Jean would be hard put to lie to Xavier or to
betray him without him knowing it, even if he was using discipline
and following the "do not intrude" etiquette of psychic law.
He would automatically know if she was in trouble, lying,
and where she is both physically and mentally at most if not
all given times. Frankly this is one of the reasons telepaths
tend to isolate themselves and become hermits.
Cyclops has great personal control and reserve, good thing,
and while this is an essential quality in someone with abilities
that can be dangerous it is also, in it's realistic form (rather
than Hollywood abilities) required that discipline is maintained
24-7, sleeping offers no break. Some psychics are quite conservative
and actually even a bit rigid in their behavior because of
the self-control they must constantly be aware of. This self-awareness
has its ups and downs, the up side is that they are less likely
to accidentally hurt someone, the downside is that they can
become quite rigid in behavior.
Mystique really said it all when she told the senator (a bigot),
"People like you are the reason I was afraid to go to school".
The concept is that she wouldn't have turned out violent/bad
if she had not been exposed to bigots/racists during her lifetime
particularly at her most impressionable young ages. This movie
intimates that the "mutant" children lucky enough to be enrolled/attending/discovered
by Xavier's School for Gifted Children are protected from
discrimination while at the same time being taught of it's
repercussions, therefore they will turn out to be well adjusted
good guys. This isn't always true in real life, there are
psychics who are just nasty people and while discrimination
will have a hand in their behaviorism, it can't be blamed
for everything.
For more information, visit www.fox.com
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