Trailer: X-Men: Days of Future Past

I'm seriously freaking out right now.

Nostalgic Indulgence

It all started with one of my Facebook friends saying something to the tune of "You're never too old for Saturday morning cartoons." The was last Friday or Saturday. Over the next couple of days, I spent hours watching my favorite Saturday morning cartoon of all time (and one of my favorite shows of all time), "X-Men: The Animated Series." Over the last week, I've probably watch that and "X-Men: Evolution" more than is healthy. Oh well...

If you have read this blog enough, you know I'm a huge fan of the X-Men. I wasn't much of a reader during my youth (my, how THAT'S changed) so I wasn't as into the comics as I was into the show and the films that have come out since. Still, when I was a kid I wanted to be an X-Man when I grew up.

Anyway, as I was watching some clips on YouTube, I came across a comment that talked about how, unlike virtually all cartoons aimed at kids, this was a very adult show in terms of the themes that it dealt with (i.e. discrimination among others) as well as the intelligence of many of the characters. How many kids shows quote Emily Dickinson or discus mythology and philosophy, love and loss? While this is something that I was vaguely aware of at the time, it didn't really hit me until I read that comment. Then I thought that it was probably another reason that I loved that show then and still do today. I think this clip typifies what I'm talking about. Watch and try to think of other kids shows you remember like it:

With Great Power...

I just had a dream (not sure when I'll end up posting this, but I started writing this at 5:14 AM) that my sister and I were both on a television show called "No Ordinary people." The basic premise of the show is that it's was pretty much an X-Men live-action television show. During the part of the dream that I recall, we were watching on the street as a house was being floated down the road many feet up in the air as people stared in awe (it was supposed to be a display of someone's power) until it collided with another building at the end of the block. At the end of the scene, the character I was playing fainted in slow motion (which seemed to take forever to land). The strangest aspect was that at the beginning of the dream, it seemed like reality but towards the end, someone yelled cut and I realized (from an external perspective) that we were merely filming. 

Then I heard everyone around us clapping and celebrating. I guess that was a wrap on taping that episode. Craft Services had quite a spread, but it was a lot of sweets. Lots of sugary pastries and such. Then I woke up, probably because of the howling winds outside. Now I have the Herculean task of trying to get back to sleep...which never works out well.

I would have enjoyed the dream more if I had actually had powers in it... :(

Class Dismissed

What did I learn from X-Men: First Class?

-French sounds sexy, even when you are using it to threaten someone's life.

-Michael Fassbender, who played Erik Lensherr/Magneto is a total hottie. The name is probably unfamiliar, but maybe this will jog your memory:

Fassbender from "300"

-Nicholas Hoult, who played Hank McCoy/Beast (he's British) can do a hell of an American accent. Also, he makes glasses look hot.

Nicholas Hoult

Films set in the 60's (but filmed much later like this one was) have a really cool look to them.

The powers and stuff are really cool, and it's what really drew me to the X-Men as a kid. After all, who wouldn't want to be able to fly, be super strong, move things with your mind, or be psychic. I'm not a kid anymore and even though I still find that stuff awesome, I get it on a different level. Being persecuted just for being different and the way you were born is something all too many of us can relate to, in more ways than one. That thought crossed my mind several times while I was in the theatre. Even though I had made the connection before (having seen the other films, the television show, and the comic books), this film which takes place when humanity first discovers the existence of Mutants really hit the message home...which I did not expect in my excitement to see it.

All of that serious stuff aside, it was a great film and even if you have never even heard of the X-Men before you should see it. It was a hell of an experience.

Heading to Class (Redux)

Plans got scraped unfortunately so no X-Men last night (still went bowling though...don't ask my score, it was terrible). Luckily we rescheduled for this afternoon, so hopefully it pans out this time.

Heading to Class

I mentioned in a previous post that I'm a huge X-Men fan. Well, tonight is the night. X-Men: First Class comes out and I'm on my way to see a midnight showing (after some bowling, we're making a night of it). I have been looking forward to this film for a very long time which is ironic because when I first heard about it, I thought it was a joke and didn't believe it would happen. I will say that something I'm sad about is the fact that it isn't the original five that will be in the film (Cyclops, Jean, Iceman, Beast, and Angel). I guess if the film is good enough, I'll just get over that, though I find it very weird the Cyclops' little brother Havok is in this prequel given his capacity in the film. Still, super excited.

Won't be getting home until 3:00 am probably. Hope I can switch shifts tomorrow or I'm getting practically no sleep tonight.

Childhood "Obsession"

An image of the poster I have.

Ever since I was a kid, I have had a huge fascination with the X-Men. There is just something about being born with special powers that has always held my interest. "X-Men: The Animated Series" was pretty much my reason for waking up on Saturday mornings (at 10:00 am on Fox...yeah, I remember). I actually have a poster somewhere that has pretty much all of the main characters from the comic books of the X-Men universe on it (it was a pretty awesome find.

Dark Phoenix

My favourite character has to be Jean Grey. First, she has the power that I would want the most: telekinesis, the ability to move and manipulate matter with your mind. Second, the whole Phoenix thing (to which Jean is very closely linked) is really interesting to me. I remember The Animated Series doing a version of the Phoenix Saga and I couldn't wait to see it. It. Was. Awesome...(and kinda sad a couple of times).

Honestly though, I did not actually buy the comic book on a regular basis. I only have a few issues which are currently still at my parents place in another city. I wish I had been more of a comic reader when I was younger. The only real "playing catch-up" that I have done is by reading Wikipedia articles on characters and storylines (actually, just last night I found out how Professor Xavier lost the use of his legs).

I stumbled upon this video a few years ago. It's pretty awesome (the music is from X-Men: Last Stand).