Slashdot Mirror
Getting Ready for The X-Men
PedroReish writes "Here's the first review
of X-Men: The Movie, oddly
enough it's from Daily Radar. While
you're at it, have a peek at Senator Kelly's "Stop
the X-Men" commercial
(sorry, it's Quicktime) over at Mutant Watch.If you can't
get enough, browse over to Salon, they've
got a piece on The
queer world of the X-Men and a nice bio
on Stan Lee, father of the X-Men and some of Marvel's better superheroes.
" This is the movie I've been waiting for this summer. I can't wait for friday!
here's a little hint: You are not talking to a fan-boy. I have no idea who Mystique is, and I'm looking forward more to the Tick movie than this X-Men schlock.
if it ain't broke, then fix it 'till it is!
These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
No, because building up your hopes excessively in one case turned out to be a bad idea, you might want to tone down your expectations and raise the chance that you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Y'see, the pessimist is disappointed less often =)
"Oh, I hope he doesn't give us halyatchkies," said Heinrich.
Damn if that isn't the best idea I've heard around here in a long time. We all have all of these karma points just sitting around and looking pretty but you can't play with them. I would love to be able to bet my few karma points on how many references Katz would make to Episode One or Blair Witch.
Somebody get this done!
The sole purpose of the Internet is to get porn and bomb making plans into the hands of children.
As an (ahem) african-american guy myself, I think you missed his point...which was in fact, what his point was. It's simple, really: I know white people that go *out of their way* not to make "racial distinctions" in conversations, etc, even when this info would be useful. This pretty much demonstrates *just how much* people think about it; the fact that they may or may be doing this to "try not to offend" sorta becomes moot at this point. Oh yeah...here's a tip: NEVER, in the course of a racial discussion, use the old "I have a black friend/I have black friends" line or (ugh) "I grew up around black people/in a black neighborhood" thing... It is more offensive than "nigger"...it *really* is. It'll be sad to see him get the boot, but he will...white people collectively seem to have a whole "just make it go away" attitude about the whole thing. Heh. -K
One day, you'll learn to watch what you post...
> Any one want to take bets on how long it will
> take Jon to write a horrifically long article
> based on the similiarity of geek and mutant
> persecution?
All he needs to do is take the salon article and %s/gay/geek/g
And you refer to a boycott of plaintiff movie studios as a 'martyr campaign.' I hardly think it's martyrdom on a level akin to Gandhi to refuse to support movie studios that are doing things you don't like. Conscious consumption helps eradicate evil. "Inescapable evil" is person-to-person human nature stuff. I seriously doubt that we could never escape the major-studio apparatus and its evils.
As I see it, either you're fine with what the studios are doing wrt DeCSS, or you're ignorant of the situation (which seems implausible, since you read Slashdot), or you don't think it's right but you're not willing to lose a luxury or two to stand up for what's right. Hell, I never asked you to stand in a picket line, only to stop actively funding the oppression.
BTW, some of those internet-distributed films are pretty good. Have you seen "George Lucas in Love"?
Ceterum censeo Microsoftam esse delendam.
Or XL-Men. Juggernaut and the Blob, anyone?
___
__
Do ya feel happy-go-lucky, punk?
True, but isn't that the point? Katz is capable of neither concise writing, nor meaningfull writing, thus he continually rehashes any previously uttered sentiment with "horrifically long" articles.
I'm serious, check out the link
MutantRights.org
Call on God, but row AWAY from the rocks!
This is hillarious, but his last article wasn't too bad. I didn't notice it was a Jon Katz article, until I hit 'Read More' and my browser took a few more seconds than usual to load the page.
That karma betting idea would rock. Another thing to bet on, how many new terms he tries to coin. Am I only one who has been desparately trying to work the word 'sensemaking' into casual conversation?
However, I completely disagree that we're only "2-10% of the population"
That's fine. That is one issue that will not be resolved any time soon. Even homosexual advocacy groups use the 10% figure. The anti homosexual groups use the 2-3% figure. I don't particularly care if it's 0.01% or 99.99%, that isn't what the X-Men is about.
I have no problem at all with my sexual identity, thanks.
All the better for you.
If you have a problem with my sexual identity, tough...I don't give a shit.
Aside from the Fred Phelps crowd, most of us don't give a good god damn about what happens in other people's bedrooms.
What you're doing is akin to when handicapped people get irate about being called handicapped.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Hopefully Ray Park didn't do a David Prowse (actor who played Darth Vader, although dubbed by James Earl Jones) and take a flat salary (at least in the first Star Wars film, episode IV - I'm not certain about the others) in place of a cut of the profits... talk about a DOH moment.
--
Delphis
I agree that the main theme of the X-Men is more to appeal to ANY type of outcast, not just gays and lesbians.
However, I completely disagree that we're only "2-10% of the population", and we're certainly NOT with a sexual identity problem. I have no problem at all with my sexual identity, thanks. If you have a problem with my sexual identity, tough...I don't give a shit.
Ich suche die Leidenschaft, die keine Leiden schafft.
He's also horrible in bed. He can't handle his own lightsaber to save his life. Think of the the scene in Star Wars where Obi-One gets swiped by Vader and his robe just deflates, and you'll understand.
--Hail Mary, for she has the largest shotgun of them all.--
huh? other sites (like ain't it cool news) have been posting reviews of x-men for weeks. also, they WARN you about spoilers.
It is not a particularilly well-kept secret that the outcast status of the X-Men has been used by the writers at Marvel to pontificate on a lot of issues, but at its core the X-Men is a deliberately vague and general story about the impact of intollerence. One can easilly find a much more obvious tale of gay-bashing in the classic Alan Moore comic "V for Vendetta".
Fringe groups that usurp popular culture icons annoy me. Remember that missionary group that was trying to use Star Wars to teach fundamentalism in the early 70's? Same thing.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
Might as well beat the nit-pickers to it. Oops.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
Watch the Simpsons sometime. Believe it or not, there is deep social commentary blantantly sandwitched between Homer's "DOH" and Bart's "Eat my Shorts, Man!" Also to point up something I read earlier, one reason I identified with X-Men was not because it paralleled the gay persecution or whatever that guy in Salon wrote, but because I was a teen and saw these people going through stuff I was being faced with. I had lots of anger issues and I idolized Wolvie because he didn't bottle up his anger. Instead He did what I wanted to do, kick butt! Kirch
Diligence is the price of Freedom
Heya, Need to fix your sig: it should be : "You are what you do WHEN it counts" Armor was a great book. peace
nWo 4 Life
it's gonna be dope! fp?
"You done taken a wrong turn."
-Bill McKinney, in Deliverance
I wish they wouldn't lead the trailer off with this idiotic and blatently unscientific statement. I swear anyone who's taken grade 10 biology would squirm at this. Genetic code for mutation?? Mutation is an alteration of a person's genetic code! You can't bloody have the mutation stored in your DNA when your DNA has to be altered to produce a mutation! Argh!
Now, I know what they're trying to say, which is that our DNA contains millions of dormant genes, some of which, if reawakened, could produce crazy results. The evolutionary value of lasers shooting out of a persons eyes aside, this is probably what they meant. But damn, the way they say it is so annoying!
"I live in a world of make-believe, with faeries and leprechauns and tiny little frogs with funny hats."
I have found that it is quite amusing to submit teachers (high school) to Mutant Watch and report symptoms that are in line with their appearance and personality. Specifically, "You feel a higher aura around them" and the like. And use fake email addresses.
Unfortunately, detentions are not amusing.
Xmen like a lot of other movies looks like it has a lot of potential but they're are a few characters that probably could've been casted in a few others places...
I hope they prove me wrong bit I believe that Wolverine should've been played by someone older, maybe Jack Nicholson... But I guess he's getting too old to jump around the Statue of Liberty
Basically this is a movie that should have been done years ago when the X-men comic book was extremely popular. But I guess using todays special effects, it will require us to bring drool bibs...
Although on a brighter side other than Jean Grey who's a red head... (Use the busty redhead from Snake Eyes) the rest has been casted very well Cyclops looks like Cyclops... Cap Picard is a perfect fit for Chuckie X, and Halle Berry will make a great storm if she can deepen her voice...
Well after reading the reviews it looks like the movie will model the cartoon rather than the books... But I hope it does good... (I'm betting $8) and I will see you at the box office...
"It takes many nails to build a crib, but one screw to fill it."
If it weren't for the X-men movie, or that Mutant Watch special last night, our web site wouldn't be getting flooded by hits.
Why? Check out the results when you search for mutant watch special on google.
This is almost as good as when we were ranked #4 for "whassup commercials".
-----
The "Sex-Men" was was better. You should see what they did to the Professor's levitating chair...
--Hail Mary, for she has the largest shotgun of them all.--
Patrick Stewart is jsut great in any role that requires demonstrating a higher aura. But throw in Darth Maul (I forget the actor's name, he is playing toad) and you have got a great movie.
-- Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam
Umm. I thought the reviewer was referring to Batman & Robin with the "gay pool party" comment? (Not that that movie didn't deserve it. It was bad. Hopefully the next one will be better, now that Joel Schumacher's back on the case...)
:)
The X-Men, on the other hand, looks like it should be pretty rockin'. I'm gonna go see it for sure.
_____
Sam: "That was needlessly cryptic."
Max: "I'd be peeing my pants if I wore any!"
Maybe someone should alert Iliad at userfriendly, though I suppose he thought it'd be funny to have Mike standing outside the theater for a week dressed as Cyclops. (And maybe he thought it'd be funny to give Mike huge pecs too :)
See it often.
AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! STOP THE NOISE IN MY HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--Hail Mary, for she has the largest shotgun of them all.--
Attention all planets of the Solar Federation! We have assumed control! - Neil Peart
I cant believe we are fighting over ways to say resolution paramters.. People come on!..
besides everyone knows its 800 x 600
heheh kidding
Until the day comes when we're dragged off in manacles to watch Hollywood films, I won't be calling the MPAA inescapable. Nobody's forcing you to watch their movies, likewise, I'm not stopping you from going. Just be aware of who and what you're supporting when you pay your $9.50.
It's a sad, sad world when not voluntarily paying money to an MPAA member is considered equivalent to martyrdom. You're right on about independent film, though, except for the problem that most such films are distributed by MPAA member-affiliated distributors like Miramax (= Disney) and Fine Line (= New Line).
Why give up and roll over? It actually requires less work to resist!
-Isaac
I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
Movies and Television shows based on comic books are NOT authoritative. Just like comics based on Movies and TV aren't (with a possible exception being some of the Star Wars comics.)
--
My comments and opinions completely reflect those of anyone and anything I am remotely associated with.
Stan Lee's a genius whose talents were tuned to the 1960's. Chris Claremont, although seemingly shunned by the comic book companies these days, is just as much a genius with a more contemporary talent.
I would point out that, until recently, Claremont was the writer of Fantastic Four (ending an almost 2-year run on that title) and is, in fact, back writing both X-Men and Uncanny X-Men.
He also wrote Contest of Champions II for Marvel, a sequel to a rather novel crossover miniseries from the 1980's, and had a creator-owned book set in the DC Universe called Soveriegn Seven. He also did an interminably long Aliens Vs. Predator crossover for Dark Horse (12 issues, with the series going bimonthly about halfway through!).
Jay (=
Philosophically, there is no evil action - there are only actions that others who disagree with them brand as evil. Why are the "normal" humans who fear and hate all mutants evil? Because they persecute mutants, thereby causing the mutants to brand them. Why is Magnetto & gang evil? Because he wants to wipe out all of the "normal" humans, thereby causing the humans to brand him as evil. But both of these forces are simply trying to empower their point of view. The evil in their actions is a subjective description forced on them by those that disagree.
---
Gort! Klatu Barata Nikto!
I received different results. I have a psionic level of 5.1 and "The ability to project a beam of concussive force from eyes. Optic blasts require extensive training for precision control." I also have not been able to get to level two, but I had to "Blast the lock" to get into Xavier's office. I have heard that the avatar is actually generated from the way that you fill out the application (which was rejected twice in my case before letting me in...) and that seems to be the case for me.
I don't need to reevaulate. I still think that a boy growing up in this country (Buck seems to be in his 30's) would have had the opportunity to read ONE comic. It sounds as though he had some domineering parents. What else did he miss? baseball cards, apple pie, hot dogs?
I don't pity Buck, I just feel sorry that he missed out on what millions of others enjoyed. Comics are an outlet for youngsters. I just hope he made the decision to not read comics and that no one else made the decision for him. Somehow, I doubt it.
-- You see, there would be these conclusions that you could jump to
'Nuff said. No trouble there. She gets me all wet, and I'm a chick.
--Hail Mary, for she has the largest shotgun of them all.--
"What you're doing is akin to when handicapped people get irate about being called handicapped."
Try again...
You quite clearly implied that homosexuals have an identity crisis. This is completely baseless and is *not* the same as calling a handicapped person handicapped.
Adam
I never made any excuses, I never asked for special consideration or sympathy. All I said is that there is more prejudice against homosexuality (and blacks, and jews) than geekiness. Are you arguing that there is no such prejudice?
Ranessin
okay, we're talking Marvel Comics here. Get a grip.
Anyway, I just watched Blade Runner again last night. I don't think I'll be enjoying ANY other movies for about another 20 months or so.
if it ain't broke, then fix it 'till it is!
These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
Molog
So Linus, what are we doing tonight?
So Linus, what are we going to do tonight?
The same thing we do every night Tux. Try to take over the world!
I bet Jon Johansen and Emmanuel Goldstein can't wait either.
zo.
As both a gay individual, and as a geek, (with many gay/geek friends) I can say that in my experience, there is much more prejudice in the world against homosexuals than geeks.
Adam
I'm going to stop reading reviews. Personally, I don't care if the X-Men represent any group (Gay, Black, Jew, etc.) Whatever happened to just sitting down in a theatre, getting involved in the story line?
I read the X-Men for years way back when (Rogue and Dazzler were fighting). In any case, I'm starting to think we overanalyze a lot of things. I'm glad to see that X-Men looks like it won't be another Batman-sequel-type movie, but who cares if they parallel with minority groups? That's not what I'm going there for!
I want to hear the *SNIK* (or whatever the sound was) of Wolverine's claws coming out. I want to see Rogue kiss somebody and steal their powers. I want the witty chatter and excellent writing that drew me to the X-Men in the '80s.
(end rant)
Okay, now that I've got that out of my system... the movie looks GREAT. I've only watched one trailer and only seen one of the commercials... I'm trying to limit my exposure so I don't ruin it for myself!!
Well, you don't see much of the Jewish portrayal anymore, I'll give you that (not since they cancelled Seinfeld, anyway).
But the way blacks and gays are depicted, you just haven't been watching TV. It's on all the sitcoms, shit man. Where have you been?
And, if you DO manage to become "homo superior", you'll probably end up rich, marry some blonde fake-tit nose-job, and have ugly defective kids anyway.
if it ain't broke, then fix it 'till it is!
These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
Am I a geek? I hope so. We are quickly becoming the real "homo superior" and those other "victims"? Unless they drop their pretenses and get on board, they will be left behind with the 20th century like corsets were in the last.
Right on Adolf, you should probably start writing your book about now so that nerds in the far future can read it, underneath the red banners with a penguin in the middle...
---
It is interesting that this movie has truly been influenced by the devoted (not to say rabid, no, I'd never say that!) X-Men fans...the story had to be good, the characters had to be good, but they also had to be true to what the fans expected. I think Singer did a great job balancing those pressures.
thad
I love Mondays. On a Monday, anything is possible.
Actually, the Kansas State Board removed a requirement. All the commentary on Slashdot implies (or states outright) that they replaced the Evolutionary educational requirement with a religious one. I have not heard of a single public school that has opted to take advantage of the new loophole. Private schools were already doing whatever they wanted.
carlos
--
As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.
I apologise, in future any lighthearted comments I make will be appended with a smiley face for those with opinions.
---
To say that someone who is gay automatically has a sexual identity problem, has no basis in reality.
I suppose that's true if your definition of "sexual identity problem" is different enough from mine.
The only possible source of that is either gross ignorance, or listening to one to[SIC] many redneck preachers.
I don't have first hand experience at what a homosexual kid goes through. So I suppose that you could call that ignorance. That doesn't change the fact that homosexuality is an abnormal behavior.
I don't think that it's immoral, or wrong, or anything like that. In fact, as it relates to women, I find it rather erotic.
Why is it that the thought police don't want people to be able to form opinions that differ from the politically correct ones of the day?
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
As a Japanese man, I do not like you lumping me in with other asians.
Ridiculous, isn't it? (then again I'm not Japanese, but I think the point has been made. Everybody gets offenden at everything else these days. I think it's (+1 Funny).
Lowmag.net
[5 pack/day voice] Come on, Jub-Jub, and I'll microwave you a nice flat rock.[/Selma]
Your right to not believe: Americans United for Separation of Church and
Just because a movie might be an allegory for homosexuality does not mean it's only directed at 2 to 10 percent of the population.
I don't believe that the movie or the comic book is in any way about homosexuals. I see it more as being about special people with special needs and special abilities who are persecuted simply because they're different.
Sure that may describe many homosexuals, but it describes many other different types of people.
BTW, please refrain from such idiotic remarks implying homosexuals have sexual identity problems. I have no such problem.
It is idiotic to hold an opinion which differs from yours?
You're picking a fight with the wrong person. I don't care what you do with your life, or how you live your life, or with whom you choose to spend your life. As long as it doesn't affect me, I don't care.
It's not me that you should be worried about. I'm not the one who'd beat you to death if I saw you walking down the street holding your SO's hand.
Perhaps I'm wrong in my thinking as it relates to homosexuals and homosexuality; perhaps I'm not, but that's what I believe.
I'm not going stop saying the things that I believe just because you don't like it.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Perhaps you should read up on "sexual identity problem" before you start spewing your stupidity next time?
Ranessin
And I'm not going to stop correcting you when you say completely baseless things just because you want me to.
Ranessin
Tusken Raiders, Jawas, Grand Moff Tarkin, the Stormtrooper that bumped his head? Hmm, not really.
OK, perhaps the droids did provide some comic relief, but Ep1 had them and a special bonus JarJar. When I saw Star Wars for the first time, Han shot first, nowadays Greedo shoots first. That ruined it all for me.
I liked The Phantom Menace! I didn't even think Jar Jar was annoying -- contrary to my opinions of him after seeing the trailers.
It's basically the same type of thing as the first Trilogy, only now people seeing it are older and don't like the comedy relief characters as much.
Now if only Georgie would get around to releasing some Star Wars DVDs, I won't have to boycott Lucas% anymore.
Refrag
I have a website. It's about Macs.
XXX-men
SeX-Men
X-Women
Can't think of any more...
Remove the NOSPAM to spam me...
I see you obviously haven't met my math lecturers. In some situation, especially in matrixes (which a screen can be considered to be) they specifiy height before width. See Linjär Algebra (Linear Algebra) by Gunnar Sparr (1994, Lund) ;).
Nice try...
The amount of prejudice that a geek experiences, because they are a geek, is nothing compared to the prejudice that a homosexual, black, or jew experiences because of that particular characteristic.
Ranessin
looking at it that way, the "Men" part can be interpreted as the Y chromosome, thus making it X-Y, which defines "man." Since they are mutants with genetic mutations, and currently, the only "odd sex chromosome configuration" of which a man can live and still be a man is XYY, (I'm not sure on the XYYY one) Thus the sequel has to be named XY-Men!
Now, what will really boggle the mind is what should they name the prequel? Y-Women? nothing "logical" comes to mind...
XYZZY-Men
maybe after that the ZZGO-Men
... i guess i'm showing my gaming age here...
... hi bingo
I have a problem with English Prof. pushing off all sorts of "international" writers because the current "white dead guys" view of literature. I don't think it's really a good idea to say "Fubar is Mexican, and he wrote this story" as that inspires stupidity among those with predilictions toward racism. Let them read the story and guess what the author is. If it is evident mention AFTERWARD who the author is. It really changes the perspective of the "global view"
Lowmag.net
> I know what you mean about the 'slant' on the Salon article.
As an Asian-American, I find your use of the word "slant" offensive.
Well that guy (William I think) on BigBrother last night sure gave african-american guys a bad image by being SO obsessed with race it wasn't even possible to take him seriously. Noone else cares about race, we're all just people ya dumbass I felt like saying to him.. *grumble* .. Saying that he (to paraphrase from my memory) 'represents black men' must have been quite an insult to all african-americans. I'm caucasian and I felt offended by him..
.. quite sad really .. I like to think of myself as a geek and I'm proud of it.. I felt like saying 'me too!' to your post :)
Anyway.. I digress.. you're right about the 'geek' stereotype, that seems to be bandied around
--
Delphis
IIRC, Fox wanted Singer to chop about 1/4 off his cut because they were afraid it was too talky and not actiony enough (yes, I know those are not real words), which is why it's only a 90-minute movie instead of the slightly-over-two-hours you would expect from this type of film.
Which doesn't necessarily mean it'll suck ("Men in Black" was just as short and I thought it was great), but it does indicate where Fox's priorities lie. You'd think they would have learned from the negative reviews of "Phantom Menace" that story is king, especially for something with such a large and multithreaded backstory.
I use Macs for work, Linux for education, and Windows for cardplaying.
I trusted George Lucas to make a good film too until The Phantom Menace.
Mmmm.. Donuts
k, thanks for clearing that up. So, you are saying the old B-man was a flamer then, eh? :-)
There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
Count me in.
Save the whales. Feed the hungry. Free the mallocs.
You are absolutely correct. When they came out, the vibe was no different than any other comic of the age: "Wow!" Claremont added depth, moral complexity, and humanity to the world.
:)
How's that for a hardcore response?
Amen.
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
And how much of that prejudice exists? I see it every day. People hate other people because of their sexuality, race, and religion.
Ranessin
As an (ahem) white person I take offense to your lumping me into a category so fricken broad that I am associated with murders, morons, and all sorts of different things. You have just become guilty of what you seem to want to fight.
Molog
So Linus, what are we doing tonight?
So Linus, what are we going to do tonight?
The same thing we do every night Tux. Try to take over the world!
Better make that target audience include some 40 year olds! I remember reading X-men back when I was in Jr HS.
Gonzo
I have the same profile. Who knew there were so many of us?
Maybe, since it says "try back in a week", you need to have an active account for X (heh) amount of time before you can get into lvls 2 and 3.
Anybody have an account that's over a week old... and tried to get in recently?
\//
Why doesn't he (& others) quit whining and port/reverse-engineer Quicktime?
He shouldn't refuse to post articles just because something related to it won't run on Linux (right now).
Refrag
I have a website. It's about Macs.
Just because a movie might be an allegory for homosexuality does not mean it's only directed at 2 to 10 percent of the population.
BTW, please refrain from such idiotic remarks implying homosexuals have sexual identity problems. I have no such problem.
Ranessin
Face it...We choose to be geeks. I have no problem with this and really wouldn't have it any other way. Being a geek means choosing not to play the "popularity game." I feel perfectly in control of my life, and I'd feel pathetic if I thought that I was how I was merely because of how other people have labeled me. People do stereotype us, but these aren't the kind of people I choose to be around, and when I have to be around them I'll just use the fact that I know what they think of me to my advantage.
This being said, your analogy falls short for three reasons:
Blacks do not choose to be black.
Jews do not choose to be Jewish (at least not in an ethnic sense, religion is another matter)
And homosexuals do not choose to be homosexual. If you can't believe that's true, tell everyone you know that you're gay, and see how they react. Every time you meet a member of the opposite sex that you're attracted to, imagine what it would be like if the first thing that comes to mind is whether they are attracted to your gender at all. Then think about whether or not you would choose such a lifestyle.
As far as what you don't see in newspapers and magazines, here's some things you do see:
a former KKK member running for president
A popular black religious leader referring to all Jews as "bloodsuckers"
Nazi Skinheads at concerts
A relief pitcher calling a black member of his own team a "fat monkey," and making passing references to "queers with AIDS"
The leader of the largest religious group in the world denouncing homosexuality
That's more than enough proof for me. For these true minorities, their footing still isn't equal. To put ourselves, as geeks, in the same boat is nothing short of ignorance.
Rock over London. Rock on Chicago. Slashdot: News for Nerds. Stuff that matters.
You are passing off habits as unchageable human properties.
I can see mutant abilities as a metaphor for homosexuality (in terms of oppresion), but drug use? Get real.
*sigh*
(here I go, defending someone I don't really agree with)
Invoking Adolf Hitler anytime someone mentions the possibility of the species improving itself is intellectually bankrupt and foolish.
Evolution is about changing the species, adapting it to be better suited for survival under particular conditions and, contrary to popular myth (insert Kansas State High School curriculum here), evolution does occur over time, even to homo sapiens. Assuming we don't go extinct, someday the dreaded (and tabu to mention) homo superior will emerge. What would you rather have, complete stagnation of the species until the sun bloats red and consumes the earth?
Intelligence is one of the defining survival traits of humanity -- it is the one thing that allows an otherwise weak, poorly adapted tree-hanger ascendency over the rest of the animal kingdom and the planet (at least until the very ecosystem that sustains us collapses, taking us with it). It is arguably our most critical survival trait as a species.
Are we wise enough to direct our own evolution? The verdict is in and the jury has rendered its emotional, intellectually void decision in a thoughtless, knee-jerk reaction to the horrors of world war II and genocidal maniacs like Hitler. As with most irrational and emotional verdicts, the answer arrived at has no greater likelihood of being correct than if one were to simply flip a coin for the answer.
The truth is we are already directing our evolution, and will do so even more so in the future. Those with characteristics that give them decisive advantages over others could be termed "homo superior." Not the most politically correct terminology, perhaps, but certainly not a call to genocide as your snippity reply implies.
Human eugenics is a tabu subject because of perceived historical abuses (which actually had nothing to do with eugenics, other than using the concept as a propoganda point to promote very non-eugenic actions, eg crimes against humanity and genocide). What we forget is, making something tabu to discuss doesn't mean it doesn't exist, it simply means we have our head in the sand while other societal and natural forces replace conscious human direction.
Is this preferable? Perhaps. Certainly natural forces should be tampered with only with a great deal of caution (if at all). But what about societal forces, which are defined by our culture and economic system, and are therefor inherently artificial to begin with? As an example, economic disincentives in the United States lead many of the most intelligent and most prosperous people to have the fewest children (many having none at all), while at the same time our welfare programs provide monetary incentives for those unable to support their own children to have even more.
Whether or not you personally agree with the outcome, there is clearly an artificial form of eugenic breeding taken place, as undirected and unplanned as it may be.
Perhaps our inability to even ponder these notions has resulted in the opposite: our actively breeding "homo idiotus." The self-acclaimed geek you responded to may achieve the advantages s/he would have had had s/he become "homo superior," simply by remaining "homo sapiens" in a world populated by humans of ever decreasing intelligence.
The conspiracy theorists might go so far as to argue that some dark, evil government/business powerbase is deliberately breeding a slow, dimwitted, slave consumer class. I suspect, however, we are achieving that result more by accident, as a direct result of our unwillingness to discuss and cope with fundamental issues of human biology, breeding, and the social, political, and economic incentives we have built (consciously or otherwise) to encourage particular traits.
The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy
I thought that was the point of drinking games. Perhaps some of the rules are a bad idea, but it is a start.
He hasn't said geek *much* lately, and we have called on him enough to stop calling himself a geek.
The series ones would be best left at "first of a series" -- mainly to dull the pain of the rest of the series if nothing else.
However, I have to let the definitions stand. Can't live without those :)
Lowmag.net
I thought people reverse engineered IBM's stuff and that IBM fought it tooth and nail. Did IBM acutely open up their stuff?
Hmm, maybe you're right, I'm not sure. But there must be a good reason no one did this to Apple, or why Apple succeeded in being propietary and IBM didn't.
George
I am savagely disappointed by every comic book movie that comes out (Superman, Batman 1 & 2 excluded). Why is this going to be different? Give them eye candy and they will love it. I think X-Men will blow big time. The lovable Wolverine will spout crappy one liners and the movie will make everyone nauseous. That is my prediction. I hope it does not come true but I would never trust Hollywood to get anything right. Side note: People who are trying to relate this to minority or nerd plight... forget about it. This movie is eye candy and people are more interested in blood than plight. Anyone who uses this as an example of "the way things are" has no idea of what plight is about. If this movie "opens your eyes" then you probably don't get away from your machine too much.
'Nuff said
- My password is slashdot
The Senator Kelly commercial is actually shown on Fox TV. It was on last night on Fox 32 Chicago. Check your TV listings for more info. Sorry, TV-Guide's site is kind of lame with Netscape/Linux, and a search for X-Men didn't show anything, maybe someone else will have better luck.
...now when I use my .sig, people wll 'get it' instead of saying "Quit bragging" or "How can I get my son/daughter into that school?"
Garg
Garg
Alumnus, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Yeap, I am either the same form of lamer, or they havent implemented the website fully. It may be a "Wait till the movie comes out" sort of thing.
My friend was rejected actually!
I have heightened physiology, Heightened sense, rapid healing and possible structural implants. Psionic level 4.7
I got into xiavers office by jimming the lock.
Anyone reply as female?
Don't worry - no spoilers here.
It totally rocked!!!!!!!!!
I too had the good fortune to see a preview last night. And I too say - "it rocked!!!!!"
(for the Star Wars geeks - Anthony "C3P0" Daniels was at the screening I went to (at Fox Studios in Sydney))
The actor which plays Logan/Wolverine must have REALLY read the comics. He had the character down to a tee.
Nope! I read an interview with Hugh Jackman a couple of days ago, he said he'd never even heard of the comic until he heard the role was up for auditions! But damn, was he good! He looked absolutely perfect, and played the role just right, I reckon (taking into account that this was a less experienced Wolvie, not the veteran "I'm the best at what I do" Wolvie).
The special effects had me wanting more and more.
Damn right! Magneto and Storm's powers - all I can say is "WOW!!". That alone made me glad they decided to focus on a smaller group of X-Men, and do it right, rather than trying to hurl a dozen or so of them into battle.
So yeah, all you "can't wait until Friday!" folks - get set! I think you'll love it!!
heh...
:)
I have to agree with the coward... with the "no benefits" part. I don't condone mass slaughter for any reason.
And yes, the author of that article was pushing his own agenda. Us Rednecks's don't take too kindly to his type in these here parts...
Sorry, but the essense of X-MEN really really DOES appeal to gay people, who have felt much of the same persecution and 'otherness', and who have struggled with the 'assimilation v.s. confrontation' issues, etc. I think the metaphore is very solid there, and that tons of gay people respond to it on a very deep level. It speaks to them. It's not a crime for the author to note this.
Of course, the true brilliance of the X-MEN is that they're vague enough, sometimes getting closer to one issue, sometimes another, that all self-identified groups of 'otherness' can readily identify. The X-MEN is not prejudiced into depicting only ONE form of discrimination and intollerance and fear... but of encapsulating the *concept* of these things. It's not ABOUT gays or blacks or jews or geeks... it's about mutants. But it's about them in a way that gays, blacks, jews, geeks, etc., can all readily identify with.
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
Translation: I don't think an individual can make a difference.
Translation: Why try if you might not succeed immediately?
Translation: Who needs rights when you can buy all this cool stuff?!
-Isaac
I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
Ok... I think that the only thing that could truly be considered evil is when you take actions taht interfere with other's self-autonomy.
That is, if you take away their freedom, life, liberty, pursuit of natalie portman, whatever.
This is an interesting philosophy that most major religions are founded on, but none of them follow.
... hi bingo
I just don't understand the point.
I mean, computing was exciting when the personal computer revolution broke out (see Pirates of Silicon Valey), and the Mac was revolutionary (see that famous commercial), but a whole movie about X11 developers?
Where's the drama, getting 600x800 on a new card, making anti-aliasing work? I guess I'm just not geek enough to appreciate this.
George
Really? I did not know that! I quit reading the X-Men and Excalibur soon after Claremont left those titles for a career writing (so-so) novels. If he's back to comics again, I might have to pick up some issues. :)
I just wish Chris was getting more credit. I see Stan Lee written in bold letters everywhere, but Stan Lee is not the person who made the X-Men great.
Genocide Man -- Life is funny. Death is funnier. Mass murder can be hilarious.
Heyheyhey.. You're locking horns with my childhood, here. And for the record, I don't do Star Trek, even /I/ have my principles. ;)
As for kissing girls, that's none of your damn business, AC.. Why? Fishing for a date?
Weapons of Mass Analysis
On the topic of movies being made from comics,
has anyone heard any news about a movie being
made based on Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman' graphic novels?
I heard a rumor a few years back about this, but
nothing since. I think this could possibly be
a great movie. The Sandman series was in my opinion, one of the best storylines I have read in a comic series. I also feel it would appeal to more that just the 'usual' comic book fans.
I am however, afraid that most directors/studios, etc could not do justice to Neil's eclectic story telling abilities.
What are other people's thoughts and is there any chance of this happening?
yes, but upon what do you base your 'belief'?
I base my believe that you are wrong upon my entire life history, and the entire life history of all my gay/lesbian/bi/straight friends.
Your characterization is baseless and incorrect. Usually intelligent people prefer being corrected so that they don't appear to be a fool in front of others... they enjoy learning new things and getting new perspectives.
Finally, nobody ever said the X-Men was *about* gay people, just that gay people can rather strongly identify with it (as can geeks, and many other 'outcast' groups).
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
My preferred entertainment alternatives:
1) reading
2) live theater
The former works well for a solitary activity. The latter (where available) also makes for a good date.
We'd better hurry up and bet before Congress outlaws it. :)
Evan Klingerevan@domainclerk.com
President DomainClerk
800x600 or 600x800. Cool. Macs were waaay ahead of the times back then. Supported multiple monitors (up to 8!) since the Mac II in the 80s. PCs are just bareley getting this capability now. And never a resource conflict on the NuBus cards... GURANTEED. Why? Because each SLOT had its own interrupt/resources. I mean really "Duh! Why didn't designers of ISA, VESA, Microchannel, PCI, AGP, PCI 100, ..., figure out something as simple as this?" stuff. Geez.
The film ends, oddly enough, with a chess match. A white king has been toppled, but a quick glance shows that both sides are playing with translucent pieces.
Shouldn't it have been a grey king as Magneto was the gray king of the Hellfire Club's inner circle? I could be wrong, I haven't looked at the stuff in years. Or it could be one of those endings which only makes sense once you've seen the movie...
Being with you, it's just one epiphany after another
YOU ARE NOT FIRST!! Why do people have this obsession anywayz. Its like you were still at pre-school or summit (maybe you are?) I dont see the point. Slashdot is a place that people express oppinions on different matters, not a playground ffs. Go and post these king of messages on a lamer board or summit, and stop clogging up the system you ass hole. Jeeze. Its people like u that give this place a bad name (not that it has one. In fact, IMHO, it has a very Good name.) Anyway, act ur age.
I find it immensely amusing that the two links on the MutantWatch Links Page link to actual sites. The latter link, it would appear, belongs to a proponent of "Creation Science."
I imagine this juxtaposition of a movie promo site and a real site (I was going to say "fiction and fact", but that would open it up for the waaay too obvious response) may anger many people, and I, for one, couldn't be more pleased that it will.
He didn't adopt it to any agenda. Please show where in his article he suggested that the X-Men promoted the need for gay rights?
He quite clearly said, however, that the movie is an allegory about prejudice and discrimination against all outsiders.
Ranessin
IBM made no effort to keep the software proprietary, and didn't even ship their own OS until OS/2 (Their original OS was merely relabelled MSDOS.)
The cake is a pie
Have you ever thought that there are inescapable evils in this world? While I don't like a lot of things in this country, I'm not moving out.
I suggest watching more independant film, but please don't include me in your martyr campaign.
Q: What do you think about American Culture?
A: I think it's a good idea.
Q: What do you think about American Culture?
A: I think it's a good idea.
(adapted from Gandhi)
I'd wager you'd have more fun with a drinking game...
Take 2 drinks for every time Katz compares Something to Columbine.
Take 1 drink for every time Katz uses the word "Geek"
.. take 2 if it in reference to himself
Take 1 drinks every time he coins his own word
.. take 2 if is not completely defined
.. take 3 if it already exists in a dictionary, and he got it wrong.
Take a drink if an article is a "first in a series"
Take 2 when an article actually stands on its own (except reviews)
Take 1 when Katz declares something to be the biggest possible evil to come along in years
.. Take 2 when the theory behind it is worse than some Art Bell calls.
Take 1 when someone uses summarize on one of his articles
.. take 2 when the summary makes more sense than the article.
finally, take 4 when katz comes down on the troll's level and writes an article about hot breakfast foods, a certain actress, and the process of stripping and petrifying same.
Lowmag.net
If that's the case, I've just got one simple phrase to remind you of:
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Haven't you people gotten burned by these films more than enough times?
carlos
--
As a matter of fact, I am a lawyer. But I play an actor on TV.
Why shouldn't they, though? I'm sorry that there isn't a Linux player available for QT movies yet, but if that's the only format available, and it's news that's worthy of being on Slashdot, that shouldn't stop them from posting it.
I for one am hoping for the best. Brian Singer is a great director (give it up, The Usual Suspects fuckin RULED) and given that his budget was cut in HALF and his due date for the film pushed back from December to Friday, I'm really amazed at the good reviews for such a rushed project. The Danger Room as well as Beast and Angel had to be left behind, but that's what sequels are for, right?
Erik Duserre made it excrutiatingly clear that this was just one comparison that could be drawn, and in fact made reference to the even-more-obvious geek reference. (Among others.) So you don't need to feel too left out 'cause an agenda other than yours happens to get a little attention.
PHroD is one of the first martyrs of the Karma Whore-turned-Troll revolution currently overtaking Slashdot. He has forever earned a place in Troll History. He will be remembered long after slashdot has become just another corporate bought-out exercise in targeted marketing and banner ad revenue (Smell that? That's called *irony* kids!).
Moderators willing, Shoeboy (my young apprentice) and I are next.
Viva La Hot Grits!
Save the whales. Feed the hungry. Free the mallocs.
I totally agree. I never read movie reviews before I've seen a movie. The huge number of lazy movie reviewers means whenever I read a movie review, I'll inevitably read a brief summation of the movie plot, including any and all twists, surprises, and critical plot devices, as well as detailed descriptions of the main characters and their motivations. Instead of reviewing the movie, they say "Oh, this happened and it was good, and that happened and it was funny, but that character who does this and this is not developed fully." Argh! Its always better to form your own opinion of something first, then read other people's ideas in order to refine yours.
"I live in a world of make-believe, with faeries and leprechauns and tiny little frogs with funny hats."
So you're saying there's no possibility that my introversion and talent for mathematical thought is genetic?
Half-kidding, of course. My only point is that while I've never been gay, Jewish, black, female, or a mutant, I've always felt like an "outcast" because, essentially, of what I like and what I don't -- which is part of the reason the X-Men always appealed to me. You don't have to be part of a legally-defined minority to feel prejudiced against.
I had an advance preview pass for a showing last night that I won from a contest, and since the price was right (free!) I went and dragged a friend along as well.
Having seen the not so thrilling previews, and having heard the large amount of negative hype about the movie, I was prepared for a not-so-great, stereotypical "movie-version" of our favorite comic. I was pleasantly surprised. The story had a pretty rocky beginning, but after about half an hour it started picking up, although the first mutant fight sequence (post wolverine thru truck window scene) was marginally confusing and inconsistent with the atmosphere that the film had developed up until then. After this scene, everything seems to come together a bit better. The story and characters develop a bit more, and there are a few (small number) of breathtaking shots. The speed of development continues until the end, where once again things jump around a bit while loose ends are wrapped up. The special effects also varied, and the quality of similar types of FX would seem rock solid at one particular point, while shamingly obvious at another. The element of 'outcast' prevails throughout the film more than I would have thought, but I did not find that it detracted from the original story. And, as expected, the ending works things up for a sequel.
Overall I would say that it is enjoyable and worth seeing, although save your money and go to a matinee. I have to admit that a couple of the one-liners were particularly good, with the exception of Storm's confrontation with toad (where the lack of a punchline truly showed it's ill effects).
Dude Rock On! I know I will get flamed for this but Star Wars: Episode I was released on my Birthday, May 19! I did the same thing, Star Wars Cake, Star Wars toys (my 26th b-day). I still got all my Star War figures from A New Hope. I saw ANH 7 times. My grade school buddies and I were crazy about it. I even still have a Millenium Falcon I got in 1980! Have fun ! Oh and BTW Happy Birthday! Kirch
Diligence is the price of Freedom
Wiccans? Sweet Jesus, nobody hates and fears wiccans.
Oh man, you are so wrong. I had the misfortune of finding myself in a BAPTIST CHURCH not too long ago. They have "prayer requests" before their service, and one of the requests was for some ladies niece who had joined that "Satanic cult", Wicca. This caused an audible and angry murmor from the audience. These people are witches, after all, and the Bible says we gots ta BURN those people!
Come to Texas and flip on some of the local religious AM stations. You'll be bound to hear somebody bemoaning the onset of this evil cult. I've heard it plenty of times. [Full disclosure: When I'm in a foul mood I listen to Christian radio. It gives me something solid to get self-righteous about.]
- Rev.Hmm, this is the first film I can think of that has opened in Australia at exactly the same time as the US. It's been getting closer for awhile.
This is definitely good
-
Hrm. Maybe you can spot the extremes, but you can't spot the every-day gays... and you most certainly can't spot the closeted ones.
I can guarentee I could put you in a room of 50% gay/straight people, and the results of you picking on the gay woulds would be no better than random chance.
I know you're just trolling, but too many people actually DO hold the ignorant bigoted viewpoint expressed here.
(for the record, I don't care much for Streisand or musicals or show-tunes, I can't stand fashion, I can't decorate, I don't lisp, I love professional football, and am a computer geek (naturally). I doubt you'd pick me out of a crowd as being 'gay'...)
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
I was honestly going to post a comment saying that until I saw you had =]
--------
Never call a man a fool. Borrow from him.
I'm not sure he invented the Wolverine character as his first appearance was in, I believe, The Incredible Hulk #181. That issue is worth big bucks due to his origin and 1st appearance.
Praying for the end of your wide-awake nightmare.
Easily, because I have a 8.7 psionic factor and also Enhanced physiology, enhanced IQ, rapid trolling, and enhanced natalie-portman-hot-grits.
I always think it's kind of funny when I see an article like this. Just a couple of weeks ago, CmdrTaco was whining that "don't bother submitting Quicktime - I can't watch it so I won't post it!". Two weeks later, he posts another quicktime link. I'm not trying to troll or start a huge debate here. I just think it's funny.
"hates and fears" you for being different
...
It's a parallel for all of them, plus the geeks, nerds, wiccans, Arab-Americans, you name it -- not one or two specific groups.
Wiccans? Sweet Jesus, nobody hates and fears wiccans. We may laugh at them, but it's the good natured laugh we use for special olympics contestants.
--Shoeboy
Although Stan Lee was co-creator of the first X-men, most of the popular X-men (as well as the comic book's overall theme and flavor) was created by Chris Claremont. Chris created Wolverine, Storm (his dream gal) and Rogue, as well as other second-generation X-men (are Kitty Pryde, Colossus, or Nightcrawler in the movie?) Claremont also invented Senator Kelly, Gyrich, and the whole intolerance-towards-mutants plotline.
Stan Lee's a genius whose talents were tuned to the 1960's. Chris Claremont, although seemingly shunned by the comic book companies these days, is just as much a genius with a more contemporary talent.
Genocide Man -- Life is funny. Death is funnier. Mass murder can be hilarious.
Don't you get it? It's not just about X11 development, it's also about X11 use. I, for one, am going to see it to see how high a score those professional developers get on X-Bill.
Don't trust a bull's horn, a doberman's tooth, a runaway horse or me.
My one wish is that, as a comic-to-film movie, the quality is in line with the likes of the first Batman movie as opposed to that last piece of Batman trash that I still regret spending money on seeing in the theatre.
Hey, we all have to have our standards.
"You don't have to be part of a legally-defined minority to feel prejudiced against."
Although I can't disagree with that remark, I do have to ask: When was the last time your life was threatened because of your introversion and talent for mathematical thought?
If you want to know what prejudice really is, grow up as a young gay man in upstate NY. (or as a young black man or young jewish man, for that matter).
Ranessin
Not only that, but you're not geek enough to know the difference between 800x600 and 600x800 (and don't even try to tell me you really meant 600x800)
--
Fuck the system? Nah, you might catch something.
>He just never slept with.. Erm.. Hm..
Really? Thought he had a one-nighter with Vicki Vail (or what was her name... newspaper reporter that Michael Keaton banged in the first movie?)
There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.
right... evil has no form, no essence.. thats pretty well agreed upon...
So I agree with you when you say that there is nothing inherently evil by its nature, because evil has no nature.
THe way that evil has to be defined in this context is that it is the absence of a good that should be there.
The reason that I would say that Interfering with someones self-autonomy is that this is removing one of the essences of humanity.
From a philosophical standpoint, humanity is defined as possessing free-will and intellect. Both of these are "Good"
If you use your free will to interfere with my free will, you are doing an evil thing, because you are removing a good that should be there.
Of course, this interference has to be looked at in its own context. If you are interfering with me climbing up into a bell tower and shooting people, then the interference is probably a good thing (tm)
anyway... gotta love when the Jesuit schooling comes out to play...
... hi bingo
Your characterization is baseless and incorrect. Usually intelligent people prefer being corrected so that they don't appear to be a fool in front of others... they enjoy learning new things and getting new perspectives.
I don't see how you expect to convince me what my opinion is wrong. It's no different than the differences between vegans, ovo-lacto vegetarians and omnivores.
You feel the way you feel and I respect that. I just want the same in return.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Man, I've been looking forward to this--and the D&D movie, and the Final Fantasy movie... All the gamers with decent taste finally grew up and became movie makers! Yay!
Hey, who else here loved the 6-player arcade game? I know that at least the 4-player version runs on MAME... Now if only D&D--Tower of Doom and whatnot would...
I still have that X-men arcade music going through my head... "Nightcrawler..." "ee-eeee-X-men, ee-eeee-X, ee-eeee-X-men..." "Get 'em, get 'em!"
Sorry; damn, that's catchy!
---
pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.
pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate.
It's a good theme, but it certainly isn't a new theme. One of the earliest (and best) is Van Vogt's Slan.
The cake is a pie
They cut singers budget and moved the movie up six months. So they didn't have the resources to do the heavy cg characters (beast, colossus. Is what i hear
come for the naked robots, stay for the zombies
> (and don't even try to tell me you really meant 600x800)
And don't even try to tell *me* you really meant 800x600.
D'oh! that was evil dude. Now I'm going to be all stressed out wanting to see the movie but not wanting to fund those bozos... maybe some one will post a link to the movie so we can all DL it {nudge, nudge, wink, wink...}.
Question reality.
One caveat about the salon.com article, however. The X-Men have always been about prejudice and living in a world that "hates and fears" you for being different. This has long had an appeal for teens and young adults who have felt like they were out of the mainstream for any reason, but the article seems to suggest that it's intended specifically as a parallel for Jews, or blacks, or homosexuals. It's not. It's a parallel for all of them, plus the geeks, nerds, wiccans, Arab-Americans, you name it -- not one or two specific groups. If you've ever felt like people didn't want "people like you" around, for any reason, then you can relate.
"... That probably would have sounded more commanding if I wasn't wearing my yummy sushi pajamas..."
-Buffy Summers
Goodbye Iowa
See The X-Men movie doesn't even have to be really good, I just want it to not suck like so many other comic book films.
When someone yells "Stop" or goes limp, or taps out, the fight is over.
I attended a screening of X-Men at the Hollywood galaxy theater yesterday. We were given a trivia contest and i received nice stickers (Mutant Watch) and a great poster of Cyclops (aka Dick in X-Men).
As for the movie, the action was great. But the only problem i saw was of the writing. They left the story too open and made it obvious a sequal was being made. Thats right, i guarantee an X-Men sequal, maybe a trilogy.
BTW: Logan didn't get his yellow spandex in this one =(
Actually, I replied as a female. The mannequin you get in the profile screen does indeed pop up as female.
I wonder if everyone (out of our extremely large data pool of two) is getting Wolverine's powers because he's meant to be the viewpoint character of the film.
-- I'm not evil, I'm
Doesn't this count as 'Online Gambling' !
-Ben
Say what you mean, mean what you say! But please know what #$@% you are talking about!
If you want to REALLY get the first reviews
of a movie go to mrqe.com.
Movie Review Query Engine for those who
haven't been there before.
They've had 6 reviews of the Xmen movie up
for the last few days...
First review... pheh...
Nope, I actually got Cyclops. w00t! =)
Pablo Nevares, "the freshmaker".
Pablo Nevares, "the freshmaker".
Yeah, I was rejected when I filled out as-legit-as-possible information, but when I used my online alter-ego, I was accepted. =)
Pablo Nevares, "the freshmaker".
Pablo Nevares, "the freshmaker".
My god, I'd like to meet the man who could read a Katz article with those rules and make it through without passing out.
The cake is a pie
I recall reading a character profile of Wolverine that pegged his height at 5 foot 3 inches.
Being a 5' 5 1/2" troll, I've always been partial to the short badass archetype, as exemplified by James Cagney in the original Scarface and Joe Pesci in Goodfellas.
Vergil
Insects and Grafitti Photos
It was precisely Schumacher's treatment of the franchise what made it bad. Sadly, it made a bad name in Hollywood for comics-based movies (meaning not megabuck$ for the studios).
Hopefully, X-Men will not only be a good comic movie, but also a good movie. I read an interview with the director (Cinescape??), and seems like he is trying to have a decent film under his name.
As for the outcast innuendos in the article, hey, it's a comic and it is also entertainment. Doesn't hurt to have a sub-theme, but I don't think it's going to have a strong gay connotation, nor the sub-story should be taken too seriously in any case.
Gerry -- #include "ea!.h"
I got the same results. Pity, the site could be quite a bit more.
My mind works like lightning. One brilliant flash and it is gone.
I dont think the studio believes its going to do well. The promo tours which had originally been planned were scrapped, and they cut back the advertising budgets as well.
I think the amount of interest has been truly underestimated, and in a way, Star Wars is to blame for it. Everyone got super-hyped up for it, and for most of us, it was a letdown. Its going to take a lot belief before the 'hoards of screaming fans' effects are going to kick in again. But as for now, I think most fans are feeling a little burned by the industry, and arent giving the kind of feedback that they are expecting.
Which is all to the good, the harder as a market we are to predict, the less effective (and hence, less annoying) their advertising is going to be.
Check out Magic Firesheep!
James Berardinelli has his review available on the Reelviews web site.
For those not familiar with Berardinell, he's one of the internet's finest and most prolific film critics.
I give hime a week.
Not only that, but you're not geek enough to know the difference between 800x600 and 600x800 (and don't even try to tell me you really meant 600x800)
I'm gonna find out where you live and scream X-Windows until blood comes out your ears.
George
"Am I only one who has been desparately trying to work the word 'sensemaking' into casual conversation?"
Not anymore. I like it!
-nme!
It is not idiotic to hold an opinion different from someone elses. It is idiotic to hold an opinion which you have no grounds for holding. To say that someone who is gay automatically has a sexual identity problem, has no basis in reality. The only possible source of that is either gross ignorance, or listening to one to many redneck preachers. So please, don't refrain from voicing your opinions, but try to ground them in reality before inflicting them on the rest of us.
I took an Advanced Placement World Literature class at my high school two or three years ago. And I found that some nonWestern writers -- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, that one Japanese writer who wrote "Spring Storm" whose name I can't recall, Chinua Achebe -- bring a fundamentally different sensibility to literature. Sense of narrative, tone, colloquialism...
...by studying the great works of other cultures, we learn about those cultures more than we do by doing 'Diversity Weeks' of food, dance, and ethnic dress. Literature teaches us about the values that underly all the other cultural stuff. And I think it would defeat this purpose if the only nonWestern works you read were indistinguishable from western works. Faulker is distinctly Southern, Frost conveys the sensibilities of his adopted home of New England, Burns is Irish, and you can tell that from their writing. Why shouldn't we read really good works that convey Africannness, or Indianness, or Japaneseness?
I think it helps to have background material on a culture before you read something that was produced by a member of that culture. Would you want to read "Absalom! Absalom!" without knowing about the Civil War? In the same way, "Cry, the Beloved Country" doesn't make much sense unless you know about apartheid; "A Suitable Boy" requires a little foreknowledge of Partition (India), etc. So some context lets a book say more. So "This is Fubar from Mexico who's saying this" might be NECESSARY to understand the work.
Just a little rant, go back to X-Men nostalgia now.
Ceterum censeo Microsoftam esse delendam.
So whats the matter anyway? Aren't the cartoons suddenly not good enough for them anymore? If they really cared that much for the whole cartoon concept these people would finance the work for a major cartoon, movie like, of this issue. Instead they setup a complete cast with life actors hoping to make a small fortune with IMVHO other peoples ideas and work. And yes, IMHO this sucks.
I don't like my nephew humming the 'flintstone song' then I mean Hanna Barbara, I don't like to see Dr. Claw's face because Disney smelled money and I certainly do not like to get reminded to Captain Picard when I want to see and experience Charles Exavier.
*sniff* Yul would be proud to see Patrick Stewart take up the mantle for him. *sob*
The Geek shall inherit the Earth
In mathematical terms 800x600=480000.
Hmmm... replace "Mutant" with "Drug User", and you pretty much have the drug war.
Or Replace "Mutant" with "Homosexual"
Or for "Violent Video Gamer"
This movie is shaping up to be a large socio-political statement. I hope that people can see the insanity in the movie and apply it to real life.
Look at this list of warning signs that your child may be a mutant. They seem to mirror the warning signs that your child may be using drugs, depressed, violent, whatever...
I am always amazed at the deep social commentary that is intentionally placed into art that most people overlook. What better way to raise awareness on how we treat our kids than in a comic-book styled movie? Seems harmless enough, but the messages are there, just slightly hidden.
... hi bingo
I don't have a problem with racial distinctions if it's to, for example, indicate someone that you can't differentiate by any other means.. like if one person doesn't know a person's name and you're trying to indicate them out of a crowd or across a room .. 'Go see Bob, That's Bob *point*' .. 'Who?' .. 'Bob, the black guy over there, see him?' .. that sort of thing.
.. Who wants to offend people by mistake? .. noone! .. we all just want to get along! .. is that so bad? ... The instant someone says something that DOES offend (even without meaning to), all sorts of people come forth and shout 'racist!' .. is it any wonder that with that sort of thing to worry about (yes, people do tend to worry about how they're perceived by others) that people normally want to err on the side of caution - these people to which they're refering or talking to may be people they personally care a lot about. It's merely because it's a hell of a lot of an easier life if you ARE careful in what you say.
.. Sure, the lessons need to be remembered, and must be remembered to save future generations from growing up in previous abominations - slavery, rascism, apartheid, opression .. everyone KNOWS it happened .. yes, it's BAD, and racism does still happen of course today.. but people MUST forget to make such distinctions and generalisations about people. BOTH sides must forget and move on if there's ever to be any sort of progress. These days it seems that there are a number (here I go with a generalisation of my own :/) of non-caucasians seem to want to 'make the whites pay' for racism in the past and WON'T let the whole thing lie. In fact they seem to delight in expounding the differences between races to the point of being racist to caucasians. I think that drives a lot of people nuts, I know it does for me. Now that's not necessarily YOU MrKai, I don't know how you feel about that, but I have seen individuals (personally and on TV) say those sorts of things and make everything RACIAL when it really shouldn't be.. That guy William on BigBrother seems to be just one of those people and I think that's sad.
No, what I have a problem with is labelling people by their race (or sexuality for that matter) and leaving it like that or making BROAD GENERALISATIONS about people based solely on their race or sexual orientation.
I'm confused that an attitude of 'try not to offend' is bemoaned by you
I'll be happy to just see everyone living happily together.. and I would have thought that a 'just make it go away' attitude (if you meant 'just make RACISM go away') would be a very GOOD thing as people can then concentrate on how they interact with each other as people and not have to have people lumped as 'black', 'white' etc. It's kinda perverse I think that you seem to be against 'making it all go away'
This applies for anything... ending discrimination in any forms, making peace after wars etc. Problem is that it's just not easy for some people to do and they don't WANT to let things go.
--
Delphis
Well, my reflexes are abnormally dull because I was never allowed to practice kickball with the other kids during recess, and as a result I nearly rear-ended an SUV on I-94 last summer. The driver of that vehicle was clearly of the stick-the-lawyers-let's-resolve-this-here-and-now variety. Does that count?
not to mention other points of the movie and lines that they gave away.
they shoulda at least had a spoiler warning so i could avoid plot summaries.
Besides how much is involved in creation? Does the Lee/Kirby x-men define what the x-men are without including the Thomas/Neal Adams or the Claremont/Byrne issues or the Claremont/romita issues or the Claremont/Silvestri issues?
Thats one of the funny things about comics : its a continual serial/ novel / short story. With continual building and tearing down and rebuilding of its own history. Unique. What other medium has arguably had a continual accessable story for 30+ years?(soap operas are close but who has a complete collection? And if you think comics have lousy derivitave stories watch a soap!)
Besides some these particular x men were created by Chris Claremont, John Romita jr, Dave Cockrum,John Romita sr(he designed wolverine) and probably others(paul Smith and Len Wein maybe)
The Moviehell review is here. If it's been moved, it'll be available from the Moviehell main site.
Some people prefer to write it like that. Especially some mathematicans. He didn't specifify what was width and what was height, so it can not be attacked for being wrong, only inprecise.
Hiya,
* I was beaten up in grade school for several years by other students.
* Girls I asked for dates, looked at me and turned me down. Some of them laughed at me.
* I have applied for jobs, but was not given an offer.
* Once, at a party, five guys shoved me against a car and beat me up pretty bad. They called me names throughout the beating. I ended up having to get stitches on my head due to the beating I received.
* People have thrown things at my car on the road. In California, some guy shot a pistol at my car repeatedly on, of all days, the Fourth of July. [Fortunately, he did not hit me or the car]
* Many people I once called friends no longer have anything to do with me.
* I have been called ethic slur names, orientation related slur names, and simple curse words.
* Many times growing up, I wished I had never been born or that my parents were someone else and I lived elsewhere.
* I considered suicide when I was 21. Fortunately, I wised up.
* My family has been made fun of. One guy called my mother names in a classroom at school. Everybody laughed.
* When I was 15, a pchyco held a gun to my head and threatened to blow my head off.
* When I was 22, I was shot at three times. I can feel the bullets as they went passed my face less than three feet away.
Why? Because that is how life is. I bet at least half the things I have mentioned, which are all true BTW, have happened to other people on SlashDot. Why? Because I can be an asshole, because I don't know when to shut my mouth, because I am in the wrong place at the wrong time, but NOT because of some racial, sexual or religious perception I have of myself which I then use as an EXCUSE.
Every bad thing that has happened in my life is not conviniently blamed on "I was beaten up because I am ____!" or "I was turned down for a job because I am a _____!". It is just the new excuse we use in our society that I believe has worn out its' welcome. Why? Because people are tired of victims who want to succeed because they are victims.
I may be gay, I may be of a certain ethnicity, I may worship by my own beliefs, but I will be damned if I use OTHERS perceptions and abuses as my crutch for failing. I don't want your laws or special consideration or sympathy.
Get over it and get on with your life.
Xman content. I am going to see it this weekend too and am very excited about it. I am surprised Gambit was not in the movie. Harry Connick Jr. would have been perfect for the roll.
How is it Stan Lee continues to get credit for *creating* all these Marvel characters when all he did was rip them off from Jack Kirby?
Jack
The name of the monster was Wendigo. As I recall, it was a curse put on hikers in mountians if they turned to canibalism to survive.
Also, Wolverine's first appearance was in Hulk...a brief glimpse in 181 and his first full appearance in 182 (give or take an issue).
If Clint Eastwood were a bit stockier and younger, he'd be perfect for the part of wolverine: he's got Logan's face.
Yup....too damn old though.
"Does that count?"
:-)
OK... I'll give that one to you
Adam
I think it is a safe bet that sometime next week Jon Katz will be writing another "Hellmouth" type story where he tells us that the X-Men mutants are really computer geeks.
Information wants to be anthropomorphized.
Nope. I wondered that, myself. But my account is nine days old at this point. I think they must not have activated it.
-- I'm not evil, I'm
On a note about the trailers, I feel like I have seen half the movie already. THere are 4 or 5 trailers out there and they show some hot action. Never the less, my team is going to see the X-men this friday when it opens :-). I really wonder how many copies of this movie area already floating around on the net bootlegged even though the movie is not out yet.
send flames > /dev/null
Only 'flamers' flame!
Definitely looking forward to it now... it looks cool from the commercials and previews... but then again, so did Starwars I: Phantom Menace (not that it sucked... it just didn't have the feel of the first 3)
Humorless sig goes here.
Unfortunately for you, there is a commonly accepted definition of "sexual identity crisis", which homosexuality does not meet. It's not a matter of your opinion being wrong, but of your definition being wrong.
Ranessin
I was pissed when I found out that Patrick Stewart had been considered for Mr. Freeze then dropped in Batman & Robin. But I suspect that this movie will kick butt compared to that one. Heh, I guess that's not saying much though, since pretty much any movie kicked butt compared to that one.
Do not read this sig.
Hopefully I didn't put any [] around my words.
You've seen the movie, so you blab the plot. Nice, take the thril out of it for the rest of us for a few Karma points.
You COULD have been a bit more subtle, telling only a few details so we would have something to look forward to. You could have given us a sense of it, or named a few minor scenes that were somehow remarkable..
Now we all have the gist, and will only be getting eye-candy. You say it was too short, at 1.5 hours. Took much less then that to read your post.
Thanks a bunch Karma Crack-Whore. You could have teased us all night, and made us beg for more; but you settled for the 5 minute blowjob.
-- What you do today will cost you a day of your life.
Everything is derivitive. I'm not saying that he is a wonderful author, I'm saying that he brought that comic to a new level that I didn't know existed before then. I don't know whether he copied the storylines from current sci-fi, or used it to bring in new readers.
I'm not saying that the Brood War was a great plot, but he's written some really great stories (Dark Phoenix, God Loves Man Kills, etc). I still remember them now, and I read them 15 years ago. The plot subject was largely irrelevant anyway. The important part was the character interaction and development, something that he did very well.
By the way, as far as I know, he didn't invent Wolverine. Wolverine was introduced by a still unfamous writer as a side character in the Hulk, so Claremont didn't name him. After that issue, he was quickly drafted into the Xmen, but his origin wasn't with them.
I beg to differ.
:-)
Homosexuality cannot be equated with vegetarianism. I can't even fathom a way to equate them. Apples and oranges.
I totally respect your sexuality, your sexual orientation, etc. No problem there. That was never an issue. At issue is your 'belief' that you know the root cause for my sexual orientation being different than yours, when it's plain that you know no such thing. If you wouldn't try to (mis)characterize my sexual orientation, we'd have no issue what-so-ever between us
I am the way I am. You are the way you are. And it's all good.
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
Shit I think they did. Maybe I am being to noble remembering the old good old days of the X-Men in gold and blue uniforms.
They butchered ROGUE completely I am SOOOOOOOOOO pissed off. She is supposed to be probably the 3rd strongest being in the whole of the Marvel Universe (on Earth anyway's I am not talking about the Gods or nothing - shit now I am really betraying my fanboy beginnings) shit she has had her fair share of duking with the Hulkster, she can fly all as a result of her killing MARVEL GIRL. This is what gave her character so much depth before the knowledge that she had killed before. Plus she started out as a bad guy!!
What the fuck happened to her Southern Accent. I used to love those SUGAH!!! comments. My God! The only thing they kept of hers was that little bit of white hair (made up another bullshit beginning, and her crush on Logan (the only guy they bothered to do decently)
Why did they bother including her, they may as well have used BEAST he was an original member of the UNCANNY X-MEN anyway!
I am wondering about your own opinions on the matter!!!
PS. They use 2 brilliant actors like Patrick Stewart and Ian Mckellen and then give them nearly nothing to do!!!
"The way she used to say Rimmer as if it rhymed with scum" Red Dwarf
That's odd, because when I wasn't busy looking at porn and working on web pages in high school, I was out getting drunk and fucking around with girls. The funny thing is, is the people who want to be computer nerds and have no friends are the ones who know the smallest about computers. They just sit at home learn javascript and listening to austin powers audio clips. Any TRUE nerd is smart enough to be able to get his way with woman, have a good social life, and maintain a healthy amount of knowledge. So sucks to you and your asmar poindexter.
...is enough reason to see this movie. She might as well be naked! MMMMM MMMMM!! Seriously, though. I downloaded the trailer and have seen the coming attractions in the theater. Looks to be one hell of a movie!!
Dark Phoenix... man that brings back memories.
I still get goosebumps just thinking about it.
"Free your mind and your ass will follow"
pooptruck
Geeks think that not playing popularity games makes them superior. It doesn't. I've watched my nephew and nieces lately and they show some very geek like traits, smart, decisive and etc...
But where that all shuts down is where they think that the world must conform to their genius. They'll enter into a (for them) logical debate which essentially assails their opponents with many accusing remarks and then when the kids are mean to them they use that as further justification of their own morality. This about got them beat up at a park when they thought that it was fair that they owned something becuase they were playing with it first. When trying to help them understand that at playgrounds we share things they thought that the other kids were just being mean and selfish for not respecting their right to play with it.
All in all, most of the problems suffered by geeks work in that same pattern. I know I was like that, and suffered social rejection harshly becuase of that. It wasn't until I learned that I wasn't special and everyone had rights and feelings as legitimat as mine that I got along and got more friends.
...UF is having a field day with the X-hype. ^_^
This is a Chao. A Chao says "Mu."
I guess that makes you special. Your 'gaydar' aparently works better than that of most gay men. How proud you must be! I'll bet the Army wants to sign you up to screen recruits! You have a future!
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
That was never an issue. At issue is your 'belief' that you know the root cause for my sexual orientation being different than yours, when it's plain that you know no such thing.
I've never proclaimed to know why homosexual people are that way. I don't even care if they're homosexual. It's, quite frankly, none of my business.
I am, however, of the opinion that if littly Johnny goes to his high school football game because he has a crush on the QB instead of one of the cheerleaders, little Johnny has a problem.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
He was Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, and is The Toad in X-Men.
--
Marc A. Lepage (aka SEGV)
--
Marc A. Lepage
Software Developer
And they tried to "cathedralize" their PC with the PS/2. But by then their "bazaar" PC took hold and it was too late...
+++
+++
NO CARRIER
Why is that a problem? Especially if the QB returns the favor? :-)
See, the point is, you're being judgemental about something you aparently know very little about. Aparently Johnny has a 'problem' if he doesn't look, act, behave, or believe like you? If he's gay, then having a crush is perfectly normal for him, just like some girl going to the game just because she has a crush on the QB is perfectly normal for her.
Again, your OPINION here is unfounded and erronious.
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
Aparently Johnny has a 'problem' if he doesn't look, act, behave, or believe like you?
None of that has anything to do with it. For example; I am struggling to quit smoking, it's a stupid habit. I think it's stupid when a kid starts to smoke. Even though I did.
If he's gay, then having a crush is perfectly normal for him, just like some girl going to the game just because she has a crush on the QB is perfectly normal for her.
Ed Gein's behavios was perfectly normal "for him" as well.
Again, your OPINION here is unfounded and erronious.
Yes, my OPINION. It may be erronious. But I have the right to my opinion whether or not the pink Gestapo likes it.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Excuse me, but now you're comparing homosexuality to SMOKING?!?
You really just don't get it. Homosexuality isn't a choice. It isn't a bad habit. It's something fundamental in the way you ARE. Where do you get this stuff??
And sure, you have every right to your opinion no matter how erronious it is. (pink Gestapo? Excuse me? Someone who tries to simply correct an invalid/erronious belief with some facts is now equated with the horrific Nazi secret police??). But as I said before, an intelligent man generally likes to learn, and prefers to spout off about things *correctly* rather than sounding like an idiot to all those around him who know better. And of course I have every right to call you on the bogus assertion and to try and inject a little reality and facts into the situation. Hopefully you'll be open-minded enough to accept that you don't have all the facts and will attempt to learn something...
Nobody decides to be gay. Nobody 'learns' to be gay (tell me, could you 'learn' to have zero sexual attraction or interest in the opposite sex? Could you learn to be turned on by and fall in love with someone of the same sex? I doubt it!). It's not catching. It's not a mental illness. It's not a disease that needs to be 'cured'.
It's not equatable with smoking or vegetarianism.
It just is. Is that so hard to understand?
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
Excuse me, but now you're comparing homosexuality to SMOKING?!?
No. You're saying that I'm comparing homosexuality to smoking.
It's not catching.
True enough.
It's not a mental illness.
Until relatively recently, homosexuality was treated as a psycho-sexual disorder. Political pressure made the APA stop doing so.
It's not a disease that needs to be 'cured'.
There are former homosexuals who have been.
pink Gestapo? Excuse me? Someone who tries to imply correct an invalid/erronious belief with some facts is now equated with the horrific Nazi secret police?
By invalid you mean "different from my own". So yes.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
i hope they didnt try and add some fun, child friendly charachter that walks around and talked gibberish.
maybe they will make wolverine talk in baby talk or something... please, PLEASE dont mess this up
-thinkpol
That Salon article really nailed it. However the point is not so much that the X-men were designed to appeal queers, or racial minorities, it's that they appealed to everyone who didn't fit in. Everyone who felt mainstream society didn't approve of who they are.
This is great from a marketing perspective. We can all grasp on to our own alienation (whatever the reasons) and feel close to the X-men. Then, we can imagine ourselves with super cool mutant powers =D How can you beat that?
I wonder if the movie managed to capture this sense. I haven't seen it yet, I hope it appeals to geeks and queers.
On a last note....I still wonder what happened to Cypher of X-Factor. I stopped reading shortly after he died. For those who don't remember, Cypher's mutant power was the ability to speak any language. This included the ability to communicate very well with computers. He died, but there was always a hint that he might be resurrected, through the alien man-machine Warlock. Cypher was a mutant hacker geek, anyone know if he ever came back?
Truffle
---
I support spreading santorum
*groan*
No, you were the one that made the equation with smoking. Very specifically.
And it wasn't political pressure that made the APA stop doing so, it was education and enlightenment.
Sorta like the way people stopped treating left-handed people as 'posessed by satan'. Do you realize that left-handed people used to be persecuted in exactly the same way homosexuals were up until very recently? Lots of parallels there. It's something that's different, that you may not understand, but that doesn't make it WRONG.
And there are no homosexuals who have ever been 'cured'. All that has happened is confused bisexuals have learned to go back in the closet because they're so screwed up by their religious beliefs and societal pressure. Not one of them claims that their same-sex desires have gone away. Most 'relapse' in very short order. The founder of the "Evergreen Foundation", one of a few ex-gay ministries has actually come out AGAINST the whole concept, and is currently very happy with a same-sex partner.
And by 'invalid' I mean 'non-factual'. I'm not stating opinions here, but facts as I know them, having had lots of experience in the area. You however, have very little knowlege (or even interest) in this area. Funny you would so flat out assume you are totally right and be so closed minded to listening to the truth.
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
It's something that's different, that you may not understand, but that doesn't make it WRONG.
Have you seen me state that it is wrong? As I've said, live your life as yo see fit. If you're happy, I'm happy for you.
And there are no homosexuals who have ever been 'cured'.
I've seen several on TV who claim otherwise.
All that has happened is confused bisexuals have learned to go back in the closet because they're so screwed up by their religious beliefs and societal pressure.
So, now you're doing what you accuse me of doing. You don't know their hearts. If they say that they were homosexuals and now they're not you have no choice but to accept that.
You however, have very little knowlege (or even interest) in this area.
I have virtually no interest in what makes someone a homosexual. To study it presumes that there is something that can be done about it. I neither think that there is, nor care that there isn't.
You deserve to be able to live without being murdered, beaten up, fired, or evicted because of who you are. If you want anything beyond that, tough.
You do not have the right to never be offended. None of us do. Deal with it.
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Last night's 20/20 on ABC in the US of A had two contrasting stories to illustrate this point.
The first story was on a guy with a 195 IQ. He legitimately scores off the chart on standard intelligence tests. He's mid-40s, lives alone, and has no children (yet).
The second story was on a couple with 18 children. (They had 17 when the story was taped but managed to squeeze out another one between taping and air time.) The father is out of work but will take any job, "that comes my way." Their IQs weren't announced, but I got the impression the couple's IQs might add up to 195.
Most current studies on the subject confirm more education generally means fewer children.
To paraphrase the country song, we may be smarter, but there's a heck of a lot more of them than there are of us.
One way to look at this trend is, "Wow, we get ahead just be standing still. The geeks will rule the world of idiots with an iron slide rule."
The correct way to look at this trend is, "Wow, we are all doomed." You may not enjoy Ayn Rand's fiction, you may not respect her philosophy, but the forfeit of society to homo idiotus depicted in Atlas Shrugged is being played out around us every day.
Have a nice day. =)
I have no problem at all with my sexual identity, thanks.
Unless you count the pathetic need to inflict your non-problematicness with it upon us, who -- to coin a phrase -- really couldn't give a shit.
That's true. Homosexuality is abnormal behavior, in the sense that a minority of humans are homosexual. Left-handedness is also abnormal, insofar as a minority of humans are left-handed. Why do lefties have this handedness identity problem? And why do this guy's posts keep getting moderated up? -brennan
And today, the same arguments are being made, about the same kind of people. "out of work, will take any job". And the previous poster, about people on welfare having more children. You people seriously need a better education.
I am extremely well educated, thank you.
Perhaps you should polish your reading skills. I said that there were economic incentives built into the welfare system that encourage those unable to provide for themselves to have more children, I did not anywhere in my post say that people on welfare were the only ones having more children. Taking various demographic groups, Mormons and Catholics are two other groups with prolific breeding habits which come to mind. Welfare recipients are a third group which does, on average, have more than the national average of 2.x children. AFAIK they are the only group receiving active, finanical incentives to do so.
This is exactly the kind of stuff that resulted in millions of cripples/gays/gypsies/jews being killed because they were considered to be weakening the gene pool by breeding faster and being a burden on society.
No, it isn't. Racial, ethnic, and social hatreds and prejudices led to the barbarism and genocide of world war II. Eugenics were merely a rhetorical point used in propoganda to promote the notion that such abominations were OK.
I'll say it again.
Breeding != Killing.
Eugenics != Genocide.
Thank you though, for illustrating my point about "taboo subjects for discussion" so brilliantly. Your use of ad hominim attacks and comparisons to Nazis, as well as your predictable invocation of the holocaust, in an effort to silence even the discussion of Eugenics and human breeding patterns, implying that the very concepts and discussions themselves led directly to such an atrocity (which coudn't be further from the truth) couldn't have made a better example if I'd written it myself.
(And yes, once again I'm arguing a stance I don't really agree with, because I agree with your effort to silence it even less.)
The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy
Have you seen me state that it is wrong? As I've said, live your life as yo see fit. If you're happy, I'm happy for you.
:-)
Well, you've heavily implied it in several different ways, but no, you haven't come out and said it. And thankfully, we are in total agreement with the last part. I just wish everyone felt that way.
I've seen several on TV who claim otherwise.
Yeah, yeah. And I've seen people on TV claim this toothpaste will make my love-life better. Don't believe everything you see on TV, especially when backed by a televangelist trying to win money from the gullible.
So, now you're doing what you accuse me of doing. You don't know their hearts. If they say that they were homosexuals and now they're not you have no choice but to accept that.
Actually, I do have a choice: I can ask them specific questions to see what REALLY happened in their 'divine conversion', and I can look at scientific studies on the subject. First off, if you ask these people, as I said before, they all (ALL) admit that their same sex feelings haven't gone away. Further, if you inquire, you'll find that those who are sexually attracted to women now, always were. I.E. Bisexual. There are lots of very religious people who claim that they've been visited by Mary and that they talk with Jesus every day. That doesn't mean that's really the case, just that they believe it to be
Additionally, every scientific study has shown that there has not been a 'permanent' change in ones orientation in any case looked at. That includes cases where cruel classical conditioning techniques (including electro-shock) were used. Most people who go through 'ex-gay' programs "relapse" rather quickly. Most only find true happiness once they're able to actually accept themselves as they are, rather than trying to be what some religion says they should be.
When I meet someone who is gay (or ex-gay) who has a compelling story that actually holds water, I will be glad to believe them. I have not seen any evidence of such yet. In fact, there is much evidence that homosexuality is a completely natural phenomina (see "Biological Exuberance" for studies of homosexuality throughout nature and the animal kingdom).
You deserve to be able to live without being murdered, beaten up, fired, or evicted because of who you are. If you want anything beyond that, tough.
Well, I do want something just a little bit beyond that. I want the same rights (and responsibilities) as any other citizen of my country. I want the same consideration and accomodation given to anyone else (say, a left-handed person... it takes so little). For those who believe that homosexuals are 'biological errors' of some sort, then how about the same respect and accomodation as most other 'handicapped' people. Again, it doesn't take much. Just don't kick me out of my home, dump me as a friend, fire me from my job, or beat me to a pulp because I'm in love with someone you don't "approve of" (or even if it is someone your god doesn't "approve of"). I ask for nothing beyond equal rights AND responsibilities and recognition as a human being.
You do not have the right to never be offended. None of us do. Deal with it.
Exactly right. We agree 100%. For the record, I was never 'offended'. I was just trying to correct what I saw/perceived to be an unfounded and incorrect statement or belief on your part. I do reserve the right to do that... to try and educate people who hold misrepresented ideas regarding who and what I am or why I am the way I am.
That's my last word... feel free to take your last word. It's been interesting.
- Spryguy
- Spryguy
There are three kinds of people in this world: those that can count and those that can't
WHY THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO INCLUDE LOWERCASE SHIT TO GET BY THE LAMENESS FILTER, DORQ?
Here's another glowing review of the movie from moviefanonline.com. They give it four out of four stars. The review also includes some pictures from the movie, if you're interested.
-Jason
Hmm...so you say this country was built on capitalism? Not quite...capitalism implies that competition exists and markets actually work. If that were true, then no company (e.g. Micro$oft, AT&T, etc) would gain monopoly power and engage in anticompetitive behavior.
I think the point here is that software is moving from a product model to a services model. I'd like to see people make money off of implementations and customization rather than some closed-source buggy piece of software (see: WINDOW$). When software is free, the implementers and system integrators can't gouge their customers. It's analogous to the standards issue; it's way better for a standard to be owned and maintained by a relatively open & democratic standards body than for one monolithic company (see: IBM, MICRO$OFT) to own that standard.
"You done taken a wrong turn."
-Bill McKinney, in Deliverance
Duh! total and complete DUH! Viewing the comments on a movie review article, then bitching about a (peter allen-style) plot synopsis, is very similar to sticking one's finger in a light socket and bitching about getting zapped.
I've been watching the trailers and the articles and all that for ... well.. as long as they've been out. From what I can tell, while its not completly absolutly accurate, the protrayels of the characters are true to the book, as much as a 2 hour movie can make then. One of my biggest 'issues' was Wolverine, but, the actor seems to be doing a rather good job, including tossing on some ad-libbed 'bub's. They even managed to get the trademark Wolverine hair, well, as close as it can be gotten without looking REALLY stupid. -Frito -Also a fanfic writer, avid X-fan and all around comics geek.
http://quiz.ravenblack.net/blood.pl?3357354385
I didn't know about this I read the review. She and Geoffrey Rush(?) made House on Haunted Hill worth the 99 cents I paid for the ticket. So maybe I'll catch X-Men in the matinee.
Seriously, though. The pictures I've seen of Wolverine show the claws protruding from the knuckles. Didn't the comic Wolverine's claws protrude from the top of his hand, or wrist?
...because it was mostly off-the-shelf. Most importantly, the CPU and the OS were 3rd-party products that anyone could buy.
Add in that the peripheral and software markets were open, meaning that the necessary interfaces were documented, including every function of the BIOS. So now you've got the CPU, the OS, the peripherals, the firmware, and the specifications for how it connects to everything. Reverse-engineering is too strong a term for most of what the people had to do to clone the PC.
Basically, you just had to recreate the motherboard chipset (for which you practically had the functional spec already) and you could buy the rest of the components on the open market for the same price IBM pays, and then your computer could take advantage of all the software written for the IBM PC.
If you wanted to clone an Apple, you had to clone everything, and to get your hands on the specs, you had to sign agreements not to use it for anything nasty like cloning (not quite as nasty as some other agreements, though, like Nintendo's infamous agreement that NES developers couldn't make games for competing systems).
While IBM took the grab-bag approach of "we'll make it so if we screw anything up, you can swap in a better part", Apple (with the Mac series) took the tightly-integrated approach of "we'll make it right the first time". Basically, it's the original computer example of the Cathedral vs. the Bazaar. Actually, though, there were a dozen different "Cathedral" models (Apple, Amiga, Atari, Commodore, TRS, etc.) vs. one basically unintentional "Bazaar" (IBM figured they were good enough to smother all competition, so they felt confident that they could bring their half-assed entry up to speed with a modular upgrade approach, after they decided whether people really wanted these newfangled "micro-computers").
I know what you mean about the 'slant' on the Salon article. I don't know about where you are from, but the Jewish and black kids don't get picked on here: the nerds do and always have.
Nerds and geeks get picked on because they refuse to play along with the popularity game. They still bang away on their computers, video games and scifi collections. The same old tape-on-hornrim-glasses and high-water pants reappears in movies and commercials like a bad joke that just isn't funny anymore but won't go away.
When was the last time you picked up a copy of a newspaper, national news magazine, i.e. Newsweek or Time, turned on ABC or CBS and saw a Jewish person depicted as a hook-nosed, moneygrubbing, shylock? Or a black person as an ignorant, babbling pickananny? Or a homosexual as flaming, flamboyant swish? 20 years? 30 years? Longer?
And when was the last time you saw an ad depicting a computer friendly individual (geek) as wearing plaid pants, a pocket protector, broken hornrim glasses and a big stupid grin? I received an ad for some telecom magazine with that very character on the cover just last week.
See, the other groups who to this very day scream about being victims at the slightest provocation fail to realize just how much power they have. Power in both the media and politics as players and as an audience.
Geeks on the other hand do not stand around calling themselves victims and demand "fair and greater than equal rights". Rather, they are steadily building a new society in which they have jumped from the lowest strata to the highest simply through accomplishment.
Am I a geek? I hope so. We are quickly becoming the real "homo superior" and those other "victims"? Unless they drop their pretenses and get on board, they will be left behind with the 20th century like corsets were in the last.
Hmmm, 600X800. You must an old FORTRAN programmer.:)
Amen....
Tig-Ass-Bitties! Uncle Jessie be damned!
"You done taken a wrong turn."
-Bill McKinney, in Deliverance
Now that CT has foolishly announced his schedule, you all know what to do. ;-)
Normally my Birthday falls on Bastille day. Bastille Day, that wonderful day when the whole country of France clebrates the aniversary of the storming of the Bastille. This used to be special, until now. Now I can honestly say, the movie X-men came out on my birthday!!! And to celebrate I am throwing the "Totally Rad X-men Birthday Bash ©" Complete with the X-men ice cream cake, x-men party hats, x-men plates and cups. It'll be a birthday to remember. Even better then the one where I stormed the Bastille for fun (man that was tough explaining *that* to the French Authorities)
Double J. Strictly for the . . .
"However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation."
two words: no jar-jar
/. when dissing jar-jar gets you labeled as a troll.
It is a sad day on
Well, everybody's been to the Mutant Watch site, but I wonder how many enrolled themselves at the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters.
I did back when it was first announced. (Warning for those with less than lightning-fast net connections: this is a resourece-hog flash-heavy site). The quiz was cool, and I got a mutant ID and everything (I have enhanced physiology, enhanced senses, rapid healing, and possible structural implants - I wonder which X-man that was templated from). However, when I got to the "training" portion, I can only do the first exercise. Levels two and three tell me "Insufficient training to receive clearance. Your mutant abilities need time to develop. //Try to gain access again next week."
Am I a tremendous lamer, or have they just not fully implemented the site? Has anyone else gone further? For that matter, did we all get the same mutant ability, or did they actually bother to vary it. I know the Mutant Watch site id's you as a potential mutant no matter what you reply.
-- I'm not evil, I'm
Unless the demographic you're talking about is 23-year-old computer geeks with no girlfriend. We seem to have a lot of money lying around.
In addition, due to X-Men's age as a comic, I suspect that the target audience spreads up into the thirty-year-olds.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Cypher, AKA Doug Ramsey, was killed, as you well know.
:)
They buried him, and when Warlock died in the beginning of the X-Tinction Agenda (I think) they placed his T-O ashes on Doug's grave.
And that was fine.
Then Marvel couldn't leave well enough alone, and brough Douglock into being, as a concatenation of Doug and Warlock, made into a new techno-organic being.
It's a long, sad, painful story, and not one of Marvel's brightest ideas.
Redhawk, X-fan.
They've had monitors that can be tipped on their side for years. Mostly used for word-processing work. To the OS, they look like something with a higher height than width.
The cake is a pie
I was very fortunate to get a sneakpeak at the movie this morning at about 1ish. We've all been wondering "is this gonna suck?" since almost every attempt to bring a comic to the big screen has been an utterly abismal failure. The answer to everyones question is...yes! They really pulled it off! It turned out a lot better than I had expected. It has the same good mix of action, melodrama, and character developement as the comics and it's child safe with out being watered down. I'm trying really hard to be vague!
Goatboy extraordinaire who plays the pan flute sans knickers
Well god damn, the review located at http://www.dailyradar.com/reviews/movie_review_213 .html which was on this post really ended up pissing me off. I read just enough to be preexposed to about 3 scenes i would have liked to see on my own. As a long time X-Men fan, these things would have been awesome surprises in the theater. Oh well, i was just wondering if anyone else felt the same way.
ooh, ooh. Does anyone else out there remember a particular issue of wizard from i believe 1994? In it they were doin a little column of "what if they made a live action movie for this comic." BEST part is, as I remember, they decided that Patric Steward would be Prof. X in their little mock up cast!
I'm so creative sometimes I wear an eye patch.
On IMDB is a link to the X-Men Trailer in RealVideo format, so you can view it on Linux..
I'd say supporting the major studios this way would be "selling out", but we're actually paying cash money for the chance to piss away our fair use rights (and maybe, possibly, get 2 hours of escapist amusement).
Have fun at the movies!
-Isaac
I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. For Entertainment Purposes Only.
Only problem, it was too short. I clocked it at around 1.5 hours. I didn't really notice that it was too short though, which is a testament to how great this movie was. The actor which plays Logan/Wolverine must have REALLY read the comics. He had the character down to a tee. The special effects had me wanting more and more. Best way to describe them is 'The Matrix' but, as hard as it may seem, I felt these effects were usually more believable.
Rogue runs away from home to Canada after draining a dude that kissed her. He was in a coma for a week. She heads up north and runs into our favorite Canadian mutant (at least mine that is) Wolvie. Wolvie's fighting in a bar (presumably to make some cash) and kicking everyones ass of course. Rogue seems drawn to him and warns Logan of a guy who's about to stab him. Wolvie cleans up shop again and heads down the road (with an uninvited Rogue hiding in the trailer pulling his cycle.)
Rogue begins to lecture Wolvie that he should be wearing his seatbelt when they have a little encounter with Sabretooth. Fight ensues, Wolvie gets knocked out. Storm and Cyclops show up and kick Sabretooth's ass. Wolvie wakes up in the Mansion. He's a little disoriented, since he's waking up in a strange place and almost takes Jean Grey's head off. Xavier guides him into his office using that old TP ability of his. That's telepathic of course. Xavier encourages Wolvie to join them, at least for 48 hours, and he'll help Wolvie find out about his past. Wolvie takes him up on the offer.
That night, Wolvie has a nightmare about his past. Unfortunatly, Rogue decides to try and comfort him. You see, she has a big crush on him. Well, as one can imagine, you don't go waking up a guy with adamantite claws unless you want them poking through your chest and out the back. To save herself, Rogue touches him and drains his healing factor for a few minutes. So, while Wolvie's knocked out again for a while, the sexy blue babe Mystique shows up in disguise. She wires Cebrero up the wrong way (to take out Xavier) and poses as a VERY young Iceman to convince Rogue that she's not wanted there by the X-Men. Of course, she leaves crying for the train station.
At the train station, Magneto and Toad and Mystique clean up shop and kidnap Rogue. Time to mount an offensive and get her back. But where can she be? Let's use Cerebro and find out! *ZAP BAM* Xavier's gone, at least temporarily. Jean fixes Cerebro back and uses it to find Rogue at the Statue of Liberty. Magneto's gonna use her to power a machine he built which induces a mutation in non-mutants. Unfortunatly, it would kill Magneto to use it so... he'll just give his power to Rogue and kill her instead.
X-Men can't let this happen of course, so they're off to the statue. Toad intercepts them when they arrive and pretty much single handely mops the floor with them for a good 15 mins or so. Well, Mystique is there too but she's busy with Wolvie. Wolvie decides that a few well places claws through her stomach should probably do the trick. Mystique's out for the count. Meanwhile, Storm wakes back up and is extremely pissed off. She zaps Toad with lightning and we get to see him learn how to fly... well, at least for about 15 seconds. Just when it looks like the heros are gonna have an easy time of this, Magneto decides to step in. Wolvie warns them to run, because he finds himself suddenly stuck to the floor. Unfortunatly, they didn't head his advice and they all (yes all) got pinnned to the inside of the Statue's torch. Just to make sure that Wolvie didn't try anything, he positioned his claws pointed at Wolvies neck. Of course, Magneto then leaves to start the mutant weapon.
Meanwhile, Wolvie has promised Rogue that he'll watch after her. So, he does what anyone with an extremely fast healing factor and adamantite claws would do. He slits his own throat but breaks out of the bonds holding him to the Torch. In the time that it take him to recover, Magneto get his ability passed off to Rogue. She cries and screams of course but she can't escape her bonds. Sabretooth and Wolvie have a huge battle and Wolvie wins with Cyclops help. Wolvie frees the rest of the X-Men and gets flown up to the weapon with Storm and Jean Gray's help. Big struggle with Magneto using the fact that Wolvie is mostly metal against him. Cyclops and the rest of the X-Men are still in the Torch but he's getting a bead on the machine. Just as the mutant evil ray beam is about to hit Manhatten, Cyclops blows it up and Wolvie frees Rogue, who develops a white streak in her hair to match the comic. There's much rejoicing as Rogue drains Wolvie again to heal her wounds. They head back to the mansion.
Xavier is back to normal, and tells Wolvie of a military base up in Canada he should check out. Wolvie leads and gets a sad farewell from Rogue. He hands her his dogtags which say 'Wolverine' on them. Xavier makes a visit to Magneto who is now in a plastic jail.
The end!!!
...is anyone else getting annoyed at the reviewers and journalists who credit Stan Lee with creating these X-Men, when it's really Chris Claremont who spent fifteen years fleshing out the characters and stories that are actually used in this movie?
Garth (Dark Horizons Web site) has his review. He gave it a score: 9 / 10, Very Minor Spoilers. :)
Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
I agree that the commentary is there. And I agree that it is (mostly) a good thing. But I don't agree that it's either deep or subtle. Maybe to a middle-schooler, but all the references I'VE seen have been VERY heavy-handed?
--
Linux MAPI Server!
http://www.openone.com/software/MailOne/
(Exchange Migration HOWTO coming soon)
Ham on rye, hold the mayo please.
thelocust[dot]org
..that merit rebooting to Windows for. And yes, that trailer is one if them, if you haven't seen it sixteen times at the theater.
Weapons of Mass Analysis
The author seems to overlook the fact that you can't build something like the X-Man simply because you directly market 2-10% of the population.
The X-Men aren't so great because of any thinly veiled homosexual persecution metaphors. They are so big because they're entertaining. They appeal to many types of kids (and adults), not just ones with a sexual identity problem.
At one point or another ALL people have been on the wrong end of persecution. I think that is a part of the appeal.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
They've had monitors that can be tipped on their side for years. Mostly used for word-processing work. To the OS, they look like something with a higher height than width.
Oh yeah, that's right, I have a Mac in my basement with a Radius monitor, that goes from Portrait to Landscape, thanks!
George
Not only that, but you're not geek enough to know the difference between 800x600 and 600x800 (and don't even try to tell me you really meant 600x800)
And furthermore, the Radius monitor on my Mac, that switches from Landscape to Portrait laughs at you.
George
Personally, I'm waiting with baited breath for the sequel: The X-10 Men, a cadre of mutants who have the amazing ability to turn lights and household appliances on and off at will!
Don't even get me started on the rumored conclusion to the trilogy: The X11 Men where the mutants take on the evil Microsoft Empire.
Kevin Fox
Kevin Fox
TOP SECRET! A friend of mine who runs a theatre got his copy last night and we watched it - didn't get home until 3am. But it was well worth it.
:-)
I don't want to give anything away, but if anyone has any burning questions I'll dish for you.
Awesome effects (but you knew that), and I think they did a pretty good job of handling story/character development (even if you've never read the comic). Many openings left for a sequel...
Best CG scene - the Senator and Storm. Squishy and disturbing.
The Divine Creatrix in a Mortal Shell that stays Crunchy in Milk
The House Between - Original Sci-Fi Series
That movie review...
There should be a special class of mutants: movie reviewers.
sorry... but a friend of mine saw this in a pre-view and says its only 'OK'
that is what I was worried about... seems like the bigger the budget (usually) the more likely the movie sux
-- "The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so.
X-Men: 20th Century Fox, plaintiff in DeCSS lawsuit
I wish I could see this movie, but I don't think I will, not paying money, anyway. If I do, it will be with a sad heart. It hurts to be a conscious consumer sometimes.
Maybe I can make up for it with my DeCSS page. Or maybe not.
Ceterum censeo Microsoftam esse delendam.
They used to be men.
But they had operations.
now they're ex-men.
if it ain't broke, then fix it 'till it is!
These are my friends, See how they glisten. See this one shine, how he smiles in the light.
800x600 or 600x800. Cool. Macs were waaay ahead of the times back then. Supported multiple monitors (up to 8!) since the Mac II in the 80s. PCs are just bareley getting this capability now. And never a resource conflict on the NuBus cards... GURANTEED. Why? Because each SLOT had its own interrupt/resources. I mean really "Duh! Why didn't designers of ISA, VESA, Microchannel, PCI, AGP, PCI 100, ..., figure out something as simple as this?" stuff. Geez.
If only Apple had gambled like IBM
And opened all this neat stuff up, they would have had a smaller piece of the pie, but a much bigger pie.
But unless they included a command line, I would have still disliked them.
George
Yes, this review talked about the final "battle", but it didn't give away the resolution of that battle, and so I think it is safe to say that it was not, in fact, a spoiler.
And you can't expect reviews not to use dialogue, because dialogue is another key element within film, and if one is going to critique a film, one must evaluate a film's dialogue. If we didn't include such elements in a film review, you would be left with very little indeed. Critics use such elements to highlight how the film functions - to give us a sense of what the film is really about. They bring dialogue and scene descriptions into their reviews to support their critiques and praise. It is their evidence.
If you just want a rating, go to RottenTomatoes and look at the ratings without reading the actual reviews, because a review must bring the film into its discussion, and that is not, apparently, what you want.
I wonder what the percentage of geeky /.'s readers were comic book fans? I was a nintendo game kid myself :)
-Phredrick Dobbs
Emperor of the Universe
Grand and High Protector of Everything
-Phredrick Dobbs
Emperor of the Universe
Grand and High Protector of Everything
I don't see this movie as being that great. I think they did an excellent job on casting but at the same time I don't expect much out of the plot. The reason being because so much that most geeks already should know will have to be reexplained. For instance the super powers that will be used throughout the movie will have to be explained at least somewhat for the people that don't really know what the X-Men are (yes there are some). Although I am pre-reviewing this (since I haven't seen the movie of course) the first half of the movie will probably be spent establishing character which for the majority of us slashdotters will probably be a yawn. It would be hard to make a movie without establishing character since there are quite a few people that don't really know the X-men. I think once the movie gets going it might be good but since the first 30 mins or so of this 90 min movies is going to be all about establishing the many already familiar (to us) characters it might be quite a yawn. Just my thoughts.
I was watching the Mets - Braves game on Fox the other night. Much of the banter between the announcers (Tim McCarver and that Buck guy) revolved around John Rocker, of course. They talked about a promotional item that the Mets handed out that day that coincidentally was a comic book about how Mike Piazza saved the No. 7 train from a terrorist. Tim mentioned how ironic it was that the comic dealt with the No. 7 train, which was the train that John Rocker disparaged in his infamous Sports Illustrated diatribe. The Buck guy (forget his first name) then revealed that he had never read comics as a child
I repeat. He NEVER read a single comic book as a child.
I found that shocking. I can fathom reading some and finding yourself not interested, but never having read even one ?!? That's like saying that you've never played Monopoly or played with a G.I. Joe.
I was a big comic enthusiast as a child but I don't read them anymore. I just though comics were a universal kids thing and I felt sorry for Buck. I wondered what kind of childhood he had.
-- You see, there would be these conclusions that you could jump to