Saturday, May 27th 2006
X-Men 3: Libertarian Masterpiece
So I went to go see X-Men: The Last Stand with my buddies at the Metreon on Friday. The showing we wanted was sold out so we had 5 hours to kill before we could get in. It was a chance to explore SF, at least. Anyway, the wait was worth it…
Easily the best X-Men movie and definitely among the top superhero movies ever made.
No major spoilers in this post, but here are my favorite scenes:
- Everything from the Golden Gate sequence onward (look closely and you can see the Campanile)
- “I’m the Juggernaut…”
- Incident at Jean’s house
Of course, most interesting were the political and philosophical overtones. The series is a thinly veiled allegory about discrimination and intolerance (towards homosexuality especially). So-called “mutants” are shunned by their family and friends for being, through no fault of their own, different. The government, at best, denies them the full set of rights afforded to “normal” humans or, at worst, represses them through cruel and inhumane tactics.
The major development in the 3rd film is the creation of a “cure” for mutation. Any mutant exposed to it will lose his or her special powers and become a regular human. Though it is offered on a volunteer basis, the mutants are divided between those who would do anything for the chance at a “normal” life and those who would do anything to protect the mutant “identity.” It is no small irony that all of this takes place in San Francisco, of all places.
Things escalate and battle lines are drawn. What had been a completely voluntary cure becomes less so. At this point, we recognize the twin bigotries of social conservatism and identity politics. On the right, we have the populist masses and the government who are driven by fear of that which is different. On the left, we have members of minority groups who place their group identity above all else, and who are driven by fear of the loss of that identity. Any mutant desiring the cure is a traitor. Any mutant deviating from the group’s stance is a threat. Therefore the cure, and its supporters, must be eliminated.
The X-Men offer a third way, the only way not driven by bigotry: Individual choice, not decisions forcibly made by society or an identity group. One of the X-Men decides that she would rather be normal than a mutant. Instead of denying that choice or deeming her a traitor, she is told to think about what is best, personally, for herself. Individuals who mean no harm to anyone deserve the right to control their lives. This is the heart of libertarianism.
We will soon enter a world where we have unlocked the secrets of the mind and body. The old question of nature vs. nurture will become less important in a world of genetic engineering and smart drugs. The problem is, our current society is more likely to respect biological determinism over individual choice. Both represent progress from intolerance, but respect for individual choice is necessary for true tolerance. Whether someone was born a certain way or chose to be a certain way should make no difference. Defending the former is easy, but defending the latter requires transcending pity or pride. In doing so, we rightfully place respect for the individual over respect for a group.
X-Men reminds us of the plight of the outsider. In reality, we are all outsiders, at times, in our own ways. I’m just as different from you as you are from the next person. We need to do the obvious thing and recognize that we are all individuals. Instead of giving this group and that group rights, the only rights we need are our rights as individuals. Mutant or human; gay or straight; black or white; male or female; Christian or Muslim; geek or jock; smoker or non-smoker; Coke-drinker or Pepsi-drinker; whatever.
Who knew we could learn so much from a movie about dudes with claws and chicks who can walk through walls?
That’s nothing new.
Hasn’t the theme of true equality always been a theme of the X-Men series (at least in the comic story arcs)?
I’m not sure, haven’t seen X3 yet, or the first two.
Comment by Sweetie — 5/27/2006 @ 8:17 am
Do I even need to mention that Rebecca Romijn (Mystique) is Berkeley High Class of ‘90?
Comment by BHS'74 — 5/27/2006 @ 9:30 am
“The X-Men offer a third way”
So did Hitler, Clinton and Blair.
All believed the third way was a centralist way with one idea as its backbone. Of course, usually the idea was a central dictatorial body telling the rest of the perimeter body-parts who to do.
“not driven by bigotry: Individual choice,”
Exactly, not individual choice, i.e. freedom. - a governing body that tells you what to believe and how to act. Hitler, Clinton and Blair did not like “Individual choice.” This was a part of the third way. The third way takes this ‘ God ( or nature) given right” away from a person’s choice and they become robots to the authority. This is not the society I want. In order to take away bigotry, you need to take away choice and freedom of opinion. To do this requires a simple lobotomy. ‘ One flew over the Cookoos Nest’ is one such film to teach society how to snuggle into the Third Way. A lobotomy for everyone, then we will lose our opinion making facilities. Everyone will be happy, but brain dead.
As far as mutation, this is the biological survival method of all organisms. This is taught at Colleges in biology classes. The Hollywood elites take acting classes and thus are generally mis-informed. Without mutating genes for organisms, life on earth would be threatened to extinction.
“Who knew we could learn so much from a movie”
Only smart people like you can learn what the hidden messages are. The rest will say, yeah, sounds like we need the third way. BTW, Pepsi-drinkers must go down. That is some nasty junk.
Comment by what — 5/27/2006 @ 2:47 pm
Haven’t seen it yet, but it’s gonna be hard to top X2 which was one of the best movies EVAR in my book.
Comment by John W. — 5/27/2006 @ 3:05 pm
All Time Opening Days (X3 at No. 2…).
Well look at the competition. Da Vinci Code is creepy and nuts, MI 3 sucks and Poseidon can never be as great as the original version. So it is understandable that the movie going public will choose X3.
Comment by what — 5/27/2006 @ 7:31 pm
Finally saw X3 - not a bad film, but its not as good as the fist two. My opinion is probably severely influenced by the lack of Rogue, a character and actress I have a particular fondness for.
I gotta admit Pat, I didn’t really think about politics when I was watching this film. It’s a pretty mindless flick, and the moments of possible philosiphy are done pretty terrible.
X2 is still the best, by far.
Comment by Morbo — 5/30/2006 @ 1:56 am
Hmm… it seems like the reception is pretty mixed. Equal amounts of people loving it and hating it. The rest are in the middle. My friends all loved it though, as did I.
As for the deeper meanings… All of a sudden, this past year, I’ve started noticing this kind of stuff whenever I read or watch something. I think to myself, “oh man, I totally understand why this is happening!” It’s kind of funny. I always loathed reading too deeply during high school, when English teachers forced us to look for symbolism and all that crap. Now, it’s kind of cool and makes entertainment more meaningful.
Comment by patr — 5/30/2006 @ 2:01 pm
X-Men 3 - extra scene at end (spoilers!)
I saw the X-Men 3 movie today; really good!
However, I was asked to fill out a “Producers’ Questionnaire” with part before and part after the movie….
I was filling in the part after the movie, and low-and-behold, an extra scene came on briefly AFTER all the credits were over….
spoiler:Xavier’s voice (don’t remember what he said) talking to a nurse in a hospital room…Has anyone else seen this, or was it just for “Questionnaire” people ?
Comment by tool vicarious — 6/5/2006 @ 6:38 am
I read in Entertainment Weekly the day after I watched X-Men that everyone should stay until after the credits. Thanks for letting me a day late EW.
Comment by Lucky — 6/5/2006 @ 12:00 pm
I thought it was pretty good. (For anyone who hasnt seen it Im going to say some spoilers so stop reading now)
SPOILER= I really liked the part were Magneto moved the golden gate bridge. I did stay after and watch the part with Xavier’s part too (tool vicarious) and I also got it from Entertainment weekly (Lucky). Oh and in the end does Magneto move the chess piece with his powers????
Comment by Zach — 6/8/2006 @ 3:36 pm