Decadence


My mind is racing today.

Actually, I've been declining in blogging. More so I am affected lately by the departure of my grandfather (Father's side). I am quite affected, as I could remember the memories I cherished when I was the first apo that he laid his eyes upon, while he slowly swayed me in his big chubby arms. Well, that's how I saw in the old pictures we have of me. Everyone, all the titos and titas were so excited to see me as their first pamangkin.

And then there was the time when my lolo (grandfather) helped me get back my long due separation pay from my delinquent former employer. He was a labor attorney, and mind you a very kind, helpful and diligent one, who up to his 70's still is dutiful to report to work and greet his ever loyal office staff.

Jerry asked me if I was close to my lolo. I could say, in a way, yes, though I was living for about more than 75% of my life farther from his house and I occasionally visit him and lola on a specific Sunday or even holidays. Unlike my other cousins who literally grew up with them, I was not that so close to him. But these two memories I have said a while ago will forever remind me how good my lolo was to me.

I'll never forget him.

So in a way, as I said to Jerry, yes. Yes, I was close to my lolo. Besides, I am his first apo (grandchild).

Sleep now, dear lolo / tatay. Peace now with the Lord.



You may notice I have suddenly changed website layout here. Yeah, as I have said, I am in decadence mode.

My mind is racing. I can't decide what to do now, more so with the demise of a loved one.

In the mean time, you can bear with me for a while. If I come back with vigor again, I shall someday. Well, I don't plan to make things happen for a long time. Again, it will be soon.

I just need to gather some thoughts.

My time is quite hectic.

And oh, I plan to make things different (again?).

Also this is my first post with my blog migrated to Dano (Blogger II). I think the interface is cool.



Currently, I am drawing some inspiration while listening to the haunting classical soundtracks of both Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers.

And some of the music here I dedicate to my lolo.

In Review: eXtraordinary Humans

Watching X-Men 2 yesterday was like meeting a same circle of friends I knew for many years and still they come up with surprises that can only leave me speechless. The first installment of X-Men the movie left me hoping to see more mutant characters to its sequel and a more engaging plot to show more of the teamwork and bonding of the X-Men characters. Still awed by the movie since yesterday, I must say I got more than just a mere taste of the brilliant adaptation of the entire X-Men universe onto the silver screen. In other words, I got a delicious feast from the movie. Though I got a feast, I still yearned for more servings. I simply couldn't get enough, especially at what happened in the end. More on this one as we go along.



Spoilers ahead. If you haven't watched the film, then skip out this section.

The movie started off with an introduction to a wily, new mutant known as Nightcrawler. Possessing teleportation abilities, he literally popped out anywhere he chooses to infiltrate the security of the White House. He was unsuccessful in assassinating the US President. Later in the movie, it turned out that he was mind controlled by a new common foe of the mutants: William. Stryker.

The event ignited again the fear of mutants among the humans. A plot was planned to take over a local school suspiciously believed to house mutants. The establishment turned out to be the special school of Professor Xavier for mutants.

Meanwhile, Storm and Jean Grey were assigned to track down the new mutant that continues to elude Prof. Xavier from targeting him through Cerebro. Left behind were Wolverine who came back to the school mansion, Cyclops, Rogue, Iceman, Pyro and a plethora of other mutants making their debut in this movie such Colossus, Kitty Pryde, Artie, Siryn and Jubilee. Night time came. A group of military men led by William Stryker barged into the mansion's vicinity. The mutants scampered into safety; along with Wolverine were Pyro, Rogue and Iceman. Stryker's team got hold of Cerebro. He took it back to his secret underground base in an abandoned dam.

After befriending Nightcrawler, Storm and Jean Grey head back home only to find out from Wolverine that the mansion was infiltrated. They have managed to plucked out Wolverine and the other mutants from trouble with the local ensuing police. Along the way, they were suddenly rescued by the magnetic force fields of Magneto who managed to escape from his glass and plastic prison with the help of his ever loyal henchwoman Mystique.

The two factions of mutants had agreed to help each other this time only to thwart the plans of Stryker who has plans of total mutant annihilation with the use of Xavier's mental abilities. Their collective power proved far greater for Stryker's men to handle. But it was not all an easy job for the X-men as they have to battle two other mind-controlled mutants: Cyclops and the Wolverine-powered Lady Deathstryke.

While the battles ensued, Cyclops had accidentally fired after the reactors, triggering explosions that lead to the destruction of the dam, inevitably releasing tons and tons of rampaging waters. Jean Grey knew of the disaster approaching. She made her choice and decided to make a sacrifice to save her friends. Using every inch of her mental powers, she summoned her strength to stop the large water current at the same time helping the Black Bird aircraft take a safe liftoff.

Towards the end of the movie, the X-Men paid a visit to the US President. They persuaded the President to make a stand of the issues against the race of mutants, hoping that both humans and mutants would finally coexist peacefully and in harmony.

Before the credits rolled, a familiar fiery image in the lake signified the coming of a powerful being and possibly the resurrection of a fallen comrade.



The following are some observations and facts I found out while watching the film:

• Colossus was introduced in this sequel as the hulking, muscle toned guy who can convert his skin into organic steel (is there such a thing?)


• Hank McCoy, better known as the Beast, made his debut here as the guest in some TV talk show. Currently, he looks human here though possibly in the third X-Men movie, we might get to see him in his blue furry physique.


• Remy LeBeau, better known as Gambit, also made his debut here though only his known was shown while Mystique was searching through the computer database. We might also see him in the next sequel.


"I do recommend this movie because it has a better plot than the first (especially the engaging teamwork of each mutant here), besides the longer and death-defying battle sequences."
• The guy in the wheelchair speaking at Xavier was called in this movie Jason. Though I personally believe he could be the mutant Proteus. Jason's mutant ability shown here resembles that of Proteus which can bend reality according to his own imagination.


• It is only through this movie that I realized the power of Nightcrawler. At first I was not that totally awed by his ability since I believe his teleportation ability offers limited use besides instant mobility. I was wrong. After all those Matrix-style action that Nightcrawler dished out against his human opponents, I was convinced that Nightcrawler is a force to reckon with. His acrobatic abilities prove very handy indeed.


• Mystique is actually Nightcrawler's mother, though in this movie, the storyline and plot was altered. But who knows what could possibly happen next or be revealed in the third movie?


• Now I do remember why Magneto wears that "dorky" helmet ("dorky" as what Pyro said to him). It's his only protection against the mind power of Xavier, making him almost invulnerable to Xavier's mind probing, scanning and psychic attacks.


• Yes, it is possible for Magneto to control our body's iron content. The iron that our body needs is similar to the iron used as metal for construction, though our body needs very minute and diluted iron elements. Now, try swallowing a bar of iron.


• Lady Deathstryke, as portrayed here, does have the same exoskeleton structure made entirely of Adamantium. Thus she has the bodily strength that of Wolverine. But in the comics, she is not actually a mutant and does not possess the same mutant healing factor of Wolverine.


• The fiery image seen under the lake in the end could possibly signify the resurrection of Jean Grey into Phoenix. Yes, Phoenix rising indeed!


• Yes, Nightcrawler is a Catholic mutant. My brother told me that in the comics, he wanted to be a priest. But his looks would not convincingly make him into a priest, not with his demonic appearance and a matching devil's tail.

I do recommend this movie because it has a better plot than the first (especially the engaging teamwork of each mutant here), besides the longer and death-defying battle sequences. The huge cast of characters might be confusing at first to first time X-Men film watchers, so it's better to watch the film along with someone who knows the vast universe of the mutants.