Fault in the Stars Review

I have recently started doing movie reviews with Mormons at the Megaplex! You can check out my first review of the Fault in Our Stars! I will still be using this blog to write all of my randoms thoughts and experiences, but a lot of my movie focused posts will be over there now.


The Fault in Our Starts Rise above the typical young adult romance films

My Grandma and X-Men

What do they have in common? Well not a lot really.......expect for one other thing.

A few weeks ago X-Men Days of Future Past came out. I loved the movie for a lot of different reasons but one of the things that stayed with me the most is the overall premise of X-Men.  

X-men is all about a group of people who are feared and judged because they appear different. In reality though, they are the exact same as other humans, just with certain physical gifts or powers. But because they are mutants they are treated differently.

As many people know my Grandma Kendall passed away very recently. Before she died, a few family members and I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with her. She was in excruciating pain and it was incredibly difficult for her to sit and talk (but it was a moment that I will always treasure because I got to have one last conversation with her). 

One of the last things my sweet and spunky Grandma said to us was to love and accept people, no matter what they do. Even if people are doing things we don't agree with, love them. 

Even those closest to us who we may think we need to change. We can not control them, we can love them and accept them. Those words will always stay with me. 

Really when you think about it, it's such a simple concept, but yet it can be so hard to actually do. 

Accepting others just the way they are is something that my Grandma was a pro at. Even in her later years when she was deathly sick she always went to an extra effort to accept people into her home.

She always made a place in her home for anyone who had no where else to go. Whenever I would bring friends over she would embrace them like they were her own grandchildren. 

She was a big believer in never giving up on people, and always loved and accepted other regardless of what they chose to do with their life. In the latest X-Men film (which is where I'm going with the connection) there is a line that I think perfectly explains one of my Grandma’s philosophies of life: 

“Just because someone stumbles and loses their path, doesn’t mean they can’t be saved.” 

Charles Xavier

She emulated this motto till the end and I’m so grateful for her incredible example. 

I love you Grandma.

Best X-Men Moments

Fourteen years ago superhero movies were not really a thing. Sure people knew who Spider-man, Batman, and Wolverine were, but besides that, the common public didn't really know much about superheroes. I would even bet that some people didn't even know who Ironman, Thor, or the Avengers were. But, in the summer of 2000 the first X-Men film was released and the rest is history. While the X-Men films started out strong, they eventually started to wander a little bit, and for a while kind of got push aside to make room for other superheroes. With X-Men: Days Future Past being both critically and financially successful it looks like the X-Men films series is back on track.

In anticipation for the latest film my brother Matt and I re watched all of the X-Men films, and I was reminded how great this film series is. There not all created equal, but they each have their place. The thing I love about X-Men is that there is so much more to them than just being superheroes. They are stories of survival, fear, oppression, acceptance of others and yourself, working as a team, and overcoming incredible odds. So for my latest blog entry I have decided to outline my favorite moments from from the X-Men films. So without further adieu, here they are! (Heads up there are spoilers)

15. Wolverine Fighting in Every American War: X-Men Origins: Wolverine

The first Wolverine movie was the weakest of all the films, but it had one of the coolest opening scenes from any movie I've seen. In about 5 minutes it shows Wolverine and his brother Sabertooth fight in just about everyone American war starting with the Civil War all the way up to the Vietnam war. In 5 minutes this scene showed us who the character of Wolverine really is, and that he's been through a lot of crap.

14. Wolverine Kills Jean Grey: X-Men: The Last Stand

Throughout all the first three movies Wolverine is constantly trying to hook up with Jean Grey. But when he finally has the opportunity she decides to go crazy. Wolverine knowing that he is the only one who can stop her is faced with a difficult decision; kill the women he loves, or let thousands and maybe even millions die. It's a pretty dark and heart wrenching scene. It is a very bitter sweet moment.

13. Bullet Train Chase Scene: The Wolverine

The next Wolverine stand alone film was filled with a lot great action scenes and character moments, but I think my favorite is the fight scene on top of the bullet train. It's both thrilling, and innovative, and it shows Wolverine in a vulnerable state which makes the situation even more intense.

12. The Future Opening Battle: Days of Future Past

Days of Future sure did open with bang. In about 5 minutes we got so see about 5 new awesome mutant powers and we got our first look at the sentinels, and man were those sentinels scary. We see the likes of mutants such as Ice-man, Blink, Sunspot, and Warpath killed in matter of minutes. This scene not was an awesome sequence but it set up the tone of the movie, and showed that what our heroes were going to be facing would not be a cake walk.

11. Jean Grey Sacrifices Herself: X2: X-Men United

Another powerful moment featuring Jean Grey. This scene is great because it's emotional, and heartbreaking as we see one of the legendary X-Men give up her life to save those she cares about. It's also really the first time we see how powerful Jean Grey can really be.

10. Wolverine Saves Rogue: X-Men

One of the best things about the first X-Men film was the relationship between Wolverine and Rouge, and this scene demonstrates that Logan isn't all that tough, and that he does have a human side to him. It's a very touching scene that shows Wolverine going out of his way to help one of his fellow X-Men.

9. Xavier Sees His future: Day of Future Past

While DOFP features a lot of different characters, it's real main character is Xavier, and about the redemption of his soul and finding hope again. I love this scene in the movie because he finally begins to accept who he is again and embrace his powers. I loved seeing both James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart together on the same screen as well.

8. Quicksilver Jail Break: Days of Future Past

Quicksilver was definitely the breakout character in the newest X-Men film, and this scene was both hilarious and exciting! Quicksilver is was one the most visually impressive X-Men. I can't wait to see more of him in the next film.

7. Xavier vs Magneto Airplane Show Down: Days of Future Past

One of the best things about the new films is the relationship between Professor X and Magneto. Once great friends turned to bitter rivals, and this scene we finally get to see the two hash it out. But the scene is not one of great mutant powers, but rather it's an emotional battle of words. We learn about what both of theses characters have been through and we can relate to both of them.

6. Death of Professor X: The Last Stand

I was so shocked the first time I saw this. I could not believe that they would kill off Professor X and because of that it was incredibly emotional for me the first time I saw it. The fact that it was Jean Grey was the one the killed him made it that much more shocking. This scene also has a pretty awesome fight scene between Wolverine and Juggernaut.

5. Nightcrawler's Attack on the White House: X2: X-Men United

The first scene in the second X-Men film opens with a huge bang! In about 5 minutes we see one mutant take out the entire secret service. This scene is one of the most visually impressive scenes in any movie. It's both fun and terrifying as we see Nightcrawler demonstrate how lethal he can be.

4. Wolverine Wakes Up in the New Future: Days of Future Past

This end scene was both triumphant and touching. It reminded me of the final scene of Inception when Cobb, wakes up from his dream. It great to see that Wolverine's mission was successful and they had prevent the terrible future and see old characters back from the dead.

3. Wolverine Goes Berserk in the Mansion- X2: X-Men United

When Strikers sends his goons to attack the mansion they didn't expect to run in a crazy, butt kicking Wolverine. This was the first time we really got to see Wolverine do some real damage. This is one of the most heart pounding scenes of the whole series. Hugh Jackman does an amazing job at portraying the pent up anger that's been brewing inside of Wolverine.

2. Xavier becomes a Cripple: First Class

I loved First Class, but there aren't a ton of memorable scenes, except this one. Like I said before, one of the best things about these movies is the relationship between Charles and Eric. This is scene is heartbreaking as we see them fight for the first time and eventually see Xavier become crippled because Magneto. This scene poses the questions, are we willing to stick to what we believe in, even if it hurts the people around us? That's exactly what happens as Magneto so full of hate for humans wishes to destroy them, that he ends of hurting the person closest to him.

1. Final Battle: Days of Future Past

The last 20 minutes of the final battle, that rotates between Magneto's attack on the white house and the sentinel attack in the future is the most intense, thematic, and emotional scene of the all of the X-Men films. Not only does it have amazing action sequences and incredible special effects (Magneto freaking picks up a football stadium!) it also has a lot of heart to it. I'm not going to lie I got a little tear eyed when I saw the death of many of the mutants in the future scenes. But the thing I liked the most it is that I felt that this final battle was really more about saving the soul of Mystique, rather than the actual physical fight. That fact alone makes it that much more thrilling, and profound. Along with stopping Magneto, Xavier is trying to save his life long friend from a life a despair and suffering. It's an incredibly exciting and thought provoking ending to the best X-Men movie yet.

Those are some of my favorite scenes. Did I miss any other good ones?

Carl

Just over 10 years ago I lost someone very close to me. Someone who had so much of his life still ahead of him. But regardless of how long he lived in his mortal body, he played an incredible part in my life. 

In 1991 I was almost three years old when my family moved from Colorado to Arizona. It was not long after that I met a brown skinned, curly haired kid named Carl. I can't say I remember the first time we met, but I remember that we were always the best of friends. 

Growing up I was a pretty shy and timid kid, but not Carl. He was adventurous, determined, and ambitious. He was a dreamer. At one point he wanted to be a dolphin trainer at Sea World, as well as an airplane pilot. If he was still alive today I would not be surprised if ended up doing both. 

Carl was one of the few people I know that always chased his dreams and did what made himself happy. If he wanted to do something he never stopped to hesitate, he went after it and did it. He lived his life the way he wanted but he always made sure to include people in his adventures. I don’t know if I have ever met a more fun person than Carl. He was always up for anything and everything. 

One of my favorite memories was when Carl, and our friend Zack and I were about 13. We spent most of the day in the wave pool at Big Surf riding the waves with our rafts. As the day was coming to an end Carl leaned over to Zack and I and said “This is the best day ever”. The thing is, that’s pretty much how almost every day ended with Carl. 

Like I mentioned before, I was a shy and timid little boy, and sometimes those traits still resonate in me. Sometimes I hesitate to go after the things that I want, and sometimes I wish I would be more determined and adventurous. I wish I had my friend Carl by my side to help me with these things. 

But today, 10 years after his death, I hope that rather than sitting around and expecting things to happen, I am determined to be more like Carl and go after what I want. Not waiting around for life to happen, but to go live my dreams. Make time for the important people in my life. 

End each day by saying "This is the best day ever". And just like Carl, do the things that make me happy! I love you buddy, thank you for making my life so much fun and teaching me to chase after my dreams. Until we meet again!