X-men forum debate #9: The Cure

[X-Maniac]

Rogue's case is complicated. We're not able to use the old "what if she was black? what if she was gay? The others are the ones who have to accept her, she doesn't need to change".

Rogue's case is more like "what if you didn't have an arm? Would you really stay without an arm just for self-assurement? Or would just choose to have a new one" Her case is not entirely about prejudice against minorities. It's about handicap.

I would have no problem with her taking the cure, as long as her character was developed enough for us to feel for her. We just don't care, and actually despise Rpgue for what she did. And imo, it is all due to poor screenwriting. Anna was out for most of the production, true, but her scenes could still be a little longer and overall, a lot better written. I've already given loads of examples of how, with the same amount of scenes, she could actually have an interesting arc.

It's interesting to wonder, as well, what Cyclops' stance would be. He has to wear a visor or special glasses permanently, he sees the world in red... I would think he would consider taking the cure.

The point of the cure was choice. It was very controversial. If mutants are an allegory for minorities such as gays or black people, then imagine how offensive a cure for gayness or blackness might be seen. And yet some people might want to fit in with everyone else. Diana Ross and Michael Jackson get whiter-skinned by the minute. Even Oprah Winfrey looks nothing like the normal black woman she was years ago. Are they trying to fit in, with skin-bleaching or whatever process they use?

Deaf people now have the option of cochlear implants to 'cure' their condition. Many don't want to be seen as something to be cured, even though deafness is the result of a defect in hearing.

The cure in the movie was not debated enough. Wolverine couldn't take it, as he would die of metal poisoning (only his healing power stops the adamantium killing him), Xavier would be frustrated that all his work on self-acceptance and societal acceptance was being undone, some more animalistic or freakish mutants would rush to take the cure... some of the students aside from Rogue would want it if they looked bizarre or had bizarre abilities. They would also debate if Phoenix was a prime candidate for the cure as the only way to stop her split personality and unstable powers.

The movie only skimmed the surface of the story.

 

[Angamb]

Interesting points, xmanic. About Cyclops.... is true, he hasn't a perfect life either. And its totally true that the cure wasn't debated it at all, that's would be one of the main faults of the movie, in my opinon. If the film had that, it would be a great sequel, but as you said, the movie skimmed the surface, and not only of the cure, but of all really, specially phoenix, but at least she had more screentime than others.

 

[iamlegend]

You think the X-Men should have had a "Freedom of Choice" standpoint? I think the cure goes against everything they stand for. Some of the X-Men, like Rogue, might feel differently, but it seems to me that the general concensus amongst the X-Men should be that it's wrong.

The X-Men are a group of people who preach acceptance.

Thus, they should accept the fact that each and every mutant has their own choice to make.

Otherwise, they're hypocrites.

 

[ToriL90]

The X-Men are a group of people who preach acceptance.

Thus, they should accept the fact that each and every mutant has their own choice to make.

Otherwise, they're hypocrites.

On the other hand, they preach acceptance. Therefore, it would make sense for them to disapprove of something that supposedly "cures" something that ISN'T bad. Preaching acceptance of people isn't necessarily correlated with accepting something that changes the core of being. If anything, they're diametrically opposed.

 

[iamlegend]

On the other hand, they preach acceptance. Therefore, it would make sense for them to disapprove of something that supposedly "cures" something that ISN'T bad. Preaching acceptance of people isn't necessarily correlated with accepting something that changes the core of being. If anything, they're diametrically opposed.

Not being able to touch anyone IS bad. Rogue's core powers aren't a gift by any means.

The X-Men need to understand how others feel. It's why they've never really understood characters like the Morlocks. Not everyone feels the same about their mutant "gifts" and there's nothing wrong with wanting to get rid of them.

Mutants are not a "race." They're a group of diverse people with "gifts" . If they choose to give those "gifts" up, it's their call, and no one should be able to think less of them for it.

 

[ToriL90]

Not being able to touch anyone IS bad. Rogue's core powers aren't a gift by any means.

The X-Men need to understand how others feel. It's why they've never really understood characters like the Morlocks. Not everyone feels the same about their mutant "gifts" and there's nothing wrong with wanting to get rid of them.

Mutants are not a "race." They're a group of diverse people with "gifts" . If they choose to give those "gifts" up, it's their call, and no one should be able to think less of them for it.

Actually, they are a race. The mutant race. As opposed to the human race. Mutants are the next natural step in evolution. I think that a lot of the X-Men see "curing" mutation as along the lines of humans "curing" themselves to become apes.

 

[iamlegend]

Actually, they are a race. The mutant race. As opposed to the human race. Mutants are the next natural step in evolution. I think that a lot of the X-Men see "curing" mutation as along the lines of humans "curing" themselves to become apes.

But that's because all but a few of the X-Men are giving, well, moive-esque powers. Their powers don't really affect their lives. Characters like Rogue, Marrow, Wither, and many others are placed in scenarios where they can barely co-exist with other people, mutants or not. To think less of them for wanting out is foolish.

 

[Angamb]

I'm agreed that the x-men should accept that some mutants feel the need to cure theirself. In a real world, no, in our world, there are people who "cure" theirself everyday. You know, every kind of operations... so the movies have to show that side of the cure.

In some form, I didn't like at all Storm words... I mean, she, being an x-men, and a teacher of the school, should know how some mutants can feel with certain powers, and that not everyone is happy with his power, and hasn't her great powers.

 

[X-Maniac]

I'm agreed that the x-men should accept that some mutants feel the need to cure theirself. In a real world, no, in our world, there are people who "cure" theirself everyday. You know, every kind of operations... so the movies have to show that side of the cure.

In some form, I didn't like at all Storm words... I mean, she, being an x-men, and a teacher of the school, should know how some mutants can feel with certain powers, and that not everyone is happy with his power, and hasn't her great powers.

Except we never really saw lots of students with horrible appearances or horrible powers at that school. There weren't any real freaks, or people who looked obviously to be mutants. We saw a kid able to turn the TV channel, we saw a girl who was a living burglar alarm, the freakiest one was Artie with the forked tongue. And that girl with the crazy 'big hair' in X1! t: Even Nightcrawler was always an outsider... look at how the other X-Men react to him, apart from Storm.

The scene with Storm was supposed to show her personal reaction, and her frustration with the country she had found herself in... She was once revered for her gifts, had agreed to come to join Xavier, and then felt constantly oppressed (since X1 in fact, we can see she is living in a shadow of oppression). For someone like that, a cure would be the ultimate insult.

The thing about these X-Men comicbook mutations is that they vary so much. One person might look a total freak with four horns and five legs, another person might look like a supermodel with the power to control minds. There is no real equality among mutants. They might all have the X-gene but it manifests in so many different ways, and in some cases it will be a disadvantage. In the novelisation, Kavita Rao argues that mutants cannot be an evolutionary step because they are all so wildly different, and it must be some kind of abnormality. The movie explored the idea that it is up to each person how they choose to live their lives, that you cannot force someone to be something they do not want to be. Magneto's idea that mutants are all superior and humans deserve to die is wrong, Xavier's idea that mutants can live together with humans and achieve peace and co-operation is idealistic but probably better.

 

[iamlegend]

Except we never really saw lots of students with horrible appearances or horrible powers at that school. There weren't any real freaks, or people who looked obviously to be mutants. We saw a kid able to turn the TV channel, we saw a girl who was a living burglar alarm, the freakiest one was Artie with the forked tongue. And that girl with the crazy 'big hair' in X1! t: Even Nightcrawler was always an outsider... look at how the other X-Men react to him, apart from Storm.

The scene with Storm was supposed to show her personal reaction, and her frustration with the country she had found herself in... She was once revered for her gifts, had agreed to come to join Xavier, and then felt constantly oppressed (since X1 in fact, we can see she is living in a shadow of oppression). For someone like that, a cure would be the ultimate insult.

The thing about these X-Men comicbook mutations is that they vary so much. One person might look a total freak with four horns and five legs, another person might look like a supermodel with the power to control minds. There is no real equality among mutants. They might all have the X-gene but it manifests in so many different ways, and in some cases it will be a disadvantage. In the novelisation, Kavita Rao argues that mutants cannot be an evolutionary step because they are all so wildly different, and it must be some kind of abnormality. The movie explored the idea that it is up to each person how they choose to live their lives, that you cannot force someone to be something they do not want to be. Magneto's idea that mutants are all superior and humans deserve to die is wrong, Xavier's idea that mutants can live together with humans and achieve peace and co-operation is idealistic but probably better.

This is why I was sad that Marrow basically disappeared in the comics. She was one of the few X-Men who was unhappy with her physical mutation, and justifiably so.

 

[Angamb]

Yesterday I had a tought about Erik and the cure... do you think he really know any mutant with a conflict with his power, and that would want to cure himself? I mean, do you think Erik can understand how he is feeling?

 

[X-Maniac]

Yesterday I had a tought about Erik and the cure... do you think he really know any mutant with a conflict with his power, and that would want to cure himself? I mean, do you think Erik can understand how he is feeling?

He must know mutants who hate their powers, or who have powers that are a disadvantage or a curse. But he believes mutants should accept their destiny as the replacement for homo sapiens and revel in the glory of their gifts.

 

[Angamb]

yes, we all knew that, but does he really understand how they could feel? you know, like someone said before, having Marrow face, for example.

 

[bullets]

if i was beast i would be first in line for the cure

 

[Angamb]

Yes, me too, but it seems that the writers and Ratner didn't think the same....

 

[ToriL90]

Yes, me too, but it seems that the writers and Ratner didn't think the same....

I think they thought he was a little stronger than that. You could tell that the sight of his normal hand moved him; but deep down, he couldn't change himself on a permanent level.

 

[Angamb]

not sure about it... Beast would love to have a woman, don't you think? they could have touched that point... I mean, his conflict... no, they SHOULD have show it, hehe.

 

[Nightmare]

It really made no sense how Rogue and Cyclops had huge roles in X1 and X2 then were pushed aside as extras in X3. I understand he did Superman Returns. Which was stupid, but why rogue? They basically had her in a couple of scenes then ended up having her take the cure? She might as well of joined the brotherhood. That would of made more sense.

 

[ToriL90]

It really made no sense how Rogue and Cyclops had huge roles in X1 and X2 then were pushed aside as extras in X3. I understand he did Superman Returns. Which was stupid, but why rogue? They basically had her in a couple of scenes then ended up having her take the cure? She might as well of joined the brotherhood. That would of made more sense.

I think Anna was filming Margaret at the time. X-Men has its share of hot guys, but if I were her, I'd take a starring role opposite Matt Damon over X-Men any day.