Hey everyone! I just saw X-Men Apocalypse. I’m not gonna give a review or anything, but I am going to recommend seeing it. I will admit, it’s not the best in the franchise. It took some risks that just didn’t work out (in my opinion). But, it’s still got a lot to offer for both the casual fan and the X-Men comic/movie fan.
I think Rotten Tomatoes is a little harsh. I’m gonna give it a 6.5-7/10 with the thought that some things work out while others don’t.
If you wanna talk about the movie, just message me!
Take time to think about how you’ve changed over time
When I was younger, I didn’t understand the concept of complexity in stories and characters. I didn’t really need characters to develop. But, now that I’m older, I’ve come to appreciate character development. I appreciate characters who change or who show a deeper emotion that isn’t always seen.
To give some context:
When I was younger, I was always into the “badass” and was always a sucker for main characters. So, for example, Batman was my favorite hero because BATMAN. Like, that was it. Edward Elric was cool because he could do some serious shit. Harry Potter got shit done and was a cool main character (Mind you, I never read the books. I’ve only read the first three, and I’m getting around to the rest.).
Now, there are times where this still applies. Kamina is a f*cking beast in Gurren Lagann. Natsu Dragneel is, in my opinion, a simple and fun main character. Sora (Kingdom Hearts) is a typical optimistic character that always smiles and is there for his friends. Percy Jackson is an adorable shit who’s been through a lot and, in my opinion, got shat on in the last book of Heroes of Olympus. I still love some of these characters. But, with age, I’ve come to appreciate development and a dash of complexity (not saying that some of these characters aren’t either).
So, to illustrate my point, I’ll give an example: Neville Longbottom is my favorite Harry Potter character. What? Why not some of the cooler characters? Well, f*ck you, Neville is amazing. I haven’t read all the books and the movies aren’t the best source, but I resonate with Neville. He is shy, but wants to contribute. He’s brave, but not exactly in the ways that his friends are. He sticks up for himself and is willing to put his friends in their place when they need to. I never thought of him like this until later on, and I found this complexity and difference to be appealing.
Another example: Komui Lee from D.Gray-Man. I used to be into D.Gray-Man and, with the announcement of the new anime and the return of the manga, have slowly gotten back into it. I love Allen Walker, the main character. He’s adorable and, for a Shounen main character, more complex than meets the eye. He is a type of character that I adore. But, recently, I’ve found myself falling for Komui. Here’s why: his exterior is that of a goof that loves his sister. But, he has his own darkness that follows him and has essentially forced him down a dark path. He has to send young adults out to some of the most dangerous situations. He has to watch others get hurt for his sake. He had to watch his little sister get taken away from him. Now, this adds to his motivations and his overall character. I love him and can see myself in him. He isn’t even a “main” character; he’s a support. His internal struggles and decisions make him appealing. This is the complexity that I missed when I was younger.
I’ve done this recently in other fandoms: Laxus Dreyar is probably my favorite Fairy Tail character. I’ve come to actually like Naruto as both a series and a character. Riku (Kingdom Hearts) isn’t a dick, he’s really cool. Nightwing/Dick Grayson, Green Lantern/Kyle Rayner, Batman/Terry McGinnis, and Booster Gold/Michael Carter are my favorite comic book characters because they all are dynamic and changing in good and bad ways.
I think my point is that, with age and change, good and bad things come. I just can’t watch/read certain things anymore because they become too childish. I can’t appreciate the things that I used to adore from the bottom of my heart. But, I also can lean toward those things that I never thought that I would like. Squidward is a relatable character, for god’s sake! It’s weird that this is how I’m growing up, but I like it. Through my favorite mediums, I’m seeing myself grow from a simple girl who was too afraid to do most things to a young adult who’s kicking ass, appreciating depth, and actually playing Shovel Knight (that game is hard as balls).
Take time to think about how you’ve changed over time. It’s an interesting thing to do, and it isn’t as hard as you think. Choose a medium and compare. It’s not a bad sign that you’re similar to your younger self. But, it also isn’t bad to see the differences that time has wrought. Give it a try. And, thanks for reading this long post.
So, what if the Mario Universe crossed over with the concepts of Final Fantasy? I know that Super Mario RPG exists, and I really want to play that game. But, what if all the characters were there and the Mario characters that we’ve come to know and love were in a fantastical setting?
