Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Bobzammel · 05-12-2003, 03:39 PM

Some have no doubt seen the movie and noticed the Nightcrawler character's obvious catholicism(Although I'm not sure I've heard of anything about the whole angel Gabriel symbols thingy). In a case of unusual timing, two of the four main "X-men" books-Uncanny X-men and X-Treme X-men-have at the same time introduced Christian villains-which makes me worry some zealot will pick an issue up and complain loudly about it.
"Uncanny"(423) seems to almost anti-Christian-it starts with the words "Religion has killed more people than cancer-and we try to cure Cancer". X-treme, in an attempt to tie in with the film, reintroduces X-men character William Stryker. However the comic book Stryker is actually a crazed anti-mutant minister(The movie version is really only the same in name only). In an odd twist, he qoutes the same Psalm that Nightcrawler does at the end of the film, but in Stryker's case it's as people are murdered around him- And the story concludes with Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat(For those unfamiliar with the comic, she's the girl in the movie who walks through walls) being compared to the Whore of Babylon.
Will the villainization of Christians and a Catholic hero upset Christians and set the wrath of the bible belt on Marvel comics?

Any thoughts?

Spaz · 05-12-2003, 04:02 PM

Nightcrawler's always been bitchin, if they mess with him I hope he fucks em all up

. I'm sure the protestant fundies will have a problem with him being catholic (no doubt there'll be a page on landover baptist

), but it's not like he did something wrong or anything, he was a good guy, but idiots are idiots I suppose.

EDIT: Off to read the christian review

Spaz · 05-12-2003, 04:10 PM

Well the review rated it 4 stars with a "very offensive" moral rating because it had violence, sexuality (c'mon), and of course, evolution. The reviewer isn't catholic hating, since they seemed to love the fact that they included nightcrawler's faith in the movie. Funny quote from the review: "The inclusion of Nightcrawler�s faith was a wonderful surprise and hopefully it will serve as a light in the darkness to viewers who need the Savior."

Jet Grind · 05-12-2003, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originall posted by Bobzammel
In a case of unusual timing, two of the four main "X-men" books-Uncanny X-men and X-Treme X-men-have at the same time introduced Christian villains-which makes me worry some zealot will pick an issue up and complain loudly about it.

Well, the've pissed and whined about Harry Potter, Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and a whole slew of others. No doubt they'll piss and whine about this.

Sabine Grant · 05-12-2003, 06:22 PM

I went to see X men with my kids last night and did not find any particular spiritual message to it. I recieved the movie as pure Hollywood entertainment, great special effects etc....

Bree · 05-12-2003, 09:54 PM

Off to Media/Pop Culture...

Arikay · 05-13-2003, 03:33 AM

Oddly enough, I have always liked Nightcrawler because of his religious attitude. Mainly because he can be so different and yet be exactly like everyone else.

But yeah, I dont doubt some weird fringe group will latch onto this.

One of my moms friends wouldnt go with her to see "monsters inc." because she said her church (mormon) didnt approve of that movie.

ksagnostic · 05-13-2003, 04:08 AM

""Uncanny"(423) seems to almost anti-Christian-it starts with the words "Religion has killed more people than cancer-and we try to cure Cancer". X-treme, in an attempt to tie in with the film, reintroduces X-men character William Stryker. However the comic book Stryker is actually a crazed anti-mutant minister(The movie version is really only the same in name only). In an odd twist, he qoutes the same Psalm that Nightcrawler does at the end of the film, but in Stryker's case it's as people are murdered around him- And the story concludes with Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat(For those unfamiliar with the comic, she's the girl in the movie who walks through walls) being compared to the Whore of Babylon."

Haven't read the latest X-Treme X-Men yet, but am looking forward to it. William Stryker is of course a fundamentalist minister, he first appeared in the X-Men graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills. The movie is loosely based on that novel, and the latest X-Treme storyline is a sequel to that story. I'm sure Stryker has a thing for Pryde, because he lost it in front of a national TV audience when he tried to shoot her in the head (she was like 14 at the time).

Note about aging in the marvel universe. It seems that Pryde has gone from 14 to 21 in the same amount of time that Franklin Richards went from 4 to 6. Pryde now tends bar in Chicago, or did immediately prior to the new X-Treme story anyway.

Monkeybot · 05-13-2003, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spaz
EDIT: Off to read the christian review

CAPAlert is apparently Really Mad because the uber-Christian* Nightcrawler was played by Alan Cumming -- who has admitted to playing around with boys! Gasp!

*so I don't know how to do an umlaut on this computer. So sue me.

Ronin · 05-21-2003, 01:25 AM

I finally saw it Sunday and thought Cumming's Nightcrawler was great.

Fave exchanges ~

Storm: Sometimes anger can help you survive.

Nightcrawler: So can faith.

then later ~

Storm: Kurt, can you transport in there?

Nightcrawler: No. I have to see where I am going, otherwise I might end up in a wall.

Storm: I have faith in you.

...spoke volumes, imho.

05-12-2003, 03:39 PM	#1
Bobzammel Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Boston Posts: 276	More Christian stuff in X-men Some have no doubt seen the movie and noticed the Nightcrawler character's obvious catholicism(Although I'm not sure I've heard of anything about the whole angel Gabriel symbols thingy). In a case of unusual timing, two of the four main "X-men" books-Uncanny X-men and X-Treme X-men-have at the same time introduced Christian villains-which makes me worry some zealot will pick an issue up and complain loudly about it. "Uncanny"(423) seems to almost anti-Christian-it starts with the words "Religion has killed more people than cancer-and we try to cure Cancer". X-treme, in an attempt to tie in with the film, reintroduces X-men character William Stryker. However the comic book Stryker is actually a crazed anti-mutant minister(The movie version is really only the same in name only). In an odd twist, he qoutes the same Psalm that Nightcrawler does at the end of the film, but in Stryker's case it's as people are murdered around him- And the story concludes with Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat(For those unfamiliar with the comic, she's the girl in the movie who walks through walls) being compared to the Whore of Babylon. Will the villainization of Christians and a Catholic hero upset Christians and set the wrath of the bible belt on Marvel comics? Any thoughts?

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05-12-2003, 04:02 PM	#2
Spaz Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 6th Circle of Hell Posts: 1,093	Nightcrawler's always been bitchin, if they mess with him I hope he fucks em all up . I'm sure the protestant fundies will have a problem with him being catholic (no doubt there'll be a page on landover baptist ), but it's not like he did something wrong or anything, he was a good guy, but idiots are idiots I suppose. EDIT: Off to read the christian review

05-12-2003, 04:10 PM	#3
Spaz Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 6th Circle of Hell Posts: 1,093	Well the review rated it 4 stars with a "very offensive" moral rating because it had violence, sexuality (c'mon), and of course, evolution. The reviewer isn't catholic hating, since they seemed to love the fact that they included nightcrawler's faith in the movie. Funny quote from the review: "The inclusion of Nightcrawler�s faith was a wonderful surprise and hopefully it will serve as a light in the darkness to viewers who need the Savior."

05-12-2003, 06:22 PM	#5
Sabine Grant Talk Freethought Staff Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 32,364	I went to see X men with my kids last night and did not find any particular spiritual message to it. I recieved the movie as pure Hollywood entertainment, great special effects etc....

05-12-2003, 09:54 PM	#6
Bree Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Twin Cities, USA Posts: 3,197	Off to Media/Pop Culture...

05-13-2003, 03:33 AM	#7
Arikay Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ca, Usa Posts: 262	Oddly enough, I have always liked Nightcrawler because of his religious attitude. Mainly because he can be so different and yet be exactly like everyone else. But yeah, I dont doubt some weird fringe group will latch onto this. One of my moms friends wouldnt go with her to see "monsters inc." because she said her church (mormon) didnt approve of that movie.

05-13-2003, 04:08 AM	#8
ksagnostic Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Wichita, KS, USA Posts: 2,514	""Uncanny"(423) seems to almost anti-Christian-it starts with the words "Religion has killed more people than cancer-and we try to cure Cancer". X-treme, in an attempt to tie in with the film, reintroduces X-men character William Stryker. However the comic book Stryker is actually a crazed anti-mutant minister(The movie version is really only the same in name only). In an odd twist, he qoutes the same Psalm that Nightcrawler does at the end of the film, but in Stryker's case it's as people are murdered around him- And the story concludes with Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat(For those unfamiliar with the comic, she's the girl in the movie who walks through walls) being compared to the Whore of Babylon." Haven't read the latest X-Treme X-Men yet, but am looking forward to it. William Stryker is of course a fundamentalist minister, he first appeared in the X-Men graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills. The movie is loosely based on that novel, and the latest X-Treme storyline is a sequel to that story. I'm sure Stryker has a thing for Pryde, because he lost it in front of a national TV audience when he tried to shoot her in the head (she was like 14 at the time). Note about aging in the marvel universe. It seems that Pryde has gone from 14 to 21 in the same amount of time that Franklin Richards went from 4 to 6. Pryde now tends bar in Chicago, or did immediately prior to the new X-Treme story anyway.

05-21-2003, 01:25 AM	#10
Ronin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,047	I finally saw it Sunday and thought Cumming's Nightcrawler was great. Fave exchanges ~ Storm: Sometimes anger can help you survive. Nightcrawler: So can faith. then later ~ Storm: Kurt, can you transport in there? Nightcrawler: No. I have to see where I am going, otherwise I might end up in a wall. Storm: I have faith in you. ...spoke volumes, imho.

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