Movie Review: X3 - The Last Stand

This movie sucked.




I could leave it at that, but, I'll explain, since I do so enjoy a good vent.
Clearly this movie changed hands after the second movie. I already knew there was controversy surrounding which characters would make an appearance, and who would play them, but, come on.
Here are some of my many issues:
The young kids are too young. So young that it's clear the target audience was young teens, as is the case with all movies pertaining to the supernatural. Except, of course, that the X-Men comic and story and fan base is at least as old and typically much older than myself, who is 5 years out of being a teen. For Christ's sake, you can drop a character reference without completely destroying them. How hard is it to not make all the characters look like they're members of Blink182? Some of these mutants are clearly adults in the actual stories.

Juggernaut is NOT a mutant. He was given his power through a completely different source. So being near mutant blocky guy isn't gonna do anything. Additionally, Xavier wheeling past Juggernaut without so much as a word isn't gonna happen, they're BROTHERS. Not only that, but Juggernaut HATES Xavier. The helmet isn't there for protection, it's the same as Magneto's.

Rogue doesn't love Wolverine. She loves gambit, who they dropped from the script because of casting issues. Additionally, Wolverine doesn't love Jean Grey.
Additionally, Rogue is from Alabama. Where's her accent? And why can't she fly?
Storm and Beast kinda like one another. But you couldn't tell in the movie.

Why is Magneto wearing his helmet after Xavier dies? And OMGWTFBBQ. Xavier dies? Way to kill Cyclops within ten minutes of the start of the movie. Guess he didn't really wanna be in it. Way to kill Jean. Way to kill this that and the other guy.

Mental blocks? Alternate ego? The fuck. The Pheonix is a psychic entity that possessed Jean from another galaxy and was the start of a saga that transcended the planet Earth, and delved into the history of Cyclops' family history.

Nice Morlocks though, did a good job there, except that Marrow is a woman who has the power to manifest bone weapons, not some jobber working the guard in a Brotherhood camp. Additionally, the Morlocks live in the sewers beneath NYC.

Level 5 mutants? WTFWTFWTF. This is my other clear evidence that this movie was taken out of the hands of intelligent individuals and entrusted to morons who feel the need to explain everything within the movie, and negate the need to actually know anything at all about the story itself. And they didn't need to explain it at all. Level 5? This is all too reminiscent of the Midichlorion scandal from Star Wars, like somehow the general public needed a logical explanation other than "It's just magic, ok?"

And then there's the whole, you basically just mangled everything I ever enjoyed about the X-Men part. This movie was better left unmade.

The Best?

Funny conversation from last night at TGI Friday's with J:
J: So, am I good in bed?
D: Eh, I've had better.
J: What? Wait, what?
D: What? I've had a lot of sex.
J: Yea, true I guess. I've had better too, you know.
D: Yea?
J: Uhhuh.
D: Except that's a lie and you know it.
J: *groan* I know....

A Dusty Journal at Best

I don't write in here nearly enough anymore. I've been on autopilot for too long. Things have kinda gotten monotonous I guess, the days are blurring by anymore at a rate that I'm not really comfortable with. This year is nearing its end already, nearly September already, and I think the rapid passing of time has something to do with well, financial stability. Each day means less because each day is less of a struggle.

Work is work is work anymore, this month on Saturdays and Sundays I've been working at the new Jusco kashiwa branch and Shin Yahashira, which has been nice cause I get to see some new faces, and working with different people and teaching different students is generally positive for me.

My birthday party was a blast, though it wound up costing me an arm and a leg. But a lot of people showed up, and it seemed like everyone had a good time, but I'm starting to realize how removed I am from the general social circle anymore. Not working in Kashiwa means I don't see most of that crew really, and seeing as I don't work there or live with them really I don't really know what's going on all the time. I've fallen out of touch with the Matsudo people too now that I'm not working there on Sundays anymore either. It's kinda led me to feel kinda lonely of late, I realize that mostly I go to work, and come home, and go to bed, though I know that's really not entirely true.

I went out with Janel last night, and Natascha and I hang out three or four nights a week just for tea and a chat. Greg and I go and do our Greg and David type stuff every so often, so I guess I really can't complain. Just, I'm still choking on that whole, "I've been here this long and really done jack shit" thing that's been bothering me since I've been here really. I hate when people ask me where we should go, and look surprised when I have no idea. They always tell me, "you've been here way longer than me, shouldn't you know some places around here?" But then I always have to realize that my routine really doesn't allow for much in the way of exploring.

I sat down with a calendar the other day at work and started planning out trips for myself for the nextt 6 or 7 months, assuming they renew my contract. Once a month I am going to take a weekend trip somewhere and I am going to really hold myself to it, whether I have to do it alone or not. For the priceof going out drinking a couple of nights each month, I could instead travel somewhere and feel a lot better, I think, about the time I'm spending here. Cause as much as I enjoy the socializing and the drinking, none of it is really lasting when it comes to my memory of Japan and the experiences I'm going to remember. That's daily life shit, and my threshold for exciting, worth mentioning events is so high that it would all just fly under the radar, not matter how much fun it may be.

Women, as has generally bene the case, are confusing, and though I'm involved more with them now than I was in previous months, I still tend to back away from the idea just because it really does cause more trouble that it seems to be worth. It's not that regret getting my toes wet in those waters I've avoided for so long, it's just that however nice it feels on the surface I know the undercurrent is far too strong for how much energy I want to spend staying afloat, or at least not drifting out past where I safely tread water.

I like my books, I like my games, and in all reality, as long as I've got money to pay the bills and friends who even occasionally call me to hang out, I'm alright. Janel and I joked last night about how I'm unattainable, something I used to complain about. But really, anymore, it's right where I want to be.

Season 1 of 24: Late Summer

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear MEEEEEE, happy birthday to me.

post it note

Things I need to write about when I get around to it:
My obs. follow up
Summersonic
Trip to the hospital
Greg, Gearry, and the Asahi Brewery
party planning
having a tan
and so on.

Post Obs

Well, the observation itself I think went alright, I'll find out in a few days when I have my follow up. But, having said that, in true David has an observation today form, I went to the wrong branch, Kashiwa, today, but luckily made it out to my branch on time. Sweet. So then I had my observation, with Sakae and Ikuyo of all people, the probably second worst group to have an observation wtih ever. Oh well. Fell back on good old lesson C10, Free Time Activities and seemed to do pretty well with it.
Oh, and apparently my new boots aren't very professional, and I will no longer be able to wear them to work ever again.
So I went to the wrong branch, AND violated the dress code all in one day that I was being observed. Damn, I am one smooth motherfucker.

I went out tonight after work for Rob's birthday, we had a chill little drink fest in Shin Matsudo at the ramen and reggae place he likes so much. It was me, Rob, Quinn, Thi, Eleni and Natascha, and this little girl at the table next to us who wanted to play with our balloons and I'm pretty sure Eleni adopted. We played our standard numbers drinking game, which fucked Quinn over pretty bad, which is especially funny cause he's a smarmy intellectual bastard like that and it's fun to watch him lose.
Then we played the categories game and did movies for about 30 minutes, and discovered that Natascha knows all of 4 movies ever. But, surprisingly enough, she got better the longer we played, whereas usually it's the complete opposite. Weird.

I caught a cab home cause, well, the trains stop running early on Sundays as I am so easy to forget, and now here I am. Soon, I will find out how I did in my lesson and if my contract will be renewed, and tomorrow I work 1:20-9pm to cover for Rob since it's his birthday. Happy Birthday, Rob. Way to be 13 days older than me.

Pre-observation

So, I have my contract renewal observation today. I distinctly remember having my 6 month and thinking, this could well be my final observation, if I don't like this job or if I find a better one. Neither of those things have happened, so I guess THIS will be my last observation ever, assuming I don't decide to stay here for three years. It'll be in Kashiwa, and maybe Clare will be doing it, which I loathe the thought of.
Then again, I kinda loathe the thought of sticking around at this company for another entire year, if only because of my desire to do something more meaningful and profitable with regard to my hopes for a future career.

Last night I went to Abiko after work to watch the fireworks from the roof of Eleni and Sammy and Jersey's apartment, which was all in all not such a bad night. Went home for my last train, unintentionally just making it. I wanted to go to bed straight away, but Janel popped up and she has a funny way of stalling me for an hour.
I woke up at like 4am this morning, and the sun was already making headway into my room. I decided to be very Roman and got up and closed the curtains and turned on the CoolSalon, and went to the bathroom, but in doing so I kinda woke up, and so the next 4 hours of sleep leading up to, well, now were kinda shitty sleep.

Now I'm groggy as all get out, and I have to pull myself together to go have a full day in Kashiwa and be observed. Wish me luck.

Minor Accomplishments

Today, gasp, I was actually semi-productive, thanks in no small part to the WOW server going down for scheduled maintenance, and the fact that Japan majoritally shuts down after about 4 or 5pm.

Here's what I did today:
Got up at 9:45
This isn't really an accomplishment, I do this every day. I just needed somewhere to start.
Played WOW for a while. Say, four hours or so.
Again, not an accomplishment, but, something I did. Additionally, Chris, Amanda's brother, called me back, and let me know I'm welcome to come down during Awa Odori and stay at his place, even though he won't be there, cause he has friends visiting and they're going to Osaka. Apparently like 5 other people are crashing there right now too because there's been some kind of mass JET exodus.
Called Carly
This is significant because I'm a lazy bastard and hardly ever call people anymore. Also, my phone card is out of credit and it's something of a pain to recharge it. I.e. I have to leave the house.
Made a list of things to do today
Always the most important part of a day, I made a list of the things I wanted to do today. Scribbled on a bank envelope, it had the following items:
Laundry, Addresses, Phone Card, Clean Room, Darts Bar, Guitar, don't make lists within lists.
Mailed my tax return check back to America
To my father so he can deposit it into my account, that way I don't have to wire money home this month either.
Restrung my guitar
It's back to annoying the neighbors with a full 6 strings of mediocre and highly emo guitar. Rock on.
Changed my address with the City of Nagareyama
Something which has topped my various priority lists and been the goal of my days off for lemme see....5 months now. I lied and said I moved in two weeks ago. Hopefully that doesn't catch up with me. Now I need to change my address with the bank and Vodafone, but the bank was closed when I got there and I lost steam quickly after that so I skipped Vodafone too.
Reserved the darts bar Air for my birthday party
Which means all I have to do now is get people to come. Not only come, but RSVP as well so I can call and tell them how many people are coming. 4000 per person, food + nomihoudai and champagne. Champagne. Darts. Absolutely Crush It. Additionally I sent out a mass mail invite.
Did my laundry
Gasp.
Sent Melissa a text
This is notable, cause she was at Ethan's gig the other night and I was essentially stuck in my seat cause I'm a huge massive vagina and couldn't bring myself to talk to her. Additionally, I was kind of inadvertantly rude to people. So, I said sorry for not saying hi, and we exchanged rather upbeat texts after that. I invited her to my birthday party, but I have to say it's going to be interesting if Melissa, Natasha and Janel all come. I guess it also means I have to iron out where I stand with all three of them in the next 18 days or else.
Updated my journal
As you can see, we've caught up with the present, though I'm writing as if it's already happened. Why? Cause by the time it's read, it will have been written, so, it's true enough.
Shortly to come:
Met Natascha for coffee/tea/whateverthehell
Natascha and I met up after her language exchange and had a delightful and thought provoking conversation about a veritable cornicopia of topics, which resulted in laughter and relaxation, and was in no way serious or stressful or involved me apologizing for my increasingly crappy behavior and lack of definition in my relationships with other people. Or not I dunno it's 45 minutes from now.