"Spiritual Review of 'X-Men: The Last Stand'' by Ramesh C. Reddy

Main Cast:
Patrick Stewart - Professor Charles Xavier
Hugh Jackman - Logan/Wolverine
Halle Berry - Ororo Munroe/Storm
Kelsey Grammer - Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast
Ian McKellan - Eric Lensherr/Magneto
Famke Janssen - Dr. Jean Grey/Phoenix
Rebecca Romijn - Raven Darkholme/Mystique

Watch 'X-Men: Last Stand' Trailer

Plot Synopsis:

‘X-Men 3: The Last Stand’ is about a group of mutants and humans trying to live together. But, a cure is discovered to make mutants into human beings which create a backlash. This causes a clash between mutants and humans with 7 mutants who were under the leadership of Professor Charles Xavier (played by Patrick Stewart) trying to protect not only the survival of the mutants but the humans. However, there are other mutants who are under the corrupt leadership of Magneto (played by Ian McKellan) who want to see humans destroyed.

Content Review:

This is an excellent movie to watch over and over and addresses issues such as sacrifice, racism, power, control, love, selflessness, good vs. evil, need for a cure, leadership, etc.

Spiritual Insights SPOILER ALERTS:

SPOILER ALERT I:

In the movie, we see a flashback that occurred 20 years ago, where two mutants, Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto have a talk regarding power. Professor Xavier wants Magneto to know that power can corrupt. Professor Xavier used his power for good use to help other mutants develop their powers for good use. Magneto however let revenge get to him and used his power to corrupt mutants to work for him. In essence, he used his powers to use it for destruction.

This reminded me of the battle between one of the angels called Lucifer and God Almighty. God uses his power for the good of mankind but one of the angels called Lucifer let pride get in his way and wanted to be more powerful than God. There was a battle in the heavenlies where Lucifer fell taking 1/3 of the angels with him. It is Lucifer who became known as Satan or the devil.

“Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:11-15, KJV)

Now, Lucifer continues to use his power to persuade human beings to do things for destruction. Temptation is his primary weapon. He uses his powers of evil to do his best to take people away from serving God and His ways.

This is no different from what Magneto does who uses his powers for destruction and uses them to allure other mutants away from the leadership of Professor Xavier who uses them to develop others for the good of mankind.

This analogy shows that Professor Xavier is supposed to be a representation of Jesus in the movie who spends all his time serving and helping others with his powers. It also shows Magneto is supposed to represent Satan in the movie who spends all his time for destruction and uses his demons for destruction. Both Magneto and Satan cannot see human beings living in harmony and doing good. Even to this day, Satan cannot stand human beings who do good. He tries to do everything in his power to take people to the dark side. Many have gone that path.

Jesus said, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28, NIV)

Jesus said, “The thief [Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV)

Those who study under the leadership of Professor Xavier and follow his teachings know how to fight Magneto and his demons. In the same way, those who study under the leadership of Jesus and follow his teachings know how to fight Satan and his demons.

Professor Xavier acted the role of a good shepherd who took care of his sheep, the mutants under his care. In the same way, Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd who is there to take care of us humans.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." (John 10:14-18, NIV)

SPOILER ALERT II:

Professor Xavier meets a child who has so much rage in her because she is not like other kids. Professor Xavier lets her know that she has tremendous power and lets know the question is whether she will let the power control her or will she control the power she has.

This reminded me of a Christian life in this world. A Christian is to be different from the world and act that way. We are to be in the world but not of the world. ‘Let the power control her’ represents allowing evil to control her which will turn her life to destruction or ‘control the power she has’ which represents taking the help needed from Professor Xavier to help her control her powers for the good of humanity. In the same way, we need to take the help of Jesus in our lives to keep the power of sin in our lives under control. If we do not do that, then we give sin the power to control us and let it rule us. In the end, it will only lead to destruction.

“If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:7, NIV)

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” (Galatians 5:16-18, NIV)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV)

SPOILER ALERT III:

A cure is created for mutants because human beings see being a mutant as a disease and want to help them. The mutants take it the wrong way and a war ensues.

When hearing about disease and a cure, it reminded me of a virus. Humans have a virus that has infected the whole of humanity. This virus is a deadly disease that sends all humans to destruction. No matter how much human beings rub their bodies to get rid of it, they cannot. No matter how much they wash themselves, they cannot. This virus attacks the heart of the humans, the soul itself. This virus was a result of two human beings disobedience which infected the entire race of humanity.

But the good news is that there is a cure. It is an antidote that is taken to cure the disease. As long as the antidote is in the body, this virus loses its power. It is the reddest antidote ever made. Whatever pharmaceuticals use to make medicine and antidotes, this antidote was made with these ingredients with the lack of a better term:

1. Crown of thorns

2. Three nails

3. Hammer

4. Whips

5. Wood

6. Cross

7. Blood

All these ingredients used on Jesus Christ gave us the antidote. Jesus made Himself available to save humanity. Jesus being perfect knew only His cleansing blood could produce the antidote. Jesus went to the cross of wood, was whipped, was crowned with thorns, and a hammer was used to pound nails into his hands and feet, so the antidote could be made. It is the precious cleansing blood of Jesus. Now the antidote is available as a cure.

But, humanity should be willing to receive the cure for their deadly disease. If they think, they can handle it on their own, it will only be destruction. It does not have to be that way for God Almighty provided the cure through Jesus Christ. When you accept what Jesus did for you and receive His cleansing blood to wash away all the virus in your body, the virus of sin, He will cleanse you and take away all your sin. Now when the time comes to leave this earth, you can be with Jesus in Heaven because He has rescued you and you accepted the rescue. Sadly, not all are willing to receive the cure.

In the movie, we see Professor Xavier give his life to save Jean. However, Jean wanted to live her own way. This eventually led to her destruction. However, those Professor Xavier left behind, carried on his work of developing others who accepted what the Professor did for them. Towards the end, we hear Professor Xaviers voice revealing to us that he was alive.

Will you accept what Jesus Christ did for you or live life your own way?

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NIV)

Jesus said, “For this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.” (Matthew 26:28, NIV)

“And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment.” (Romans 5:9, NIV)

“He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.” (Ephesians 1:7, NIV)

“God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.” (Colossians 1:14, NIV)

“Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” (Hebrews 9:14, NIV)

“But if we are living in the light of God's presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.” (1 John 1:7, NIV)

“All praise to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us his Kingdom and his priests who serve before God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen!” (Revelation 1:5-6, NIV)

There is a lot more in this movie where implications can be made but I will leave that to you.

Questions to ponder:

1. If you had power to do anything, how would you use that power? What would people think about you?

2. Who controls your life: Satan or Jesus Christ?

3. If your answer is that ‘nobody but me’, you have actually stated implicitly,’Satan’, why do you think so?

4. If there is a cure for a disease and you know you have that disease, how far would you go to get the cure? How would you feel when you find out that you do not have to do anything but the cure will be given to you freely for the asking and receiving?

5. Why are people scared to live with people different from them?

6. How do you feel about the sacrifices in the movie and would you volunteer your life to save people who are fighting against you?

7. What have you done with Jesus in your own life

Ramesh C. Reddy can be reached at reddy4HisGlory2004@yahoo.com

Express Your View

Previous Spiritual Reviews

Spiritual Review of
'Last Holiday'

Spiritual Review of
'Swarmed'

Spiritual Review of
'End Game'

Spiritual Review of
The Detonator

Spiritual Review of
Aeon Flux

Spiritual Review of
The Visitation

Spiritual Review of
Red Eye