kessbecker - Tumblr blog

[kessbecker]

Don’t get mad. Don’t get even. Do better. Much better. Rise above. Become so engulfed in your own success that you forget it ever happened.

Unknown (via

onlinecounsellingcollege

)

Martial art spirit.

(via todayinmykarate)

[kessbecker]

charles xavier and erik lehnsherr: a summary (insp.)

[kessbecker]

Review! X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

After watching this film I love all things X-Men, all things mutant and all things Michael Fassbender.

It has always been taken for granted that Professor X and Magneto are awesome in every way – their powers, their wisdom and leadership. This is largely due to the amazing casting of Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen in their portrayals of wise-old-super-powerful-mutant-men. The new X-Men: First Class trilogy has hailed in a deeper look into the workings of the X-legends (ha ha, get it), who often provide more background than substance in the original trilogy, as we explore the vulnerabilities and beginnings of Charles (Professor X) and Erik (Magneto) in their more ‘human’ form.

CHECK OUT THE SADNESS:

The film begins in the year 2023 when a mutant genocide has been threatened by super robots which are programmed to match and overcome the powers of any mutant that they meet. This means that Iceman is attacked by robots wielding fire and Colossus is fought by a material that is more indestructible than he is, whilst (for lack of imagination or necessity?) just about everyone else is shot at by a giant fireball or stabbed. 

According to Professor X, the design of these robots is based on studies of Mystique’s DNA (who can change her appearance at will) who was captured and tortured after she assassinated Dr Bolivar Trask. In 1973, Trask headed the most powerful institutional force working to defend the human race against mutants, and his murder promotes this cause catastrophically to the point when these mutant-destroying robots can be created.

The X-team decides to send Wolverine back fifty years into the past in order to stop Mystique from killing Trask which will prevent her from being captured and her DNA from being used to destroy mutant-kind. To do this, Logan (Wolverine) must reunite the fifty-year younger versions of Charles and Erik who are no longer on speaking terms following the Cuban Missile Crisis (see X-Men: First Class, why haven’t you seen it yet!). Following on from First Class this film addresses the struggle between Charles and Erik regarding whether the mutant approach to humans should be diplomatic or forceful, their struggle made richer by the innate brotherhood that exists between the two of them.

Michael Fassbender gives a very powerful portrayal of a crazy-disciplined and crazy-driven Magneto. Without spoiling too much for those who, for some weird reason, have not seen the film yet, I was a little disappointed by Magneto’s lack of emotion regarding the subtle complexities that his character faces when having to choose between the greater mutant good and his relationship with his loved ones. 

In Erik’s case, his coldness is what makes him strong and powerful but his inner struggle is what makes him believable and loveable. Either way, Fassbender’s amazing and expressive facial expressions still receive a double thumbs up. In fact, Fassbender’s expressions probably could have made a movie in themselves (SPOILER: in a scene where Erik is rescued by Quicksilver, whom comic book fans know to be his son, Erik’s face tells a fascinating and wordless story of his realisation that he has unknowingly been a father for close to two decades). 

Whilst we all would have loved to have found out more about Magneto’s and Mystique’s curious relationship, leaks about the 2016 installation of Apocalypse promise to explore that one a little further.

Magneto handwave:

And Magneto swag:

James McAvoy continues as Charles Xavier (who, frankly, has been just too perfect and awesome in the previous films) who is now suffering from depression, loneliness and a pyjama-ed case of apathy after having lost Raven (his best friend and ‘sister’), Erik, his legs and having failed at his first attempt at running Mutant School (admit it, you would have loved to go there for high school). This is a far cry from First Class where Charles appeared as a young genius, loaded with money, privilege and wisdom, finishing his pHD in genetic mutations at Oxford University. 

Now we experience him in his very flawed and raw form which gives us a great insight into the empathy that he offers to the lost and wayward mutants whom he takes under his wing in his later years.

Whilst the X-Men saga continues its (frankly awesome) trend of rewriting historical events via mutant involvement (see the assassination of JFK), it appears that the writers have become confused with the saga’s own history. Despite the fact that most comic book series are notorious for changing a character’s timeline multiple times, more observant fans would have appreciated a little more consistency within the film franchise. For instance, in this film it is explained that as long as Charles uses medication to repair his legs he can’t use his telepathic powers (which is a shame, because that fingers-on-his-forehead move that James McAvoy does when he’s mind reading is swag). 

However in both The Last Stand and Wolverine Patrick Stewart appears as a very walking and very mind-reading Professor X. Also a little less change in actors would be great seeing as Days of Future Past depicts the third actor in the roles of both William Stryker (now Josh Hellman) and Kitty Pryde (now Ellen Page, even though she also appeared in The Last Stand). Whilst this can’t always be helped, it is another indication that most of the X-Men plots are rewritten for each particular film, without much pre-planning regarding which plots points or which characters will be important later on.

Check it Stryker:

Check it Kitty:

In short, this film was awesome. And even though some of the superhero outfits seemed overdone, they were so cool that I’ll ignore their lack of necessity.

Five stars – obligatory because it’s an X-Men film.

[kessbecker]

Be one with the world.

[kessbecker]

I wish I would grow up...

It’s always neglected, never wanted, never invested in.

There are too many distraction, too many superficialities that need to be seen to.

I’m here. I’m waiting. The real neglected me waits alone, quietly watching my body do foreign things, wasting away in a foreign language.

When will I grow up. When will I give up the silly games.

I’m here. I’m waiting. Don’t forget me forever.

I want to thrive, I want to be independent and trustworthy. I want to be proud of me.

But I’m not seen and not heard. Not loved and not attended to. Because I’m too busy making stupid choices that don’t last longer than an hour.

[kessbecker]

“if man is nothing else but what he makes of himself...he can’t start making excuses for himself...” - Jean-Paul Sartre (post-WW2 French philosopher)

It’s so amazing how Sartre was an atheist and spoke his philosophies as a conviction against any form of spiritual existence. And I believe in G-d and love G-d and I speak his words with just as much conviction (although the quantity of conviction has never been scientifically measured) because I believe that the longer we rely...rather, the longer I rely on excuses of ‘I can’t change, my mistakes are part of my nature’, the longer I will fail.

The truth is every Jewish teaching that I’ve studied on the topic agrees with Sartre - we have the ability and responsibility to make ourselves into the best possible version of ‘me’. 

[kessbecker]

If you keep making the same mistake so many times, you become an expert at it.

I really really want to break this habit.

[kessbecker]

Olivia Palermo wears a denim patch shirt with a white full skirt, colorblock sandals, and a pink clutch. 

[kessbecker]

Happy Mole Day everyone! http://wp.me/s4aPLT-moleday

[kessbecker]

Nature is based on harmony. So it says if we want to survive and become more like nature, then we actually have to understand that it’s cooperation versus competition.

Bruce Lipton (via fyp-science)

[kessbecker]

a guide to internet lingo

lms - let marxism succeed

hmu - hail Marx unconditionally

tmi - towards marvelous internationalism

brb - breaking reactionary bourgeoise

rofl - radically organized fiery leftists

af - aristocrats, fall!

ftw - for the workers

lmao - laborers may abolish ownership

[kessbecker]

Somebody is going to win & somebody is not, and that’s fine…But we will never refuse to participate because we’re scared to fail.

Chael P. Sonnen (via itsmmend024)

[kessbecker]

This be me.

Don’t be down on life, make sure you #CreateYourFuture instead!  💕

[kessbecker]

Poem: I wrote this almost a year ago and it’s a little scary how my life seems to have come full circle. I hope I’ve grown even the tiniest bit in the last year.

And as the killers feet drag by,

In broken sky and rotting sun,

He shuts his mind, don’t dare to think.

There is a choice for everyone.

I paved this road so long ago.

A choice was pledged and must be obeyed.

I can’t just change direction now.

The oath of deeds must be obeyed.

The liar digs his grave at night,

Further, deeper - away from any helping hand.

His eyes shed the sweat of his heavy path,

Tears form castles and prisons in the sand.

A soothing voice calls out to the thief,

An ethereal lantern lights a divergent way.

He closes his misused eyes in shame.

I pledged my choice, he answers, I must obey.

The lantern light sings a mournful tune,

As the killer, liar and the thief grow distant in the night.

The soothing voice turns into a pain that breaks their long-lost hearts.

The jagged heart turns into steel,

He’s ready for a fight.

[kessbecker]

[How dare you attack the sleeping panda?!]

I'm so glad to hear from you and I'm even happier to hear that all seems to be going steady. And when it isn't? - Just smile and think of all the good that you have. And remember that you're you which is always a brilliant first step.

Happy new year :)

My Kesskess

[kessbecker]

[kessbecker]

Your list of things to do is beautiful. Try not to think of it as separate blocks, each of which you think you have failed. In that way you can only see yourself losing chances in small gaps of choice time and time again. Life is one thing altogether and maybe one word that you try to say more politely in the morning will have turned you onto a new train of thought the next afternoon. You keep building up and you can't fail a day because your entire life is a process.

This is a hug from me and Bagel.

Made a list of things to do today so that I wouldn’t sit around doing nothing.

I’ll finish it tomorrow.