Loathing & Envy

Rating: Null/10 (21 July 2000)

One of the more wonderful themes in this movie (which closely parallels the comic book premise) is the invidious loathing that so-called "normal" people have towards those who are different. An immediate sense of the hearings held by former California state Senator John Briggs about homosexuals teaching in schools was quickly brought to mind in the appearance of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) before Senator Kelly's (Bruce Davidson) committee. Additionally when Sen. Davidson is "converted" it again reinforced the image of irrational fear that so many heterosexuals have about the GLBT community. They both envy the gifts of the minority, and at the same time, loathe them for having something that they fear will never be theirs: Freedom.