The original X-Men trilogy, helmed by directors Bryan Singer and Brett Ratner were known for being the longest running superhero film-franchise to be set within the same continuity. The trilogy is based on the characters from the X-Men comics, with the main plot in the third movie adapted from “The Dark Phoenix Saga” storyline from the Marvel Comics Universe. Many similarities from “The Last Stand” can be drawn with the recent continuation (prequel) of the Harry Potter series, “Fantastic Beasts and where to find them”. These two films explores the themes of racism and discrimination. This paper aims to give readers an insight regarding the interactions between the 2 different groups portrayed in these films, and the reasons for their conflicts.
The idea of racial purity is prevalent in these 2 movies. Racial purity refers to the idea that a particular race is superior to another. The concept of racial purity was developed by Arthur de Gobineau, who argued that race created culture and that race-mixing leads to chaos. In “The Last Stand”, Worthington Labs announces it has developed an inoculation to suppress the X-gene that gives mutants their abilities, and offer the "cure" to any mutant who wants it. The cure is created from the genome of a young mutant named Jimmy, who lives at the Worthington facility on Alcatraz Island. Warren Worthington II states that “These so- called mutants are people just like us. Their affliction is nothing more than a disease, a corruption of health cellular activity.” While some mutants are interested in the cure, including Rogue, others are horrified by the announcement. The cure causes a huge backlash, causing Magneto to re-establish his Brotherhood of Mutants with those who oppose the cure, warning his followers that the cure will be forcefully used to exterminate the mutant race. Storm also remarks, “Since when did we become a disease?” The word “disease” is used very often. Disease is defined as a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury. The mutants in “The Last Stand” is treated as a disease, an abomination that needs to be treated. After the Brotherhood is established, Magneto proudly proclaims “They wish to cure us. But I say, we are the cure.” This sets the stage for the conflict and the third act at the end of the movie. These 2 factions believe that they are the superior race and are willing to forcefully impose their ideals onto the other group. For the humans, it is through the introduction of a cure which allows them to completely undermine the mutants’ strengths and gives them the power to convert anybody to their cause. As long-time X-Men writer Chris Claremont explained back in 1982, "The X-Men are hated, feared, and despised collectively by humanity for no other reason than that they are mutants. The humans have more numbers and the benefit...
