.... speechless....

(But not for long.)

I can't remember when - or even if - I last saw/read a sequel that was better than the first in the series. (Well, except maybe the AC, but that's different...)

X-Men 2 is simply FABULOUS. Kai was on the edge of his seat, and I got so involved with it I failed to note the inevitable plot-holes and errors (because no film is perfect. Except perhaps The Company of Wolves.) Hugh Jackman IS Wolverine - and damn sexy with it. There's something terribly attractive about a (fictional, I stress, fictional) character who deals out death so beautifully and completely without a qualm. And as for Nightcrawler...

Yes, he's different from the comic incarnation, and the two cartoon versions, and I couldn't care less - I think he's gorgeous, and no that's NOT because of the blue skin and golden eyes (what lovely eyes, too!) though obviously they don't do any harm. I'm sooo glad the creators didn't go for the fuzzy look: the tattooed effect is much more eerie... And I'm sure I can't be the only person to see that delicious masochistic kink, all wrapped up in the heavy religious elements of his character. I don't remember the full story of Kurt's origins - and I daren't go check through my original comics because I know what'll happen, I'll get sucked in and won't resurface for days and I can't spare the haddock, James... - but turning to religion to cope with the exigencies of life is a well-worn path, I suppose, and certainly plausible... oh gods I feel a story coming on... [growl] Not until you've written the next 'l&L/AC5 chapters you don't.... Ack, going to buy the dvd as soon as I can, already want to watch it again to start picking up all the little things I missed first time round - and I want a closer look at Nightcrawler's expression when he was shot, it didn't look like pain to me... I can't wait to see the next film! Because there must be a third film. Any takers for a Dark Phoenix plotline?

Meanwhile, back in what passes for reality chez the Kittens Apostrophe (or Aposthorpe, as the Royal Mail will keep calling it...)

Lutra's Soulsis had some interesting observations on the AC...

Why does Zorun get all that sympathy? He has hurt so many members of the family but still they feel nothing but sympathy for him?? Whereas Mahrayne, who did not hurt the family is thrown out?? I mean most wife bashers say they are SO sorry after they put their wives in hospital but they keep doing it: Zorun seems to keep doing it too, so why the sympathy there??? Also did Mahrayne not say that she did not want to be claimed? And also was it not because of her sister that Zorun stuck his thumb in his mouth and went off and sulked?? I have no sympathy for selfcentred, selfabsorbed, basher, Zorun...

Well, the short answer is because I want him to - but that's a real copout and the question's a fair one... You have to bear in mind Saiya-jin culture and the basic Saiya-jin temperament (in my continuum, anyway): 1 female to every 6 males, an aggressive, possessive and quick-tempered species. For 25 years - more than half his lifetime - Zorun had suffered the most appalling violence and abuse from his brother, and even prior to that it wasn't an easy life. His self-esteem is about as low as it can get (it's been beaten into him that he's worthless for too long for him to be able to overcome it), he's been betrayed over and over again, everything he's ever loved has been taken away from him, and he responds to violence with violence because it's the only way he can deal with the pain.

When he first appeared in the AC, no-one liked or trusted him, but over time he proved himself worthy of both, especially once his history was known. And he's only ever hurt two members of the family - Hijau and Ti'aasaan - WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT, and then only once. Every other time has been with everyone's consent (and of course, every time a Saiyan is hurt they recover to be even stronger and more powerful than before, which puts an entirely different slant on the matter). Yes, he claimed Mahrayne without her consent - but she was carrying his child, he believed that she loved him (and let's face it, being claimed by a Saiyan who loves you and whom you at the very least like beats being farmed out with a bunch of other females to a male you may absolutely loathe but can't escape from.) It's happened to other Saiyan females: you learn to live with it, and after all, it guarantees you love and protection for the rest of your life. He hurt Mahrayne ONCE, when he claimed her. The rest of the time he did everything possible to prevent her being hurt, allowing her a freedom completely unheard of amongst Saiyan females, and doing everything he could to make her happy.

And how does Mahrayne thank him? She allows Kelapa to claim her, placing him in an intolerable position. Please remember he was perfectly entitled to challenge and kill Kelapa over his mate (and no-one would have blamed him for killing Mahrayne either - it used to happen...) But he didn't. He loved her enough to endure what would to any other Saiyan be a deadly insult, even though it placed him under a great deal of additional stress. Finding out about Alida was really only the final straw (to use a much-hated cliché): he couldn't even be alone with Mahrayne when they were alone, something that was and still is vitally important to him.

Mahrayne and Kelapa struck at the absolute heart of personal relationships in my continuum, and they won't be easily forgiven for that - if at all - by the Saiyans.

Lutra and I are fascinated by the way this whole issue has polarised Zone members opinions - those who've commented on it either take one side or the other really quite fiercely! (We're actually gobsmacked and really chuffed that it's generated so much real feeling!) What particularly intrigues me is readers' response to Zorun - you see, where Lutra is dealing with issues of personal freedom (or so I believe, no doubt she'll correct me if I'm wrong), what I've done here is to describe what happened between me and my first husband, but reversed: he treated me the way Mahrayne treated Zorun (only he didn't bother to ask first), and with very similar results (except that I most certainly don't love the sexist racist lying bastard any more and haven't done for many a year!) I wonder if people would have the same reaction if the roles were reversed, and Zorun was the one who philandered...?

And yes, Pris - I'm still trying to get the family trees organised, but it's not an easy project! >;-D Will give it top priority though, as things are just getting more and more complicated... Soon as I can, I promise...