Patience...

I know I haven't posted anything here for a long time. I've been really busy and my mind was full of pretty depressing thoughts to write anything interesting. But though the light depression is still there - I will make an effort to put something interesting here soon enough. Also, I've started to work on my English-spoken podcast and about 25% of it is ready. Critical as I am about my work, I think it sucks and hardly understandable due to heavy accent. However, this needs to be done. Also I hope to bring some of my more outspoken friends to a recorded discussion on a few controversial subjects that could make a very interesting podcast which I intend to push forward on the net. It's time to get known!

An example to my points in the previous post. Let's imagine an episode of Star Trek running parrelly on at least 5 of the franchise's versions:

"A space anomaly approuching a derelict space station belonging to a rogue religious who actually worship the anomaly. Enterprise is sent on an evacuation mission.

Star Trek TOS:

Mr. Spock: Captain, we approuching the space anomaly closing on the Federation's station "Dumbldor". I'm reading dangerous amount of space radiation coming from it.

Kirk: Red alert! Raise shields! Mr. Chekov fire torpedoes at the anomaly!

Mr. Spock: I fail to see the logic in such action, Captain.

Kirk: It's ok, Spock. No logic is needed for affirmative action. We'll win, you'll see.

Mr. Spock (raising an eyebrow): Humans are complicated creatures.

Uhura: Captain, I'm picking a strange transmition from the anomaly!

Kirk: On screen!

Pulsating psychodalic colored lights appear on the screen stating in dramatic tone.

Anomaly: Puny creatures! How dare you stand before the great Krol!

Kirk: This is Captain Kirk of the mighty starship Enterprise. We mean you no harm. (Whispering sideways) Chekov, fire torpedoes!

Anomaly: Ha-ha! You can't harm the mighty Krol! Begone or be destroyed!

Kirk: Chekov, launch torpedoes... Eh, mighty Krol, but we are peacefull people. Let us at least evacuate the population of the station and we will be on our way.

Anomaly: Hm. Very well, puny creatures. You have an hour and then I will devour the station with my mighty powers!

Mr. Spock: I fail to see any logic in the anomaly's actions, Captain.

McCoy: Does everything has to be logical, you damn Vulcan!?

Mr. Spock: Yes.

McCoy: Green blooded goblin!

Kirk: It's ok, Bones. He'll learn.

Spock(raising an eyebrow):Hm.

Kirk: Uhura, open-up a channel to the station. (After a signal) This is Captain Kirk in command of the starship Enterprise. We are here to save you from the anomaly and take you safely onboard our vessel.

Old zealot on screen: I thank you, captian, but there is no need for that. We surrender ourselves willfully to our Lord Krol. We wish to be left alone, so please be kind to leave the area.

Kirk: What do you think, Spock?

Mr. Spock: I fail to see the logic in this man's words, captain.

Kirk: You're right, Spock!

Mr. Spock raising an eyebrow.

Kirk: We must save those poor misguided people. Spock, Bones you're coming with me to the station. Mr. Zulu, you have the helm. Scotty ,launch torpedoes, then beam us to the station.

Scotty: Eye, capta'ain. But I don't know if she can hold it. It wasn't made to launch so many torpedoes.

Kirk: I trust you Scotty. Beam us up!"

At the station the team is greeted by the old zealot and lots of young and beautiful zealots barely dressed, especially the females. The old zealot is covered head to toe, however.

Old Zealot: I'm Zortan. Why have you come here!? You are not wanted!

A beautiful barely dressed lady comes closer.

Old Zealot: This is my daughter Zortana. She's single. Now get out of here!

The team pays no attention to the old man, checking the tricoders while Kirk is ogling the lady playfully.

Old Zealot: We pray and worship the mighty Krol!

The young people answer in unison: In Krol we trust and give him our life!

Kirk: What do you make of it, Bones?

McCoy: Godammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a psychologist. They're nuts!

Kirk: Mr. Spock, how do you think we should continue?

Mr. Spock: Obviously these people have no desire to be saved. It is logical to let them be and leave.

Kirk: That's right, Mr. Spock! We'll persuade them to come with us. Starting with Zortan's daughter. I think she is the key.

Approaching Zortana, Kirk: So tell me, pretty thing, why do you wish to stay and be eaten by a giant abnormal deity?

Zortana: Only through Krol will we reach heaven. So says my dad.

Kirk: Well, he's wrong! Krol is not the only way to reach heaven. Here, I'll prove it to you.

Kirk grabs Zortana slightly forcefully and kisses her passionately. She moans.

Zortana: This feels like heaven, alright. But I dare not defy my father.

Kirk grabs and kisses her again. Zortana: Yes, I'll come with you! Save us all!

Kirk: Gather all the station personal and meet us at the docking station. Don't tell your father. (Into his communicator, pleased with himself): Scotty, prepare to beam us all up. And all our guests.

McCoy: Are you sure, Jim? Should we force this on them?

Kirk: What do you mean, Bones? Are you saying we have no right?

McCoy: Goddammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not a philosopher. Who cares!

Mr. Spock: Interesting. You didn't provide any reasonable argument to persuade that woman, yet she was convinced so swiftly.

Kirk: The powers of lust and desire. Very human things, Spock.

Mr. Spock raises an eyebrow.

All the young and beautiful people along with the team beam to the Enterprise.

Kirk jumping from the transporter platform: Chekov, launch torpedoes..

Chekov: Yes, sier. Vill be dunn. (Stalling) Kepten, ve dont hev any mor torpidos.

Kirk: Can't be! Then fire phasers!

Scotty: I'm sorry, capta'ain! But we don't have any energy left for phasers! I used it all up on transporting our guests.

Kirk: Scotty, Scotty! You have to do something! I believe in you!

Scotty: Oh, all right, capta'ain! I'll see what I can do! But I don't know how more abuse she can take! I'm working miracles here!

Kirk: I trust you Scotty! Do your magic!

They make it to the bridge.

Kirk: Uhura, open up a channel to the anomaly. I wish to speak to our "mighty" friend.

Mr. Spock: Do you have a plan, captain?

Kirk: I don't plan, Mr. Spock. I improvise!

The screen is filled with pulsating LSD colors.

Krol: You're late! Your hour ended long time ago! Prepare to be devoured!

Kirk: Wait a second, my friend! If you could devour us, why didn't you do it long time ago? Why wait all this time and let us finish our rescue? Unless, you can't devour us! It's all a bluff! You're not a mighty being, but a weak and hungry space anomaly. You have no power left! We're not afraid of you!

Krol: How dare you, puny creatures!

Kirk: We dare and that what makes us human! Scotty? Do I have my phasers?

Scotty: Yes, capta' ain. I'm ready!

Kirk: Mr. Chekov, fire phasers at the station!

Chekov: Vaye, kepten! Firing fazers!

The screen shows the station being evaporated.

Krol: Nooooo!

Kirk: Yes! You didn't want the humans on the station! You feed on steelanium-5 of which the station is made of! And since you didn't attack us, I'm guessing you're so weak of hunger, you're about to die!

Krol: So hungry! Food! Fooooo... (He dies and the colors dissolve on the screen.)

McCoy: Well done, Jim!

Mr. Spock: This is highly illogical! How did you figure it all out?

Kirk: I had a gut feeling, Spock. A hunch!

Mr. Spock: Hunch is not logical, captain!

McCoy: Stupid Vulcan!

Kirk: It's ok, Bones. Humans are complex. He'll learn. In time, he'll learn.

Mr. Spock raises an eyebrow and slowly turning walks away, while Kirk and McCoy smile to each other slyly.

The End."

Of course, I exaggerate for humor-sake, but this is the basic template of a generic Star Trek episode. No science, and no real moral questions or logical issues are ever explored here. And Spock, who keeps claiming how everything around him is illogical, fails to see a slight glimpse of logic, once it is actually used. Because, he's an inferior stupid Vulcan! I'll do the TNG run on my next post.

A look at Star Trek

A few days ago I watched "Star Trek" alone on my laptop and wasn't very impressed with it. Then I watched it at home with my wife, on a giant (can 37" be considered giant any more?) screen and my home theater audio system. I enjoyed it so much more, and my wife simply loved it, expressing a great desire for more. So as I've written both here and on my Twitter account, the direction and execution of this movie was good enough to look swell in cinemas, to be fun and exciting for a general movie goer. But then, my wife said that she liked the movie so much - she's going to give the TV show a try, out of curiosity. I reminded her that she watched it before and didn't like it at all. She answered that she doesn't remember it this way, and that what she remembers wasn't that fun. And then it stroke me that she watched "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Deep Space Nine", but not the original Star Trek show of the 60s. And also, that she was absolutely right. The consecutive shows in the Star Trek franchise were fundamentally different from the original, and those were actually the shows we grew on, and by which we judge the film. Hence all the whining about the stupidity of the plot and total lack of real science in it.

Yes, the later shows were not "fun" for a general audience. The trekkies are always presented as geeks and nerds, all obsessed with the original series, but the fact of the matter is, that the later shows were actually much more geek-friendly and "scientific" then any episode of the original. Their target audience was much different. Let me explain what I mean.

The original Star Trek series was made in a time, when most people weren't very versed in scientific facts, especially where the outer space is considered, as it was only the beginning of the space age, so to speak, and most scientific information wasn't yet released and available for public knowledge. As such, most so-called sci-fi shows, were very unscientific, concentrating instead on adventure and action with some moral lessons. That's why most of those shows didn't age very well and today look completely ridiculous. And not for the effects alone. Take a look at the characters and the way they are presented in these shows. We usually get a standard pretty, groomed 60s template masculine heroes, basic supermen whose whole statue and constitution rick of self-confidence and bravery. They are ready to shoot lasers at the alien menace, save the screaming girl in danger and perhaps even save humanity in the process as a bonus. Something to boast about later on, while "romancing the females" 60s style. The world needed perfect heroes back then, and those demands were answered in the sci-fi media.

Check out Star Trek now. We have Captain Kirk, young, pretty in, what then passed for, excellent physical shape, whose heroic bravado somehow always saves the day, inspite of the seemingly logical impossibility of the situation. In fact, that's why Mr. Spock was put there. To be a constant contrast to that heroic, stupidly brave behavior. Spock, in a way, represent a scientist who is rarely the hero, but who always helps the hero to achieve his stance. That's because he lacks "emotion", that is not fitting to the social template for a heroic character of the time. He thinks before he acts, and he "boringly" analyses everything instead of rushing into action. That's why he's not the captain, and Kirk is. The leader is not the smartest of the bunch, but the bravest and the most compulsive one. The conflicts in the show were rarely, if at all, resolved with logic and science, relying more on cunning and intellectual inferiority of the enemy. Or just simple brute force. And always, Spock, the scientist, learned how defective his reliance on logic and science was, compared to the raw human compulsiveness of emotions. Of course, that's total bullshit. But back then, that was the sci-fi romanticism of the era.

And now look at the newer shows. We got Captain Picard, an aged veteran, extremely authoritative with infinite wisdom and morality, never rushing into things alone, rounding a team behind him, consulting his officers and actually acting on their advise. This is not an era of a lone hero. This is a "space democracy" in action. Where Kirk always tried to usurp the laws and regulations of The Federation, being the cocky outlaw heroic figure of his time, Picard respects the chain of command trying to work within the confinements of The Federation's directives. A different kind of heroic figure. Now the show does rely on science and diplomacy, in fact so much, as the show completely alienated the general audience. I remember complaints of general folks who tried to watch it either with me, or by themselves, that it was too talkative and dramatic. That there wasn't enough action in it. Look at the original show - it's mostly action, and it was considered too slow and talkative at its time. And then we have the next show - "Star Trek:Deep Space Nine" that forfeited science and action almost completely in favor of diplomatic and moral discussions, which made it even less successful on TV. Then came "Star Trek:Voyager" which tried to combine both previous shows and failed miserably, basically beating a dying horse. "Enterprise" tried to revive the almost dead interest of the public in the franchise, by introducing some of the elements of the original series, but mostly repeated it to the letter - the pretty cast, the heroic flawless captain, even a female version of Spock. It didn't work. The fans expected a smarter show in vain of the "Next Generation" at least, and the general audience just didn't care anymore. "Enterprise" is considered the last nail in the coffin of the franchise as it was.

The feature films didn't help matter neither. While the films based on the original provided some excitement and tried to expand the adventures and the action element of the TV show, the newer films couldn't achieve it within the modern established universe, with the exception of "First Contact" that was passable at best, mostly because it defied the restrictions of the franchise cannon.

Which is why this film came to be. The owners of the franchise understood that they can no longer milk any money from it, in its current state, especially when new franchises like Stargate, Firefly and Battlestar Galactica continuing to gain audience, basically stealing Star Trek fans from them. The logical conclusion was to go back to the roots and figure what went wrong and what needs to be fixed. That's what the new film does. It takes the original ideas and elements and gives it a modern slick makeover. My guess that the makers simply addressed the complaints and the issues people were having with the franchise throughout its run. Too much discussion and meaningless scientific technobubble? Gone! Moral questions debated ad nausium? Gone! Complicated plots connected and based on the now huge series' cannon and characterizations that relay on previous viewing of the entire franchise? Gone! Let's strip the show it its basics, but not in the old-fashion outdated way the "Enterprise" did. Let's do it modern, fast-food quick taste-like, with supercilious characters and fast paced action a la "Star Wars" and "Starship Troopers". Look how well it worked for them!

And there you have it. The new movie is the closest thing to the original show we ever going to get, without being anachronistic. All the good old elements are in place and they work, just like they worked before. Of course, we ,those born in the 80s and later, who grew on the more somber, filled with serious pathos, pseudo-scientific Star Trek shows, geeks have hard time accepting this movie for what it is. An eye candy for the general folk who have no interest and knowledge in science. Who just want to be entertained by epic space adventures on a grand scale, with heroic action that defies logic and reason. They want Kirk! Yes, we're back to the age of blissful ignorance and primitive barbaric emotionalism (did we ever really left it?). History repeats itself. Prehaps, again, we will grow up and mature to Picard and Sisko. And regress back again. Probably...

"Star Trek" short review. Longer version is coming...

I wanted to write a review on "Star Trek", which I finally watched this week, but couldn't view this movie on its own, outside of the franchise or the way it is perceived by most sci-fi fans. Seems it will turn into a long thesis about the Star Trek universe and why the criticism of it is both right and wrong. So I'll get to it soon. In the meantime, a short opinion:

The plot is stupid and makes no sense what-so-ever. However, the dialogs are well written and the direction is very dynamic, completely covering for the idiocy of the plot. The effects are very well done and the acting is superb on most parts. Except, the musical score was too obvious and repetitive. And those artificial flares annoyed me greatly. What is the deal with them, I couldn't figure. There was no light source to actually cause them, and artistically I can't say they served any purpose. They could have worked in some scenes, but the decision to put them everywhere was an ill-advised one. Generally, it was a fun movie and a good reboot for the franchise. Good in the commercial meaning of the word, as it obviously turns to a wider audience then the previous releases ever were. Star Trek is no longer sci-fi (was it ever?). It is now a fantasy adventure.

Makes me sick...

It's sad to read such news on its own.

http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3795596,00.html

But reading the responses is simply sickening! A few examples (translated from Hebrew):

"Good riddance! We don't need professors and academics! We need rabbis and mitzvahs observant jews!"

"Excellent news! All the left-wingers and Israel haters leave and only the good quality people stay."

"Those who leave this country are its enemies and we're better off without them!"

"Parasites and gentiles! God cleanses the land!"

Where are we going? Are these the "good quality people" that left behind to run the county? Since when reason and education became an anathema for this country's ideals? How can I, a reasonable secular person getting a higher education can live here, even if I wanted to? Let me guess the common response:

"Go away! We'll be just fine without you! Russian gentile swine!"

The atmosphere is definatelly a familiar one...

I really don't understand how the people behind such decent TV series like "Fringe" and "Alias" can create such horrible (script-wise) cinematic abortions like "Transformers", "The Island", "MI3" and "Star Trek". And now they are given more franchises and properties to ruin! Remember the names of evil: "Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman"

Post-Modernism in Literature Theory

This year I'm redoing my Literature Theory course at the university. I was shocked by the change in the sylabus of the tutorial for the course. Gone are Plato, Aristotle and Shklovsky, Lessing and Heidegger and Foucault. Enter Neil Gaiman, Max Brooks, Mary Renault, Dan Simmons and Harlan Ellison (google them - it's worth it). There are also screenings of Tim Barton's "Big Fish" and Blomkamp's "District 9". Apparently, it's called Post-Modernistic Literature Theory and seems they decided it would appeal more to the contemporary students. It's going to be an interesting semester.

As promised, here is a short review of the "G.I. Joe: Rise Of The Cobra" movie. Why short? Well, this movie is so stupid that I decided that the less I talk about the plot and the narrative, the less I'll be aggravated in the process. So I'll just go over the stuff I liked about it, of which is very little, and the rest.

The positive: I liked the music which accompanied the action nicely, but I came to expect such quality from Alan Silvestri. Also, Marlon Wayans was actually tolerable. I usually can't stand the guy. "Requiem for a Dream" was the only film in which he did any acting. Otherwise, he's just a poor black man's Jim Carry. Really poor. And really black.

The negative: The entire film. The rest of the cast either do absolutely nothing (a good thing in this case) or turn in a specially bad performance. Tatum Channing looks pretty and dumb. Not for a moment did I believe he was a real soldier. I still can't shake his image as a break-dancer from "Step-Up" or a gangster-wannabe from "Havoc". And he's not helping me in this movie. The female cast do nothing but look sexy in those tight black suits. And both are very capable actresses. Dennis Quaid - how mighty have fallen! He looks either drunk or very tired in every scene he's in. Or maybe both. I understand that he's bored out of his mind here, but must he bore me as well?! Mr. Eko/Adebisi (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) - you have such charisma and screen presence otherwise, where did you hide it? Dr. Who/Second Coming of Christ (Christopher Eccleston) - WTF?! How hard can it be to play the Hollywood's token British/Scottish bad guy? Dr. Evil from Austin Powers movies looked better. Sheesh! And the very talented and finally apretiated Joseph Gordon Levitt was probably laughing behind his mask and make-up, which is probably why they needed to dub him.

But hey, you'll say that movies like that are not made for the acting or the plot. They are made for special effects and the action. Well, for me, this movie failed at that too. The action is not very engaging and the special effects look so cartoonish and unrealistic, that Transformers look like District 9 in comparison. I had more fun watching the cartoons based on the same toys franchise. In fact, the latest G.I. Joe: Resolute is one kick-ass cartoon I really recommend to watch instead of this crap. I mean, they actually have a bad guy making demands based on real actions instead of empty threats. They blew up Moscow, for fuck's sake!

Casual gaming makes some real progress!

I really enjoyed this albeit short, but real fun casual game. "Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!" has nice little detective mystery story, well written and spoken dialogs and some very accessible and fun puzzles. Casual gaming really stepped up a notch since the stupid time-killers like Zuma, Luxor and Jewel Quest. This one feels like a very light mini-quest with some really nice production values. Recommended for everyone, regardless of what your usual gaming tastes are like. Especially recommended for gamers' wives and girlfriends and their mamas.

P.S.: Just don't confuse this gem with the regular Nancy Drew adventures series. It's abysmal, boring and butt-ugly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH4-b91zd2g&feature=player_profilepage

Cinema Judgement

Those two movies are guilty of being extremely moronic and wasting perfectly good actors, while being directed by otherwise capable filmmakers. Full reviews will come soon...

This article says it all...

Though I can't really put myself either on the right or left wing of Israeli politics, I do like smart and constructive opinions and ideas on both sides. This article is just outside those politics and speaks of simple facts that should be known, regardless of what wing you belong to.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3789007,00.html

Review Of Epica's new album "Design Your Universe"

By this release, as far as I'm concerned, Epica can do no wrong. Three consistent quality albums, each with its own style, a masterpiece in its own way. This new one is simply a combination of them all, reaching a pinnacle of sorts, a level that will be hard for them to top next.

First of all, "Design Your Universe" is their most brutal and heaviest album to date. Instead of moving "forward" to a more accessible and commercial sound a la Within Temptation and Sirenia, these guys went back. Way back. It is, as if they wanted to remind us - this is Metal, complex, brutal and unrelenting. At times, we get some mellow passages that trick you into believing that you're going to get a ballad or something, only to quickly submerge you into some crunchy riffs and brutal growls.

Second, like stated above, this album is a combination of all the elements that were separately present in their previous releases. For example, you get the somewhat complex operatic melodies and hymns from their debut album, the more accessible, bordering on Pop-like singing from Simone (but only occasionally) and a bit straightforward melodies from the second album, the heavier and a bit more progressive sound from their third outing. But that's not all. In additions to all old tricks utilized again, they add quite a few new ones, never presented before. We get more vocal chores that sound more gothic and operatic than ever. We get some real Black Metal brutality and blast-beats. We get Mark growling like no-tomorrow, putting himself on front stage, instead of occasionally complementing Simone and letting her rest during the long songs.

Third, ... ah hell, this album just rocks! Really recommended for Epica die-hard fans and Metal lovers in general. Really not recommended for first time listeners of this kind of music and non-Metal girlfriends and wives.

This didn't work quite as expected...

I activated an option in this blog which I thought would just inform you of updates made and new stuff posted, but apparently it send the entire article via email instead. I realize it might be bothersome, so if you wish to spare yourselves - let me know and I will remove you from the list. Generally, I doubt I'll post that much anyway.

Karaoke Blues

Seeing the Naharia band "Winterhorde" following me on Twitter, I remembered how I auditioned for their vocalist position. I used to grawl pretty well. But during the last couple of years, I rarely did any grawling, like I used to, either at karaoke parties with my friends or while driving. That's cause I do little driving now, and there's no spare time or place for karaoke parties (home is no longer an option - I don't want to scare my little kid or bother his sleep in the evenings).

Doing the nightshift at work, being all alone in the office, I tried to karaoke a bit, and was suprised how fast I lost my voice. I used to do much better in the past. It was really fun, though. Seems my work office at night is the only place, for now, where I can train myself again. If only I could invite some friends and have some beers here... ;-)

Terrible news...

Forget politics and end-of-the-world hysteria. A small thing like that here http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3787303,00.html really makes my spine tingle and hair (if I had any) stand up. As I've found out recently about myself - ever since I became a father, these kind of news or any tragic news about children, move me in ways I was never moved before. Becoming a father does changes something in you, especially in an emotional person as myself.

Next week is my last one before the beginning of the new academic year, during which I'll have so little time to spare, that breathing will seem like a luxury. So I got grand plans for it. I'm planning to record an English-language podcast about politics, review some games and movies both in writting here and in audio format in both languages, and perhaps even write a short story that has been building inside my head for a while now.

No dillema...

I decided not to mirror this blog in Russian, as I've found it too boring to translate my own shit. So, instead, I'm going to write 2 different blogs in different languages. Naturally, this one will be updated more often (if at all).

A dilemma...

Should I mirror this blog in Russian too?

"District 9" Review

From the very first time I lay my eyes on the marketing website http://www.d-9.com/ for this movie, I got a feeling this was going to be special. The marketing campaign was interesting enough, but I also got excited when learnt that it was directed by Neil Blomkamp whose short films I enjoyed tremendously. Then came the first trailer and both my and general public interest in this movie sky-rocketed. The trailer showed great promise and the rest of the clips that followed only helped to generate a great hype around this movie. There were so many thing going for it. It was a sci-fi film set in South Africa, a place rarely visited by fantastical creatures in Hollywood productions. It had a small budget, yet it was produced by Peter Jackson, famous for his huge summer blockbusters of late. And though the idea was not as original as presented ("Alien Nation" was there before), the visual execution showed something we haven't seen yet. Now that's the movie is out - there is a fantastic word of mouth and the reviews are raving with praise. So naturally, I couldn't wait to see it myself. And now that I have - here are my thoughts.

A letdown. A disappointment. Don't get me wrong - I didn't hate the movie. In fact, I think it was really good. It just didn't live up to the hype for me. Didn't fulfill its potential. When the movie was over, I felt it could be so much more. A milestone in the late Hollywood cinema. A smart and thoughtful sci-fi blockbuster that would elevate the mindless degenerated shit that passes nowdays for a cinematic experience back to that stimulating level it used to be at before. It didn't. It made an attempt and gave up half-way through. Let me elaborate.

"District 9" tells of an alien race coming to Earth and getting stuck in a malfunctioning ship right above the South African city of Johannesburg. When humans come on board the ship, they find an crustacean-like race in horrible living conditions, practically starving to death. They relocate them into a district near the city in the slums area where they become refugees. Soon, tension and discord arise between the human population and the aliens and the corporation behind the relocation decides to move them again, this time in a sort of concentration camp far from the human population. Wikus Van de Merwe is an office weasel that gets promoted into a commanding post over the mission and incidentally ingests some kind of alien fluid, on one of the raids, which changes him and his life forever, connecting him irreversibly with the alien race.

So what's I liked in this film? First of all, its first half is indeed an intelligent and stimulating experience. We are treated to a faux-documentary style film clips and TV reports that establish the world in which the movie takes place and the main characters. And it looks fantastic. The CGI aliens look great from the technical point of view. They are so well integrated into the live environment that you have no doubt that they are real and immediate. The interaction with the live actors is also done very well, almost the best I've seen so far. This world is easy to believe in. The filmmakers went out of their way to put every detail where it count, and visually they won the jackpot. This movie puts the budgetary behemoths like "Transformers 2" to shame. It also proves that going subtle instead of grandiose makes a much more realistic and enjoying experience when it comes to special effects.

Then there is the acting. This movie features a guy in the main role, with almost no acting experience. He never acted in front of the camera before, except a tiny bit role in one of Neil's shorts. And you barely notice that fact. This guy brings it home big time. He plays his character, Wikas, so well, that you forget that this is a fictional character. His voice, his body language, his emotional range all persuade you 100%. Amazing! And the character is written so well. This is not another one dimensional hero that you get from the start to the end, knowing exactly what he'll do and what he'll say. This is a real human character. And not a very pleasant one at that. Wikas is a repugnant selfish coward. This fact is established really early in the movie through the many scenes of fake interviews and his interactions both with humans and the aliens. Of course, then you expect him to change throughout the movie and learn his lessons. Wrong! He acts believably human, and keeps in character to the very end. His actions makes sense in the context of his character and he never does something out there. Even the heroic act at the end of the movie is more dictated by desperation than altruism or bravery. This how humans work, unfortunately.

Now to the things that let me down. Notice how I praise the character of Wikas and not anybody else. This is because he is the only well written character in the movie. The rest are your generic stock characters with one word motivations. You got the loving wife, the cold hearted asshole of a boss, heartless greedy corporate executives, workers and trigger-happy soldiers commanded by this really evil bloodthirsty racist of a colonel. These are not real people in this realistic world, these are plot drivers. I especially, detested the colonel. Not only this guy speaks in short barking sentences like any other soldier out there, he is actually stating his characteristics explicitly on various occasions. For example, he plainly says he enjoys killing the aliens and then laughs maniacally, right before doing so. Yes, he's that subtle.

And then there are the aliens. Visually, they are great, technically speaking. Esthetically, the look like something between a cockroach and a shrimp. The fact that they are constantly shown picking in garbage, wearing garbage and trashing garbage around, doesn't make them look any prettier or cause you to feel any compassion for them. In fact, you fully understand the humans who want those buggers gone and away from them. You'd want too. They act violently and seem to have an intelligence of a gorilla. And it makes little sense, that these guys would pilot a ship and other hi-tech vehicles. Sure, it is implied that these are either slaves or some low-intelligence working class drones, but still creates a logical plot hole. Well, one of them is very intelligent. And that what bothered me. All the aliens look and act, well... alien. Except, the main alien character. This one is given a human name of "Christopher Johnson" and all the human characteristics, like human face expressions and body language. He even speaks in his alien tongue, just like a human would. In complete contrast to his brethren. And he has a son he cares for, and a friend. He makes these human gestures with his head and hands and he is intelligent enough to build a lab in his shack and repair a spaceship. The only one! The only explanation I could think of, was that this is the pilot of the ship. A higher-class citizen in his world. But that doesn't explain why he acts so human, except as a way for the filmmakers to make him likable and relatable for us. This is a bold example of how they didn't go the Full Monty with their own sci-fi ideas, trading for a simplistic cop-out for the sake of accessibility. Too bad.

And then there is the second half of the movie. This is where it turns around and becomes another sic-fi action flick. There is a chase, a shoot-out and a heroic stand-off all by the book. All originality this movie accumulated flew right out the window. It was still well made and enjoyable, more than most other action flicks released this summer, but I expected a little more. Actually, a lot more. Oh well...

So to sum it up. "District 9" has great special effects, believable and interesting plot that works most of the time, some disposable characters, one great character of a main protagonist, some great first time acting and directing and a let down typical Hollywood ending. It is not a bad movie, by any means. It just doesn't go all the way through with its own ideas and that was a big let down for me.

I still recommend it for anyone.

Trailer at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6PDlMggROA

I'm back!

Opening a Twitter account got me thinking. I know damn well that my friends won't read or follow my posts, and it is next to impossible to generate that kind of interest in complete strangers. So why should I bother, right? Well, I did find it very satisfying to express my thoughts, as random as they were, so far. It felt a kind of liberation, both mental and emotional. Besides, I do need the practice.

So there it is - I'm back on the blog, whether it's going to be read by anyone other than me or not even that. After all, most diaries remain an undiscovered personal treasure, so why this should be any different.