Category: Sci-fi

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Liberty Pop culture Sci-fi

[530] Of Revenge of the Sith

The latest installment to Star Wars saga is explosive. I saw it in the morning at a local cinema and I very much love it. It is better in many aspects when compared to the first two prequels. Revenge of the Sith is involving because instead of depending solely on choreography of lightsaber duel and special effects, Episode III rely more on emotion – betrayal, to me, seems to be the central theme.

My two favorite moments are when the clone troopers turn on the Jedi and when Anakin loses to Obi-Wan. The betrayal, if it is not for the original trilogy and the expanded universe, would have been shocking. I was especially moved during the assasination of Ki-Adi-Mundi.

Most memorable quote is spoken by Padme Amidala: “This is how liberty ends: with thunderous applause“. What makes the quote memorable is its great relevancy to the real world.

Seven bucks well-spent.

Well, I’m off to San Francisco to meet some people. Later.

Categories
Pop culture Sci-fi

[527] Of eight days to Star Wars

Memorable moments?

Episode IV: the dogfight in the trench of the first Death Star.

Episode V: “Luke, I am your father”.

Episode VI: Ewoks kicking stormtroopers’ ass with Leia in interesting custom.

Episode I: Darth Maul vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. Another one is probably the pod race. And maybe Padme Amidala (Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman!).

Episode II: Yoda! And Amidala.

Episode III: I bet it’s going to be Anakin vs. Obi-Wan.

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Books & printed materials Photography Pop culture Sci-fi

[526] Of ten days to Star Wars

In about ten days or so, the final installment of Star Wars will be “in theaters near you”. I was a Star Wars fanatic a long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away. In fact, the galaxy is actually this galaxy. In read all the novels and the so-called technical book filled with pseudo-scientific details of Star Wars. I bought weird Star Wars stuff too and called it collector’s edition. Hence, I know the well-announced TIE-Fighter (TIE is twin ion engine if you are wondering) to the less-known but powerful TIE-Defender; from the exciting X-Wing to its obscure predecessor Z-95 Headhunter and the corporations that played important roles in development of the machines.

I only stopped being a fanatic after the official publisher of Star Wars novels was switched from Del Ray to Random House. Not that I hate Random House but the first Star Wars novels released under Random House was Vector Prime. By coincidence or by design, it has roughly the same storyline as The Truce at Bakura, a Star Wars novels published under the previous publisher. I have both novels in Malaysia; read Truce from leaf to leaf but read only the first few chapters of Vector Prime. I told myself, I’m not going to read this thing all over again. Hence, Vector Prime is practically the last Star Wars novels I have read. I have never touched any Star Wars novels since. Along with that, my fascination with Star Wars Galaxy diminished.

However, I remember someone said, once a Star Wars freak, always and a Star Wars freak. Not true entirely but perhaps, it is, to some extend. One proof is, I’m still excited about Episode III. It is where all the questions will be answered, where all the loose ends will be tied up.

The two other prequels have answered some of the questions. I must express however my disappointment with both Episode I and II. The hype around the two movies was extremely high but when I was inside the theater in 1999 and 2002, I found there is too much fat. Things don’t go smoothly with the dialogue. My taste of a good movie is a movie with witty and flowing dialogue, much like Casablanca.

To come to think of it, movies these days depend too much on motion, appealing to the eyes and rarely to the ears (minus the music but even if soundtrack is considered, many movies lack memorable compositions). In my opinion, all those black and white movies, such as Dr. Strangelove needs attention of the audience to be fully appreciated since the dialogue is complex. Casablanca’s dialogue in particular, is especially complex that I dare say, if one takes the classic from TV to radio, one will still be able to admire it. Not so with Star Wars and most others modern works.

In spite of that and the disappointment of earlier episodes, Episode III looks promising. Critics themselves are impressed by it, claiming there’s meat to it.

Of course, who cares what the critics are saying. If the critics are so good, they should be the ones that direct the movies, not the directors. Regardless what the critics say, hell, I’m still going to watch Star Wars.

Long live and- May the Force be with you, always.

Categories
Economics Environment Politics & government Pop culture Sci-fi

[524] Of The Economist and oil

Exactly a year ago, Paul Krugman wrote an article entitled The Oil Cunch. He started off with:

Before the start of the Iraq war his media empire did so much to promote, Rupert Murdoch explained the payoff: “The greatest thing to come out of this for the world economy, if you could put it that way, would be $20 a barrel for oil.” Crude oil prices in New York rose to almost $40 a barrel yesterday, a 13-year high.

Rose almost to $40 per barrel; about a year later, it is hovering more or less above the $50 per barrel benchmark. There was a time when lots of people thought $50 per barrel has too much fantasy in it. Now, nobody dare to question the $60 level too much.

The Economist latest edition has oil has its main focus. From one of its articles, it is clear than the team at The Economist doesn’t approve the plan to drill ANWR. The magazine bills such action as “This is mad”, or was it “This is madness”.

I agree so much that this is madness. Drilling the nature reserve in Alaska won’t alleviate the current crisis. The drilling return on investment won’t come immediately and by the time the extraction hit full speed, given the increasing global demand and little sign of slowing demand in the near future, oil from ANWR won’t be able to make a noticeable impact. It won’t make a lasting impact at all.

Believing the act of opening ANWR would relax the oil price is similar to believing one is Superman; able to stop a speeding bullet train by standing in the middle of the track, head to head.

The only solution is renewable energy. Or nuclear. We need to act now. Oil won’t last forever; renewable will.

p/s – I’ve come to a conclusion that The Economist is environmentally-friendly.

pp/s – can you feel it?

Because I do.

Categories
Environment Liberty Politics & government Pop culture Sci-fi

[479] Of Iraqi National Assembly election

Very soon, in less than 24 hours, the Iraqis will be able to decide the future of their country. Finally for the first time in an episode of a tediously long drama, they will be able to participate in a countrywide democratic process.

Earlier, I had actually thought that this election would elect the head of the state and other high state functions, similar to the November US presidential election. I was wrong.

Instead, the individuals elected into the Iraqi National Assembly will discuss and draft a new permanent constitution for Iraq. Later, the constitution will be voted by the Iraqis in a referendum. Moreover, the National Assembly will act as a transitional government, replacing the interim government. Once a version of the constitution is voted and agreed upon, the transitional government will be dissolved, making way for a permanent government. According to Wikipedia, the referendum must be held by October this year.

Wonderful isn’t it? It sounds so soon whereas the occupation seems to occupy reality ages ago.

In retrospect, I believed the war was unjustified. I still believe the war is unjustified. The Bush administration had blatantly lied in the face of public scrutiny and then went ahead to drive its war vehicle despite the red light could clearly be seen from even the back seat. In spite of that, one can’t push away the notion that Iraq, in some dimensions — for instance, pertaining to democracy and the environment — is improving.

Furthermore, what’s done is done and there is no need to lament too much about the past. The only acceptable conduct now is to make it the best out of the worst. This progress in Iraq is something that we all should be smiling for. Never mind which side you and I, they and us stand on the issue.

Meanwhile, the resistance movement has pledged to disrupt the upcoming election. It is unfortunate but comprehensible. It is imperative nevertheless for Iraqi to vote and not cave in to the threat. Submission to fear will lead to a slower resolution. The Coalition troops (really, the US and the UK. Alright, alright. And Tonga and Solomon Islands and…) have the obligation to remove the fear and they have imposed a curfew in order to prevent attack from occurring, or perhaps, more realistically, limits aggression.

Saddest part of this desert opera is not the threat of disruption by the resisting forces. Rather, minus the unlawful invasion itself, it is the decision of major Sunni groups to boycott the election. It is but a fool who would disfranchise himself from his own future. This will be the Iraqi Sunni greatest undoing.

We could only hope for the groups to change heart though I’m skeptical that would happen. I am, however, optimistic for Sunday. Indeed, we all should hope this event will go through without too much unnecessary cost.

p/s – ehem.

More on starwars.com. (via)
pp/s – the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index is finally out. Read entry [495] and [496] for context. Malaysia got the 38th rung, moving 30 places from its initial position in the 2002 index. Malaysia also is the most environmental sustainable in ASEAN though issues like Bakun, Broga and Tioman tend to make me skeptical of the report by a tiny bit.According to the report, there are five variables and one of them is Social and Institutional Capability. This variable fit exactly of what I talked about in the two entries of mine. They however went further by including other variables and the inclusion of four other variables will certainly explain the variability (the R-square for those of you who are familiar with econometrics) much better.