Dominatio Per Malum

‘Resistance to science’ has early roots - USATODAY.com

Resistance to science is nothing new, of course. The Catholic Church condemned the astronomer (a poor one by all accounts) Giordano Bruno to death in 1600. Galileo famously received home imprisonment in the same era. In the U.S., the 1925 Scopes “Monkey Trial,” a battle over a Tennessee law that forbid the teaching of human origins, was the “Trial of the Century” long before O.J. Simpson ever took the stand.

Today, we don’t toss scientists on bonfires, of course. We have congressional hearings. Last year, climate scientists Ray Bradley, Michael Mann and Malcolm Hughes, answered questions about their research funding from a congressional committee. Fights over evolution led to 2005’s redo of Scopes Trial issues in a court case involving the Dover, Pa., school system. And stem-cell research has fueled prolonged political fights, figuring in the last three national elections and a recent vote by Congress to expand the number of human embryonic stem cell lines available for federal research funding, which faces a veto threat from President Bush.

“Scientists, educators and policymakers have long been concerned about American adults’ resistance to certain scientific ideas,” note Yale psychologists Paul Bloom and Deena Skolnick Weisberg in the review published in the current Science magazine. In 2005 for example, the Pew Trust found that 42% of poll respondents think people and animals have existed in their present form since the beginning of time, a view that is tough to reconcile with evidence from fossils. Many people believe in ghosts, fairies and astrology. “This resistance to science has important social implications because a scientifically ignorant public is unprepared to evaluate policies about global warming, vaccination, genetically modified organisms, stem cell research, and cloning,” the psychologists say.

This is a boring post about playing Magic the Gathering. Read only if you play Magic.

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Linda Linda Linda (2005) 7/10

Linda Linda Linda is simply about a group of girls who form a band to prepare for a school concert. That summary of the plot however, fails to do justice to this enjoyable film Featuring a smashing and addictive soundtrack – the movie’s theme song will stay on in your head long after the film has ended- and a photogenic cast, this Japanese film is a surprisingly art house endeavor that will nonetheless appeal to the average movie-goer. Of note is korean actress Bae Do Na, who plays an exchange student in japan. Bae is one of the most talented korean actresses and her role here is understated but notable. The easy chemistry amongst the girls, the moments of quiet speculation intermingled with the occasional touches of humor makes it feel like a Jap version of Ghost World with bands. Overall, an underrated but entertaining gem.

Paprika (2006) 9/10

Paprika opens with a virtuoso dreamlike sequence that is at once jarring and disconcerting. After yanking all preconceptions of what you might expect from an anime, it proceeds to send you headlong into an adventure that is frenetic and exhilarating. Describing Paparika’s plot is an excercise in futility, seeing as it incorporates elements of sci-fi, film noir and horror, among others.

There are some films where the plot itself does not really matter and all that matters is to immerse yourself in the experience of the film and let it lift you. With Paprika, you literally soar as director Satoshi Kon crafts a riveting tour de force that will probably alter you perception of animation itself. With dazzling imagery (proving you don’t need 3D to make a brilliant anime) fueled by an inspiring soundtrack and top-notch editing, watching Paprika almost ranks as a cathartic experience. Satoshi Kon works like Hayao Miyazaki on steroids, overloading the audience with a visual-sensory assault and dazzlingly original vision mixed with sly homages to films past. How can one not like a film that references Tarzan, Sun Wukong, Millennium Actress and Tokyo Godfathers, among others? With a creepy looking Japanese Doll that that seems to be inspired by Ju-On, to a colorfully ominous procession that could have been taken from Ghost In The Shell 2, the film is a smart, intelligent feast that ranks amongst the best animation ever produced.

Currently it is one of only 4 animated films that deserve a spot in my top 100 films list, and is the second best animated film i have watched , losing only to Miyazaki’s seminal Spirited Away. If Terry Gilliam’s Brazil was turned into an animation, it might well have become Paprika. This intellectual flight of fancy isn’t as easy a feat as it may seem and the director crafts the tale with finesse. The Pang Bros recently tried a similar concept in the live action meets CGI film Recycle, which was a muddled and mediocre accomplishment. But Parika not only effortlessly blends the myarid genres, it does so with verve. As one of the best animated films ever produced, Paprika ranks as a must see film for any movie lover, a film that not only meets the exacting standards of the arthouse critics but also thrills the mainstream viewer. Utterly mesmerizing.

“An animé filmmaker whose lushly fluid visuals glide, swagger and throttle about with amazing dexterity, Kon’s latest is an aesthetically breathtaking future-noir-via-philosophical-head-trip”- Schager

“Smart, electrifying, and proudly unhinged, this Japanimated gem definitely belongs in the fold, and might even win over a few older art-house patrons with its very adult, transhumanist premise of interactive dream therapy run amok.”- Hillis

Y Tu Mama Tambien (2002) 8/10

YTMMT is both a road trip tale, a coming of age tale and a sly social commentary of Mexican society. That it manages to blend so many genres into one coherent and cohesive film is remarkable, and Alfonso Cuaron has set himself out as one of the major talents from latin america. Cuaron interposes moments of voice-over narration at certain points of the film, a technique that would have been tacky in the hands of a lesser director, but Cuaron injects subtle commentary on the mexican society through this narrative device. The film is at once tragic and funny, sensual and sobering, with an excellent performance by the 3 leads. Gael Garcia Bernal needs no introduction here. He has consistently impressed in films like Babel, Amores Perros and will continue to do so. Easily one of the strongest actors of our time, i can see him eventually getting an Oscar. But the true revelation here is Maribel Verdú, who is the driving force of the film. Her performance is brave, powerful, and, when the final denouement comes, powerfully emotional. Critics have proclaimed YTMMT as one of the best films of 2002. I’m inclined to agree.

“It is true, as some critics have observed, that “Y Tu Mama” is one of those movies where “after that summer, nothing would ever be the same again.” Yes, but it redefines “nothing.”- Ebert

“There is an intimacy to the triangle at the heart of the picture that suggests a manifestation of the recollected ménage a trios from Bergman’s Persona, and Verdú’s difficult performance carries a weight of pathos that is unexpected and ultimately honored by Cuarón’s script”- Walter Chew

Night Listener (2006) 4/10

I was bored. Which is probably the biggest indictment for this thriller that doesn’t thrill but instead retreads old cliches and stretches a 30 min psychological thriller into a full movie. The plot simply isn’t exciting enough, and Robin Williams is miscast.

Spiderman (2002) 7/10

As far as comic book adaptations go, Sam Raimi’s Spiderman is a winner. Because its the first film that started off the trilogy, it necessarily has to begin with the origin story which sets up the backdrop for the more fulfilling and generally superior Spiderman 2.

Tobey Maguire is excellent as the nerdy timid Peter Parker while Dunst is picture perfect as MJ. My quibble here is that the film progresses on a typical and generic story arc and the main weakness is the villian-can-kill-the-hero-but-chooses -not -to-do-it-syndrome, which is one of the worst comic book cliches to employ. William Dafoe is solid as Green Goblin, but nowhere near the gold standard set by Nicholson’s Joker.

Still, as popcorn entertainment and as the prelude to the excellent Spiderman 2, Spiderman 1 thrills and entertains in equal measure. It also boasts of some magical moments like the upside-down kiss. Overall, its great summer entertainment.

Hot Fuzz (2007) 8/10

Absolutely Brilliant! A sharp, sardonic take on the traditional buddy cop flick, Hot Fuzz takes the usual genre conventions and turns it on its head. Easily one of the best and funniest satires i have seen, Hot Fuzz is filled with top-notch performances and sharp British wit. This one’s a winner. I wasn’t that taken with Shaun of the Dead, but this is a tour de force of farcical standards! Right now, its the #1 film of 2007 so far and is almost certain to make my top 10 lists of 2007. I’ll probably never see a funnier film this year. As for the plot, the less you know, the better. The film progresses in slick satirical fashion before it ends in a climatic, over-the-top finale. All in all, highly recommended.

StarCraft 2

OMG. Blizzard has decided to get off their cash cow WOW, and finally give us SC2. Not that i’m complaining. This only means one thing: After Sc2 will be Diablo 3 (probably). Yay! Finally, there is a game for me to look forward to. Every once in a while, a game is released that sets your heart aflutter and makes you really really want to upgrade your computer. SC2 is that game.

Species Explosion

Already this year researchers have announced the discovery of a bunch of new species: 6 types of bats, 15 soft corals, thousands of mollusks and 20 sharks and rays, to name a few. If a report issued in 2006 by the Census of Marine Life—conducted by more than 2,000 scientists in 80 countries—is any indicator, we will see a bumper crop of new animals in the years ahead, too. These discoveries, from the Hortle’s whipray to the Bali catshark, are partly the fruits of new technology like DNA bar coding, which allows scientists to use genetic differences to tell one species from another. But that isn’t the only reason: Evolution actually speeds up in the tropics, research has found, and global warming is making it happen that much faster.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest 8/10

1976 Oscar:
Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jack Nicholson)

Best Actress in a Leading Role (Louise Fletcher)

Best Director (Milos Forman)

Best Picture

Best Writing, Screenplay Adapted From Other Material

1976 Golden Globes:
Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture - Male (Brad Dourif)

Best Director - Motion Picture (Milos Forman)

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama (Jack Nicholson)

Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama (Louise Fletcher)

Best Screenplay - Motion Picture (Lawrence Hauben & Bo Goldman)

American Film Institute Top 100 Films of All Time : No. 20

‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ became the first film in 41 years to sweep the major categories of best picture, director, actor, actress and screenplay. Recognized as one of the best films ever made, Milos Forman’s powerful tale is as much a social commentary as it is a humanizing tale of a group of inmates. Jack Nicholson is powerfully mesmerizing as the rebellious, sane inmate but it is really Louise Fletcher’s performance as Nurse Ratchett that truly steals the show. As an allegorical tale of how individualism is beaten into submission into conformity, the film shines and is deftly directed by Forman.

However, i felt that what detracted from this was that the film was too long and some of the scenes were jarring and a tad too manipulative. The most egregious of these was the entire boating trip which i felt was totally unnecessary. But despite these missteps, it is still worthy of all the awards and accolades it has garnered and has some truly magical scenes, the best of which has to be how Nicholson narrates the imaginary baseball match just to spite the nurse.

“Along with It Happened One Night and The Silence of the Lambs, these are the only three films to win all four major Oscars (actor, actress, director, picture). It’s still the only film to deserve it.”- Null

“Philosophically sound, motivational, inspirational, Czech director Milos Forman’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is one of a small number of Best Picture winners to deserve the statuette.”- Chambers

Patently obvious - The Boston Globe
Last week, ruling in a dispute over the design of a gas pedal, the Supreme Court jolted the American patent system. The case, KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., dealt with the placement of an electronic sensor in an accelerator that could be adjusted according to a driver’s height — not in itself a matter of national concern. But the court used its decision to issue a broad rebuke of the way in which American patent cases are decided. In the process, some patent lawyers say, it may also have added a new level of uncertainty to an area of the law that is vital to the nation’s economy and our ability to protect and encourage innovation.

BBC NEWS | Europe | France looks to new Sarkozy era

The size of Sunday’s election victory - a resounding win by 53% to 47% in a two-horse race, with a turnout of 85% - gives the new president real authority, correspondents say.

In France, a 53% win is called ‘resounding’. In Singapore, 66.6% is lacklustre.

Days of Glory [Indigènes](2006) 7/10

Nominated: 2007 Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film (Algeria)
2006 Cannes Film Festival:
Best Actor- Ensemble Cast
François Chalais Award- Rachid Bouchareb

A powerful tale of of 4 North African soldiers fighting for France in WW2. While these men fight alongside the French, they are not accorded the rights of French citizen and are discriminated simply because of skin color. As one quote poignantly puts it, “Bullets do not choose their victims.” A solid and topical film about racism and war.

“It isn’t often a movie has the power to force a country to do the right thing.” - Newsweek

The Last Kiss(2006) 6/10

A fairly enjoyable , albeit slight film.

Sherrybaby(2006) 7/10

Nominated: 2007 Golden Globes for Best Actress
Nominated: 2006 Sundance Film Festival- Jury Prize
2006 Stockholm Film Festival: Best Actress (Maggie Gyllenhaal) and Bronze Horse (Laurie Collyer )

Despite the generic plot, Maggie Gyllenhaal shines. Easily one of the most talented actresses of her generation, it is unfortunate that she hasn’t had the big break she deserves. She showed her acting chops in the excellent 2002 film Secretary, but hasn’t made it into the big leagues yet. Its a pity, because she deserves to be mentioned in the same breath along the likes of A-listers like Scarlett Johansson or Nathalie Portman. Still, Maggie shows flashes of brilliance in this film and transcends the ordinary script and pedestrian direction.

Conversation(s) With Other Women(2006) 6/10

Technique-wise, brilliant use of split screen. However, the story itself is uninteresting and the chemistry between the two leads lacking. Aaron Eckhart is, as usual, imminently watchable although i’m not a fan of Carter. The split screen technique is interesting for maybe the first 30 mins before becoming very gimmicky. Overall, an interesting failure.

Why We Fight (2006) 6/10

A sobering and intelligent film that talks of the ‘military industrial complex’ Eisenhower warned of. It may be a tad too documentary-styled for viewers but those willing to give it a chance will enjoy it.

Notes on A Scandal (2006) 8/10

2007 Oscar: 4 Nominations, including Best Actress (Judi Dench) and Best Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett)
2007 Golden Globes: 3 Nominations, including Best Actress (Judi Dench) and Best Supporting Actress (Cate Blanchett)
2007 Berlin Internation Film Festival: Teddy Audience Award- Richard Eyre

Brilliantly crafted character drama. Watching Cate Blanchett face off against Judi Dench is a thrill, and the 2 Oscar calibre actresses raise what may have been an unremarkable script into scintillating human drama.

Laura Smiles (2006) 8/10

One of the best dramas of 2006 with a commanding performance by Petra Wright. Like a bleaker version of Desperate Housewives, tinged with sorrow and regret

Shooter (2007) 5/10

Is actually not too bad in the first half, but becomes progressively more ridiculous and over the top in the second half. Plus, Mark Walberg lacks the charisma of Daniel “007″ Craig and the cool factor of Matt “Bourne” Damon.

11:14 (2003) 7/10

The plot itself isn’t particularly remarkable, but it is an example of flawless editing and contains great stylistic touches. The lives of several people intersect over the course of one night, and in several brilliant sequences that cut through time. Excellent use of flashback and multiple editing techniques, 11:14 is a case study in how to edit a movie correctly.

TMNT (2007) 5/10

Neither good nor bad. Some of the voice overs really suck. The plot is quite dumb. But it gets brownie points for nostalgia value.

Les Anges Exterminateurs(2006) 4/10

Seriously arthouse french film that is good to look at and extremely provocative. However, it lacks substance and is sometime confusing- i still have no idea what all the supernatural imagery is for.

Ardor (2002) 6/10

Kim YunJin (better known as Sun in Lost) puts in a powerful, heartbreaking performance in this humanizing Korean film. However, after an interesting opening scene, the plot takes a long time to get going and Kim has little chemistry with either of the male leads. However, her performance alone is excellent and its no wonder that she is one of the top stars in Korea. Good acting bogged down by not so good script and slow pacing.

`The Matrix’ tops mag’s sci-fi list - Yahoo! News

Matrix is ranked #1; Battlestar Galactic is ranked #2