Dominatio Per Malum

Ideas and Trends - The Chief Justice, Dylan and the Disappearing Double Negative - NYTimes.com

Four pages into his dissent on Monday in an achingly boring dispute between pay phone companies and long distance carriers, John G. Roberts Jr., the chief justice of the United States, put a song lyric where the citation to precedent usually goes.

“The absence of any right to the substantive recovery means that respondents cannot benefit from the judgment they seek and thus lack Article III standing,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote. “ ‘When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose.’ Bob Dylan, Like a Rolling Stone, on Highway 61 Revisited (Columbia Records 1965).”

Maybe one day there will be citations to film in legal opinions.

There are good games, there are great games and then, there is Diablo 3. As with all Blizzard Products, the cinematics are top notch and the teaser trailer kicks ass. But is the the gameplay trailer that truly impresses, with a more of what players are familiar with, and then some. I am so glad they kept the 2/3 perspective and did not go full 3D 1st person perspective. That would have been so un-Diablo. Even though D3 is still at least years from release given Blizzard’s tendency to take ages to release games, it something to look forward to.

There is nothing worth watching anymore.

Not since Battlestar Galactica goes for its midseason break, teasing us with the frakking awesome OMG OMG OMG episode 410, aptly titled “Revelations”. Ok, so there won’t be new episodes of BSG until 2009, which is downright disturbing. Having said that, season 4 has been a blast so far. It started abit slowly, but definately began to regain momentum around Ep 406. In fact, Ep 407 “Guess What’s Coming To Dinner” gets my vote for the best episode this season for a tautly directed episode which pushed all the right buttons. From then on it was sheer awesomeness culminating in the jaw-dropping midseason finale that poses more questions than it answers.

But now, there is nothing left to watch. House, Lost, Dexter , Heroes do not have any more new episodes so right now we stand in the wasteland of TV boringness.

So i give other series a try… with mixed results.

First up is Torchwood, a critically acclaimed sci-fi spin-off of Dr Who. I survived 7 episodes which ranged from passably mediocre to downright cheesy before giving up the show. Verdict: Totally overrated. Some episodes were downright lousy.

So next we progress to Sex and the City, that highly rated HBO drama. It did not start well, with a pilot episode that was really, really bad and features way too much voice over narrations and breaking the fourth wall. But upon the advice of a friend that “it gets better”, i have persevered until Season 2. Well yes, it does get better and as the characters become more developed the show does become more engaging. But, it doesn’t make the cut. The episodes become generally repetitive, almost predictable and most damning of all the characters are such slim caricatures that they feel one-dimensional even after 2 seasons. For a show that feature 4 leading female characters, the leads were bland and were saved only by the sharp writing and sometimes risque dialogue. Even Battlestar Galactica’s female cast is more interesting, and BSG is an ensemble show. To me SATC represents entertainment of the 90s, capturing a world where the most interesting thing that captures the American attention is Lewinsky-gate. BSG is a reflection of a post 9/11 world of darker realities and moral dilemmas. In fact, the most poignant sequences of SATC are the shots which reflect a different America, where people carry clunky handphones and the camera pans over the World Trade Center. Overall, SATC caters to the audience of the 90s who might be entertained by such lightweight female angst. But the world has moved on, and SATC just doesn’t cut it.

The last show i tried was The Office (US version) and it was mildly amusing. By that i mean i didn’t laugh at all during the whole show. In other words, a failure. I’d very much rather watch Monty Python reruns than a middling comedy routine. Such as for example this classic MP sketch:

So now, i despair in the wasteland of mediocre television. Is that any TV series that is so frakking awesome that i should watch?

Control (2007) 4/10

Fans of Joy Division may like it, but i was just bored. Its garnered alot of critical acclaim and i’d agree Sam Riley puts in a charismatic lead performance. Technically, the film is also very well shot and its black and white cinematography looks fantastic. But it is a predictable biopic-ish film and the film plods along at a glacial pace. And did i mention its boring?

Vexille (2007) 6/10

Well, it looks gorgeous. Top notch animation. Serviceable plot. It better than say, APPLESEED or GHOST IN THE SHELL 2, but its hardly a classic. Felt too much like a lousier, animated version of Battlestar Galactica. Yes, if you are going to make a film about machines who are humans, then you will be compared to BSG and you will inevitably fall short. Its like if you make a mafia film, be prepared to be compared to Godfather or the Goodfellas. Or War films which are compared to Saving Private Ryan. They have set the standard and every new film with a similar plot will be compared, and those who fall short will be shown little mercy. As for Vexille, its a good looking film with a mediocre plot.

Martian Child (2007) 7/10

2007 has been a great year for John Cusack, appearing in 3 really good films: 1408, GRACE IS GONE and now Martian Child. As its title suggests, the film is about a child who believes he is from Mars. The key is not really the plot but the character interactions. Martian Child is ultimately a quirky, heartwarming sort of drama that i enjoyed greatly.

Grace is Gone (2007) 8/10

John Cusack gives a heartfelt, Oscar worthy performance in Grace is Gone, a tender film about dealing with grief. While Daniel Day Lewis stole the limelight last year for THERE WILL BE BLOOD, John Cusack gets my vote for Best Actor. In this potrayal of a man who has to deal with the death of his wife whilst on combat duty in Iraq, Cusack gives a career best performance that is as subtly heartwrenching as it is memorable. Grace is Gone is the sort of well acted drama that comes ever so rarely. Like a more emotional version of IN AMERICA, Grace is gone intersperses moments of melancholy with humor, comedy and verve. Special credit must go to the two young actresses who play Cusack’s daughters. In particular, Shelan O’Keefe deserves extra kudos for a splendid performance as the elder daughter who puts in a riveting performance alongside Cusack. And interweaved into the film is subtle commentary about the justifications of war and the people whose lives are sacrificed in war. As a drama, it doesn’t get much better than this. See it for Cusack’s brilliant performance and because it is one of the best films of 2007.

“Small and unassuming, Grace is Gone packs an emotional wallop that ultimately belies its low-key sensibilities - with star John Cusack’s career-defining performance certainly playing a key role in the film’s unexpected success.”- Reelfilms

Penelope (2008) 8/10

Despite its utterly predictable Ugly Duckling plotline, the film charms with the easy chemistry between McAvoy and Ricci. Its the sort of lightweight entertainment that hits all the predicted plot points but exudes such easy charm that its hard not to like the film. Probably one of the most entertaining guilty pleasures of the year.

Outpost (2008) 4/10

I can imagine the pitch for Outpost. Instead of featuring zombies or creepy Jap-Horror conventions, lets use undead Nazi soliders! In fact, that’s quite a good pitch because crazy, murderous undead Nazi soldiers are actually quite creepy. Unfortunately, this good idea was stuck in a low budget, kitschy horror flick which has some lame backstory and boring characters. Basically, the bungled a pretty cool concept and the result is a film that sound better than it actually is.

Premonition (2004) 6/10

Premonition is a 2004 Japanese film directed by Norio Tsuruta and should not be confused with the 2007 American film of the same name starring Sandra Bullock. An interesting, atmospheric take on the horror thriller genre about a man who gets ghostly newspaper visages about the future, which doesn’t always work but at least gets brownie points from NOT featuring long-haired women in white gowns or pasty faced creepy kids with big eyes. Although it follows the tired i-can-see-the-future and i should change the fate plotline, it actually adds some level of creepiness and impending dread. However, the first half of the film moves in a fairly slow, plodding pace and doesn’t quite amp the speed. And the finale inexplicably goes into a strange, Groundhog Day cycle (which was actually the more interesting part of the film) which seemed jarring from the earlier exposition. Overall, i won’t call Premonition a great or particularly good Jap Horror-thriller, but its more of an emotional family drama disguised as horror. The film itself is plodding at times and doesn’t always work, but at least it is not another The Ring clone. Overall, a slightly above average J-Horror flick.

Operation Undercover (2006) 5/10

The success of Infernal Affairs has spawned a slew of similarly themed undercover cop flicks. Operation Undercover is one such Infernal Affairs clone with a hook; Instead of sending one undercover, the police force decides to sent a big group of cops undercover. As in hundreds of cops infiltrating the triads. Such a twist, as unrealistic as it may be, is actually quite an interesting take on a tired genre and with polished execution it may even be good. Unfortunately, this is a Wong Jing film, which means any expectations that the film might actually be good quickly gets dashed soon. Although the film boasts of a impressive cast, amongst them Eric Tsang, Francis Ng and a few other HK film regulars, the film is a fairly predictable, unexciting ride. This is mainly because after setting up the hook of having hundreds of cops undercover, the scriptwriter promptly forgets about the hook. It then segues into a predictable gangland drama, with all the requisite backstabbing and triad feuds. The “undercover” motiff is quickly forgotten and the film inexplicably chooses to develop peripheral subplots, including a strange romantic subplot involving Eric Tsang. Having said that, the excellent cast save the film by making it at least somewhat watchable, but there is nothing particularly remarkable about this flick. Overall, a mediocre effort.

Christopher Hitchens: WW2, a War Worth Fighting | Newsweek Politics: Campaign 2008 | Newsweek.com A War Worth Fighting

Revisionists say that World War II was unnecessary. They’re wrong.

Revisionist History that attempts to paint Germany as victim? Somebody hasn’t been reading their history…

Horton Hears A Who (2008) 6/10

Amusing and entertaining albeit lightweight entry. Possibly the best Dr Seuss film adaptation, which is not saying much since previous adaptations have been utter flops. Overall, a passable distraction.

True North (2007) 7/10

Yes, i watch the most obscure films. True North is a small indie film from Scotland with a cast of unknowns and a director i have never heard of. I don’t even know why i watched this, and sort of caught this on a whim. But still, the film is not too bad, even if it could do with more subtlety. A film about illegal immigrants and the moral choices we make. As a small arthouse flick, its not too bad.

The Bank Job (2008) 6/10

Heist Movie. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Moderately interesting.

Flawless (2007) 6/10

Another Heist movie. See above. Slightly better than Bank Job, but still only 6/10.

Counterfeiters (2007) 6/10

Holocaust Movie that won Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. In a year with THE ORPHANAGE, THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, and LUST, CAUTION, this film wins best foreign language film??? Its not a bad film by any means, just unremarkable and even as a Holocaust film, it pales in comparison to THE PIANIST, SCHINDLER’S LIST or LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. Overall, a disappointment.

Paranoid Park (2007) 6/10

A Gus Van Sant film. Note quite a fan of his works, although ELEPHANT was one hell of a movie. PARANOID PARK is a very arthouse and slow movie. The plot itself seemed to me very unremarkable and if the film was shot in a conventional, linear way the movie would have been immensely boring. But with Gus’s style, the movie is only plodding and moderately interesting. As a film, i felt the movie moved too slow, but the cinematography and the visual style kept my attention long enough to finish the movie. A film that is strictly for Gus Van Sant fans. The rest of you will be bored to tears.

Confessions of a Superhero (2007) 7/10

An interesting, almost sad look at the lives of people who dress up in superhero costumes and pose for pictures with tourists. Panhandlers? Or people providing a useful service? This documentary traces the lives of several of those characters, and it tells a tale of the broken american dream. A well crafted documentary that is worth your time.

The Children of Huang Shi (2008) 7/10

A moderately entertaining film. That’s all to it. There is nothing spectacular to rave about, nor anything egregiously bad to condemn. Just a standard, moderately entertaining movie with decent visuals and a famous cast. Watch and then forget.

Margot at the Wedding (2007) 4/10

As a big fan of Noah Baumbach’s THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, i had high hopes for his next film. However, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING lacks the finesse and the sharp biting humor of his earlier efforts and at times feels like Noah is just trying too hard. Part of the reason why this film was just plain boring to me is that the film is basically populated by annoying, obnoxious characters and you don’t really care what happens to them. Despite a cast of heavyweights, the film is plodding, uninteresting and the characters totally unlikeable.

The Water Horse (2007) 3/10

Worse than an all out bad movie, is a movie that is so unrelentingly mediocre that it is depressing. The Water Horse is such a movie, one that strives only for the most mediocre and uninspiring results. The film operates on classic cliche, and the plot moves in a perfunctory, uninspired manner. It is so painfully uninspired, so utterly predictable that it was boring and almost agonizing to watch. The characters are bland, predictable without any ounce of originality that the film feels like a lousy fantasy version of Free Willy. Overall, a film so mediocre that it is positively a torture to watch.

The Great Debaters (2007) 4/10

This film is like Rocky, only about debating and includes a message of racial equality. There, you no longer need to watch the film. Jaded film watchers can predict almost exactly what is going to happen. And it doesn’t disappoint, following every genre cliche there is and touching every predicted plot point. Not even Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker can save a film that is dead the moment the cliched, generic script was written. This debate film came out in the same year ROCKET SCIENCE did, and whereas ROCKET SCIENCE was a breath of fresh air, with an unconventional ending, THE GREAT DEBATERS is the exact opposite: a predictable, manipulative and utterly unremarkable film.

Princess (2007) 4/10

A dark, animated film in the style of Kill Bill, only much less interesting. The film just seems like a sorry excuse for a revenge flick, without the requisite buildup of character and tension. See, a standard revenge flick usually involves a wrong, or evil done to the avenger or to innocents that prompts the avenger to act in his vigilante manner. This gives the avenger some sort of moral legitimacy to act and thus allows him to become an anti-hero. But if the avenger does not have a good reason to act, or exacts disproportionate vengeance, then he loses his heroic quality and simply becomes a villian. That is precisely the problem with Princess. The revenge is for a slight wrong. The hero comes across as maniacal and unsympathetic. And putting a child character in the middle of all this is just in poor taste and utterly unnecessary.

Yella (2007) 3/10

I predicted the ‘twist’ about 30 mins into the film. The rest of the film is just a boring, uninteresting “character” film. The film is so similar to OBRE LOS OJOS (OPEN YOUR EYES) in terms of ‘twist’ that any film buff worth his salt can predict the ending which leaves the remainder of the film to unfold painfully slowly before your eyes. Overall, yawn-inducingly boring.

Yesterday Once More (2004) 5/10

Yesterday Once more is Johnnie To slumming it. Bringing back the star pairing of Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng, this film seems like a tired effort to recreate the winning partnership of NEEDING YOU. Unfortunately, the weak script which is part heist flick part comedy and part melodrama(ending) doesn’t work. The stars have a natural chemistry but the script is a mess and largely unfocused.

The Last Mistress (2004) 4/10

No, Asia Argento is not leading lady quality and the film suffers because of it. Despite its salacious topic, the film is more a bore than anything and lacks a compelling central conflict to make it interesting.

Machine Girl (2008) 5/10

Totally over the top, unabashedly B flick is actually sometimes entertaining with its copious amounts of gushing fake blood and corny dialog. Its not the sort of film i dig, but i could certainly see B films fans making it a cult hit. I personally disliked it but if you are a fan of grindhouse sort of B films this may be up your alley.

Never Been Kissed (1999) 5/10

The only thing of note here is that a very young pre-megastar Jessica Alba has a small role in this flick. Beyond that, it is a generic rom-com that is neither particularly good nor bad, just average.

Definitely, Maybe (2008) 3/10

Scores 3 points only because of Isla Fischer, who singlehandedly saves the film from being more annoying than it already is. Maudlin, manipulative and mostly predictable, this wannabe romance mystery manages to waste a talented cast and actually manages to make Abigail Breslin’s character annoying. Even Rachel Weisz, one of my favourite actresses seem to be just rehashing her performance from MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS, while the lead actor Ryan Reynolds is completely bland and shares absolutely no chemistry with the actresses. Isla Fisher’s performance is the only saving grace of this pretentious and unfunny comedy.

Ditto (2000) 5/10

A typical time-warping sort of film, where two characters from different times communicate by some artificial plot device. Think Frequency, or Il Mare. The film is a serviceable romantic flick, with sufficiently good looking leads and a crowd pleasing plot. However, how this totally mediocre film became such a hit in Korea is a great mystery to me. It is a fairly maudlin, cliched flick which plays out like an inferior version of Il Mare. Its not bad by any means, just painfully mediocre and unremarkable.