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Saturday, July 16, 2005

‘Horrorendo’ ‘not too Fantastico’ (Watch out! Spoilers ahead)

Fantastic Four is one of the few comics-to-movies adaptations released this year. If about one year ago, their brother “Spider-Man” hit the box office chart with rave reviews, it seems that the rest of the Marvel Comics family don’t want to be left behind. F4’s opening weekend marks the end of the box office slump in the States (this year is the worst in 20 years) after Cruise (how sadly), Sith Lord (hmm….), the Dark Night (moviegoers have doubts, maybe) and Mr. Pitt (go figure!) failed to do so.

At times, F4 has the feel and the pace (and the music) of Spider-Man movies. However, fans (comics and movies) may be disappointed as there are not enough duels between the good guys and the bad guy. In this movie, F4 fights Dr. Doom one time only, that is towards the end of the movie. F4 also never fights other (normal or abnormal) bad guys prior to that one. They only get to showcase their powers to the public by ‘accidents’.

So you wonder what the heck are they doing throughout the movie? Well, they are busy adapting themselves to their powers and fighting/bickering/bullying among the F4 family members instead.

The Thing has issues with his marriage and his physical ‘limitations’ after turning into that thing. As he sadly says, “I would give anything to be invisible…” He also has issues with The Human Torch who keeps picking him (aaahh….poor you).

The Human Torch is the least matured of the lot. He just enjoys himself being so ‘hot’ so much, that he has to pose for the cameras all the time, and talk braggingly about his gifts. He has the power to ignite fire at will (to supernova level) and can also fly (woohoo!).

Mr. Fantastic can stretch his body parts to as far as he can, that makes him look rather rubbery. He also seems to be the only one who stretches his minds to the limits in finding ways on how to revert their DNA alterations to become normal again. Apart from that, he’s also busy stretching his hands, trying to rekindle his broken relationship with The Invisible Woman.

The Invisible Woman is more like a mother in the group. She’s always the one to break the fights between The Thing and The Human Torch, the one who worries about The Human Torch’s behaviour in public and the one to bring back old memories with Mr. Fantastic.

As for the villain, well, he’s just concern about his company, his stocks and his about-to-be-ex-girlfriend, The Invisible Woman. His rage over all these things causes him to ‘silently’ kill his doctor, his business partner and a few unfortunate workers. But all other citizens never cross paths with Dr. Doom prior to the final scene. Surely, if this were a real life, during the fight between F4 and Dr. Doom, people would be wondering, “who is this masked person, is he a bad guy and why is F4 fighting him?”

I wouldn’t say the movie is dull…it’s fun, really, but to a certain extent. But show us more evil side of the villain, for god’s sake. He wouldn’t be called Dr. Doom for nothing…Let’s just hope the sequel, which is very likely to happen, will feature more fighting capabilities of both the heroes and the villains.

Now, let’s move to the next movie review. I can say, there are two types of movie remakes. First, the original is (or was) a rather lousy one (at least by today’s standard), and movie makers want to introduce a better version (example is the recent House of Wax). Second, the original is a hit and a classic, but the purpose of the remake is to re-live or prolong the memory and create a slightly different version. So far, movie remakes that fall in the 2nd category prove successful (although obviously, I haven’t watched all remakes). Examples are War Of The Worlds (a BIG YEAH!!!), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Alfie, The Italian Job and perhaps, King Kong?

The Amityville Horror is another remake that belongs to the first category. The original one failed at the box office. Therefore, they try to add more scary scenes from the book by the same title, that has been omitted in the first attempt of adaptation. I remember only glimpses of scenes of the original movie, so I don’t have a point of reference.

But these things have been done so many times before. A haunted house, an invisible friend (usually a girl), furniture moves by itself etc. etc. Go watch the movie if you feel the need to be scared. Otherwise, go rent it or wait till it’s screened on tv.

posted by The Pisces Man @ 4:16 pm 0 people talked at The Boulevard

Thursday, July 07, 2005

7-7

I have mixed feelings with regards to the bombings in London that happened on the morning of 07 July 2005 (local time).

First of all, I condemn the bombings. Mainly because, London (or should I say UK) is the only foreign country that I spent the longest time there (since I studied there).

But then, let's delve deeper into this matter as to why someone would give up their lives (the suicide bombers) just to make a statement, just so that a few (and sometimes very few) 'innocent' people die. As the lyrics of Alicia Keys' song goes: What goes around, comes around...

We all know that the US (in particular Bush) receives strong support from the UK Government (especially Blair) in the 'war against terror'. Countries like Afghanistan and Irag have been bombarded by bombs and shells ever since, and so many innocents have died. I can still remember vividly the photo of an elderly man who held a doll-like Iraqi girl. Presumably the girl had died from a bomb attack by the US soldires, as pieces of meat and bones were dangling from her shattered legs.

I read an article in an email the other day that said, "If one set of people are permitted to oppress another, there will be those among the oppressed who will become oppressors. Oppression is wrong, it is never justified. If we are oppressed, our legal actions involve either removing ourselves from the oppression (hijra) or acting lawfully, if we have the power, to establish peace and justice.

Oppression leads people to consider themselves justified in retaliation. It blinds people to the truth, that retaliation, to the extent that it is legitimate, must never be against the innocent. It could, under the right circumstances, justify action against military targets, "those who fight you," in Qur'anic terms. Never if the blast were aimed at a civilian target merely on the grounds that somebody military was present, or on the abstract theory that these civilians, by their very presence in the land where they live, their home, are supporting the oppressors.

This is how the Prophet Muhammad, SAS, indeed, led his people to success. When he did not have the power to fight oppression, he did not fight it. He accepted it patiently or he fled it. He did not start killing Meccans in secret. He did not send suicide squads against the leaders of the Meccans. However, when he fled to a place of refuge, when he was attacked there, he and his followers, may God be pleased with all of them, defended themselves. Later, when he went with an army to Mecca, and his followers were eager to fight, but the time was not ripe for success, he made a treaty with the Meccans. The result of the treaty was that peace enabled the Muslims to grow in strength, until the point was reached that victory was obtainable without a bloody and indecisive war. And, instead of having to kill Meccans, the Muslims welcomed the vast majority of Meccans into Islam. Peace favors Islam, peace allows the establishment of justice, in ways that oppressors cannot prevent."

posted by The Pisces Man @ 5:56 pm 2 people talked at The Boulevard