I saw Troy today and I was very much impressed. It's a good movie with some amazing action scenes. The fight scene with Hector and Achilles was amazing. I have seen bloodier fights, and fights with more intricate, albeit unrealistic moves, but this one looked so fluid and realistic. I liked the horse they used for the movie, it was a nice touch that they used parts from their ships to build it. Sure they made some adjustments to the Iliad to make it more cinematic. A 10 year siege would have bored most people to tears. But I think they could have at least stretched the events to a longer time period, at least 6 months. Just to assemble 1000 ships and all those troops, plus supplies (war movies tend to forget to show supply lines) would have taken at least a few weeks. And I would have stuck with Paris getting killed and Helen being captured and returned to the Greeks. They really skipped some of the feeling of the complete and total destruction of Troy and it's people.
But for a Hollywood version of the epic poem, it came off pretty well. It would have included too many characters to stay true to the story, and it would have made the Lord of the Rings look like a short subject.
Saturday, May 15, 2004
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
On May 1st I posted my thoughts on some of the initial reports of the Iraqi Prisoner abuse story. At that time pictures had not been released and there were faint stories of what sounded like harassment and some roughing up of Iraqi citizens by American military personnel. I don't think at this point it is necessary for me to link to any of the many stories you can find online about this new scandal. My first feelings two weeks ago have only intensified. I feel at a loss to understand how anyone can think that violating the rights of an occupied people will make things easier for the military stationed there or for the larger goal of building stability. I have no illusions about what humans are capable of or of what this country can allow or condone in our history. But how do we show we are different from the dictator we replaced if we use the same methods he did to control the population? When do we begin to practice what we preach, when do the so called Christians who are worried about the FCC and our culture, when do they show their disgust for such abuses?
If anyone should resign from the Bush administration, it should be Colin Powell. As the senior diplomat and as a former military man, he should be outraged at what has been allowed to happen. And allowed is the key word. It wasn't just a few "bad apples", it was allowed, condoned, encouraged and more than likely ordered all the way from the President. Yah I said it. He allows Ashcroft and Rumsfeld to detain prisoners from Afghanistan for over 2 years with no due process. Shit if we are going to execute them, even in a kangaroo court, lets do it and at least keep up some kind of appearance of due process. Show some concern of your image.
In politics and diplomacy, image is important. Substance is too. But image makes a big difference. Sprite couldn't be more wrong.
The current image of the US is not good and that affects us and will affect us for a long time to come.
If anyone should resign from the Bush administration, it should be Colin Powell. As the senior diplomat and as a former military man, he should be outraged at what has been allowed to happen. And allowed is the key word. It wasn't just a few "bad apples", it was allowed, condoned, encouraged and more than likely ordered all the way from the President. Yah I said it. He allows Ashcroft and Rumsfeld to detain prisoners from Afghanistan for over 2 years with no due process. Shit if we are going to execute them, even in a kangaroo court, lets do it and at least keep up some kind of appearance of due process. Show some concern of your image.
In politics and diplomacy, image is important. Substance is too. But image makes a big difference. Sprite couldn't be more wrong.
The current image of the US is not good and that affects us and will affect us for a long time to come.
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