Jun 24 2002

Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

Better than the first, but is still in a galaxy far, far away from the original trilogy.

##Overall

Overall, I enjoyed [[Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones]] quite a bit. It was definitely better than [[Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace]], but still left me with a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Perhaps I got spoiled by [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]], but I expected a whole lot more than what I got.

##What’s up?

It’s really hard for me to put my finger on why the second episode doesn’t feel quite right. Part of it has to do with the script, part with the direction, and part with the special effects.

Let’s start with the last thing first.

##Special Effects Not So Special

Is it just me, or does everything in the new (old?) Star Wars universe have a distinctly computer generated feel to it? I know all about how they’ve been produced almost entirely in a computer and that nearly all the effects are done that way, but it shouldn’t feel like that. There used to be a certain physicality to the way a Star Wars movie felt. For instance, there’s a definite **presence** to the Millenium Falcon on the screen. You feel as if you could walk up and touch it. But with these new movies and the new generation of special effects, the sense of physical presence is gone.

Also, everything seems just a bit too clean. One of the lasting impressions from “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” was the grime that was ever present on the screen. It helped to make the world(s) that the story took place in have a sense of reality that was almost always missing from Science Fiction before then.

##A Typical Man

I think that George is just afraid to ask for help with directions, or more specifically, to ask for some help with *his* direction. According to the [[IMDB]], “George Lucas” didn’t direct anything between the first Star Wars movie and [[Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace]]. That’s right, he didn’t direct either “Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back” or “Star Wars Episode 6: The Return of the Jedi”. And if we’re honest with ourselves, the original Star Wars is the weakest of the original trilogy in terms of directions (with **Empire** the clear winner). And before that, there’s only “American Graffiti” and “THX-1138”, neither of which are examples of directing genius.

##Scream-play

Some of the dialogue in *Attack of the Clones* is so bad it made me cringe.

##The Power of Myth

George’s gift is in story telling. He is at his best when he’s worrying about the big picture, not the small details. Consider this: he was the story consultant on all the Indiana Jones movies,and Episodes 5 and 6 of Star Wars, but did not write the script and did not direct.

What’s this say? He’s a man of vision.
##Final Thoughts

The biggest problems with both [[Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace]] and [[Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones]] are the screen play and direction, not the story.

Jun 24 2002

Profiling

This is from an unknown source on the internet. I think you’ll get the point.

To ensure we Americans never offend anyone – particularly

fanatics intent on killing us – airport screeners will

not be allowed to profile people. They will continue

random searches of all passengers.

##Let’s pause a moment and take the following test.

###In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by:

  1. Olga Corbutt
  2. Sitting Bull
  3. Arnold Schwartzeneger
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 1979,the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by:

  1. Lost Norwegians
  2. Elvis
  3. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###During the 1980’s a number of Americans were

kidnapped in Lebanon by:

  1. John Dillinger
  2. The King of Sweden
  3. Homophobic Boy Scouts
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by:

  1. A pizza delivery boy
  2. Pee Wee Herman
  3. Geraldo Rivera making up for a slow news day
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked, and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard by:

  1. The Smurfs
  2. Davy Jones
  3. The Little Mermaid
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver was murdered by:

  1. Captain Kid
  2. Charles Lindberg
  3. Mother Teresa
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by:

  1. Scooby Doo
  2. The Tooth Fairy
  3. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid with dynamite left over from the train job.
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by:

  1. Richard Simmons
  2. Grandma Moses
  3. Michael Jordan
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by:

  1. Mr. Rogers
  2. Hillary, to distract attention from Wild Bill’s women problems
  3. The World Wrestling Federation to promote its next villain “Mustapha the Merciless”
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked and destroyed and thousands of people were killed by:

  1. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd
  2. The Supreme Court of Florida
  3. Mr. Bean
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against:

  1. Enron
  2. The Lutheran Church
  3. The NFL
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

###In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by:

  1. Bonny and Clyde
  2. Captain Kangaroo
  3. Billy Graham
  4. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

##Hmmm . . . nope, no patterns anywhere to justify profiling.

Jun 21 2002

Apple’s Stores Help Sales

I knew it was a good idea.

The continued expansion apparently also is fostered by booming sales in most markets where Apple opened retail stores last year. During the second quarter, sales of Apple products jumped by about a third year over year in cities with a store, the sources said.

I went to a store earlier this year and was blown away. I think that anybody who goes to one of these stores will be very impressed.

Jun 21 2002

Not as bad as I thought

I guess on further reflection, the missed call on the Germans wasn’t so bad.

We created enough chances, we should have put one in, said captain Claudio Reyna , who played the most spirited game of his long international career. You can’t blame the officials. They didn’t see it. We’re not going to cry like Mexico did.

I guess so.But is sure looked like a hand ball to me.

Jun 21 2002

US Ousted by Germany

The US loses to Germany with a controversial goal disallowed.

###Germany was Lucky

Former Germany captain and coach Franz Beckenbauer said that the three-times winners were lucky to beat the United States 1-0 in their World Cup quarterfinal on Friday.

America were clearly the better team for 90 minutes, said Beckenbauer, an analyst for Germany’s pay-television network. We’ll have to raise our game considerably after this.

You got that right. The US clearly outplayed and outshot Germany.