Saturday, May 29, 2004

'Day After Tomorrow' does not suck My personal summer movie season began today with a visit to The Day After Tomorrow. I've actually been looking forward to this one, mostly because I like to see one over-the-top, leave-the-brain-at-home movie a year. So while the global warming theme made me bring part of my brain to the theater, analyzing the plot too closely could bring emotional pain. I may have come to laugh and see awesome FX, but I was accompanied by two Art Bell fans, which made for some interesting conversation over Fuddrucker burgers and beer. You may not know this, but the film is "inspired by" Art Bell and Whitley Strieber's book, The Coming Global Superstorm, a title I won't recommend. But I will recommend the movie, provided you don't take things too seriously. Watch for the tidal wave that hits the Statue of Liberty, the multiple tornados that level Los Angeles (and the truly silly TV reporters who nearly always manage to avoid being sucked into a funnel) and the shots from the space station. Count all the Fox/Murdoch placements. Marvel at how much more the fictional villainous vice president looks like the real villainous vice president every time he comes on screen. It's a summer movie--enjoy! Once you get out of the theater, though, think about the real issues. We were all disappointed that no MoveOn, Greenpeace or Global Exchange type volunteered to leaflet the suburban theater we went to. You can go to these sites to read more. Then consider this article from The Globalist. I can't actually imagine the man who made Independence Day as a heavy in the Green Party, but it could be true. Now I must wait for I, Robot (and, of course, Fahrenheit 9/11). 11:44:41 PM    comment []

Cory Visits Mars Cory Doctorow finally got around to reading Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, and posts his appreciation. Cory says the book could be the best he's ever read. He has quite a treat waiting for him when he starts the second book in the trilogy. Green Mars is actually my favorite of the three. This one is filled with the politics of building a utopian community. Whether it's on Mars or terra firma, idealism can be a rough and complicated business. Robinson has clearly been to some of the same meetings I've been in (if not literally, certainly spiritually), and (as Cory notes) he has a particular knack for bringing this kind of democratic sausage-making to life. Oh to have time to read again.... and I have to get to Cory's book one of these days myself! Cory Doctorow finally got around to reading Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, and posts his appreciation. Cory says the book could be the best he's ever read. He has quite a treat waiting for him when he starts the second book in the trilogy. Green Mars is actually my favorite of the three. This one is filled with the politics of building a utopian community. Whether it's on Mars or terra firma, idealism can be a rough and complicated business. Robinson has clearly been to some of the same meetings I've been in (if not literally, certainly spiritually), and (as Cory notes) he has a particular knack for bringing this kind of democratic sausage-making to life. Oh to have time to read again.... and I have to get to Cory's book one of these days myself! 3:57:19 PM    comment []