Rant...

So I started a topic last time, and I will attempt to finish it tonight. Star Wars. *sigh*

Now, please don't get me wrong. I really liked Ewan McGregor as Obi Wan Kenobi. I thought that it was cast very well. He had a strong performance, and it would have been better with some good dialogue. I enjoyed Ian McDiarmid as Senator/Chancellor/Emperor Palpetine, and (mainly because he is just cool... I mean REALLY cool) Samuel L Jackson as Mace Windu. But in all reality, these performances didn't save me from disappointment.

Let's just start with the characters. The Phantom Menace begins on a ship with two Jedi on a diplomatic mission. Evidently, the planet of Naboo is in trouble. It is here that we are introduced to a young Obi Wan Kenobi and his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn. After their hosts (the Trade Federation) suspect who they are, they try to kill them by throwing poisonous gas at them, followed by a number of droid soldiers. After fighting their way through all that and escaping to the planet, they befriend a local named Jar-Jar Binks (a problem in and of himself, but I really won't get into that...).

Sounds exciting, right? It was visually appealing, but unlike most stories, the violence doesn't actually show us anything about the characters. It was pretty cgi. But no character development at all.

Anyway, in order for the Jedi to get to the capital of Naboo and let the Queen of the Naboo know that their negotiations went terribly wrong, they have to first talk to the leader of the Gungans (Jar-Jar's race). In this scene, Qui-Gon and Obi Wan save Jar-Jar's hide from punishment (he's been banished, you see). Okay... point one for the Jedi. A generous, compassionate thing to do. They also find out that the way to the Naboo is through the planets core. (Why? That is a problem for when I discuss plot.) Anyway, they get to the capital and talk the Queen into running the blockade to get help from the Galatic Senate. They run the blockade and sustain some damage, so they have to land on Tatooine to get parts to fix the ship.

It is here that we are introduced to Anakin Skywalker. A young boy with amazing reflexes and a talent with technology. He's also sort of a brat. This is my main problem with Anakin. We are supposed to be pulling for him. He is, after all, a slave and has a rough life. (I am not sure how his life is rough, they don't really show that... but I am sure it is.) But it is hard when he is so abrasive. Also, backtracking a bit, the party that ventures forth into town to seek the parts needed are Qui-Gon, Padime (one of the queens handmaidens), and Jar-Jar. WHY Jar-Jar? He's proven to be an idiot... WHY???

On Tatooine, we see Qui-Gon try to pay for his parts with worthless currency, AND cheat on a bet. Is this how the honorable Jedi behave? I guess... We also learn that the Force is not a mystical energy flowing through us, as Yoda explained to Luke, but microscopic organisms living symbiotically with us. WHAT??? But that is plot... not characters.

Anyway... I digress. I challenge each of you to describe the main characters of this movie and their motivations. Not in terms of their jobs or what they wore. But REALLY describe them. Also... Who is the main character? Who do we (as the audience) live through? How are we SHOWN not TOLD of the characters friendships and enmities? Seriously... One of the first things that we learn in creative writing classes is SHOW not TELL. It's much more genuine that way. And what goes for writing goes double for visual arts.

I will continue this in a later blog. I hope this is not too rambly... But I guess that is just how I do. :)

GGC

Intro to Looonnng Rant

I have been thinking about a blog post for the past few days. I have started it and the deleted it about 20 times. I guess I dunno how to get it started and go. So I will just dive in.

This blog was started with the purpose of talking about my geeky self. I have used it for many things, rants and raves, silly fluff, whatever. But there has been something on my mind for a while now. STAR WARS. My son shares my love for the franchise, but is a fan of the prequel movies. That is where we differ. I really couldn't succinctly express why until recently. With the help on an online reviewer calling himself redlettermedia. He said in one hour what 10 years of me talking about them couldn't say. George Lucas got it WRONG. And what a disappointment. Seriously! The Force is an organism? I am supposed to identify with a cold and stoic Jedi order? WHY do I care about Naboo and WHY should I hate the Trade Federation? WHY can't the audience be in on who the villain is? Tooo complicated, toooo impersonal, toooooooooo cgi.

This is obviously just the tip of the ice burg. But I have little time right now, so I will call this the intro and continue my rant on a different day. Just know it is coming. Bring in the geek!

GGC

WARNING: Political content, read at your own peril!

So, as you know if you read my blog, I am a user of social media (specifically facebook, google+, and sporadically twitter). A recent "post if you agree" status update has been the focus of my research skill as of late... Which one? Read on, faithful follower, read on...

"THANK YOU FLORIDA AND KENTUCKY!!!! Florida and Kentucky, the first states that will require drug testing when applying for welfare, effective July 1st! Some people are crying this is unconstitutional. How is this unconstitutional? It's OK to drug test the people who work for their money but not those who don't? Re-post if you want all states to do this"

I read about these laws and proposed legislation and etc. and I feel slightly ill. The reasoning behind these bills is that tax payers shouldn't have to subsidize illegal drug use (true statement) and these measures will save money. What I see is children being forgotten. So, I did some research to educate myself on some of my reservations about it.

In Florida, they DID think of the children. Slightly. The recipient who has just tests positive for drug use can name another individual to receive benefits on behalf of their children. Hmmmm.... No problem there. Right? The ADDICT is allowed to name this individual. Not an independent case worker from CPS or a child advocate appointed by the state. Shouldn't these children be placed in a foster home? Perhaps BEFORE their parent is dragged off to jail (ok... I didn't read about follow up on this, but that is another reservation I have about this law... there seems to be little follow up).

AND what happens to the addict here? Are they arrested? Sent to rehab? What? I can find nothing about what the consequences are BESIDES losing government benefits. Either option is costly at best, ineffective at worst. Jail? Well, they can eat there. Hell, depending on the prison, you can even get your drug of choice there. But how does this give us a better situation than we have? No rehabilitation is guaranteed. Rehab? Costly. And if a forced rehab, again no guarantee of success. There IS a problem that needs to be addressed here... But taking welfare away alone is not addressing it. It is IGNORING the problem and allowing it to continue. I wish I had an answer here. I do not. Addicts are gonna be around as long as humans walk the earth, not just to illegal drugs, but to alcohol, gambling, etc, etc, etc.

I have also looked into the numbers of said laws. It saves taxpayers money, correct? It's not all that easy. The following blog entry was the easiest break down of the numbers that I found, but all of my research into practical numbers supports his math:

http://my.firedoglake.com/thingscomeundone/2011/01/18/the-true-cost-of-kentuckys-drug-testing-everyone-on-welfare/

I did not go into all my opinions and feelings on this matter. It seems that if I do, I seem ignorant. Here I will say what I feel. I am safe in my own blog. :) I am against it. I feel that we live in a society and we have a responsibility to those who don't have a voice (for instance, children). I also feel in order to create a world that I would be proud to hand over to my children, we have to help those who are vulnerable better themselves and strengthen themselves (in this case, drug rehab??). In my expressing my opinion I do not feel that I expose my ignorance, but I feel that I share a piece of myself with you. If you feel as though you need to tell me that my opinion is wrong, so be it. I will never do that to you. Opinions are wonderful. No matter what side you stand on them.

GGC