LadyHawke

I watched this fantasy movie from 1985, expecting somewhat a movie like Krull or something like that, with the exception of it being more romanced themed. I almost cut of when the intro rolled out. What sort of music was that? By Alan Parsons no less. Don't get me wrong, I like synth music from the 80's, but for a fantasy romance movie? Sounded more like a pop song. It got better though, in the action scenes and such the music is rather good and works. 80's fantasy and synth music goes well in hand according to me, all that's missing was some laser light show representing the use of magic. Not a movie I will go out of my way to watch again, but it was competent. The sets and costumes worked fine and the actors weren't bad... maybe with exception of the lead Matthew Broderick that can't stop talking. 

The concept of the story was also very interesting. A man and woman is cursed to be in the form of an animal, the man a wolf by night and the woman a hawk by day meaning that they are separated for eternity. The curse was set upon them by the Bishop and the man seeks revenge and uses the thief Broderick to enter the town since he's the only one that has escaped from the dungeons. A pity the Bishops connection to the devil wasn't explored more. Really, had the focus been more fantasy we would have a magic battle between the bishop and the father repenting for his betrayal years ago. Perfect place for a laser light show with a strong synth tune.

Star Wars Episode IV-VI

So watched the last/first movies this weekend. Sadly it was the latest edition with some changes. Really, the edition from 1997 is mostly no problem, that one I even watched when they showed them in the cinemas in the 90's. Here we have when R2-D2 hides in a cave from the sand people and they have digitally put in rocks before the opening making you question how he was able to get in there from the beginning. The other scene is the infamous "Han Shot first" where they digitally moved Hans head to make it plausible that Greedo shot first, which wasn't the case. Overall it's a good movie, but when I look at it... it's kinda boring. For some reason even though things happen and moves the plot along it feels slow. All I wait for is the lightsaber duels and the space battles. And then we have the character of Luke Skywalker, who my father don't like at all. No patience, stubborn and not listening to others and so on. Which we both agreed on seemed to be a family trait. Although, in his defence I had to bring up that Luke at least did all those decisions in order to save and help everyone else, compared to Anakin Skywalker who mostly did it to further himself and so on. The whole trilogy actually has better character motivations and arcs. Just look at Han Solo is set out to be greedy and only thinking of himself, but he actually redeems himself by his actions and in the end do the right thing. The music is also something that is still really good.

The second movie and according to some the best movie in the series. Personally I don't know, yet again it feels so slow at times. Besides the Battle of Hoth and the Lightsaber duel at the end it's just slowly building up the end. Maybe it's the dialog that is rather simple even though it gets it message out. Also, looking at it the music overall feels rather subdued, like it only plays at certain key moments in the scenes and otherwise feel rather silent. Other things that feel rather strange is the AT-AT (the giant snow walking imperial machines) that seems to be rather worthless in battle since they just walk straight forward with the least of mobility.

To me this was the best Star Wars movie as a kid. It had the best space battle and lightsaber duel, it has a good ending and the music is at its best. The characters as well end with strong arcs that redeems their fault in earlier movies. Solo takes the lead of a strike team as he has been humbled, Calrissian proves his worth both in freeing Solo in the beginning and leading the attack on the Second Death Star while Luke battles his own inner demons while fighting Vader and the Emperor. Only thing that bothers me is that it feels like an unfinished story when he is able to turn his father to the good side again. Why? I get it was seeing his son being destroyed by the Emperor, but this is Darth Vader who we have seen kill people without thought in two movies past. He even more or less killed his wife if we take the Revenge of the Sith into account so why was it impossible to let Luke die? Was it some back-story I missed? Another problem with the final scenes is that the final moment before Vader turns on the Emperor has lost some of its impact when they added a monologue shouting No! No! taking away the inner conflict. Really sad to butcher it. Then we have the Ewoks. I was never bothered by them. I even remembering the animated series about them and I have seen parts of one of the Ewoks movies. But they show a problem with the series that gets to me. Different languishes. The Ewoks, Wookies, the Huts and so on speak there own languish, that they don't always translate or use subtitles for meaning I don't get what they say. Realistic probably, but the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies knew to subtitle all Tolkiens languishes (with exception of the dwarven I believe). The only reason it has it making C-3PO useful for the audience.

Star Wars Episode I-III

 

Channel 3 have a Star Wars weekend showing all the Star Wars movies and this weekend it was the chronological first three movies and I just had to watch them since it was a long time ago and I'm a bit hyped by the new Star Wars movie next year. The first movie I actually watched in the cinema back in 1999 and I liked it at the time, I was 12-13 years old so it might have been it tailored for kids like me. Today it is seen as either the most boring Star Wars movie or the second worst movie after Episode II. It's not that bad. Yes, Jar Jar is annoying, the whole Pod race scene is just boring and hardly gives anything to the story and just drag. Sadly it was the extended movies so there is some extra time especially around the pod race showcasing even more of the different racers... and I don't even care. And also, the dialogue is kinda stilted at places, especially with Anakin and Padmé (meaning the characters overall). Also I don't quite get how Naboos political system work when they choose a monarch (in this case an 18 old) for a couple of years and then replace them... why queens when it sounds better with a prime minister or president? A monarch can be chosen (we had that before the 16th century), but they sat for life. The better parts on the other hand is actually what many complained about and that is the political aspects of the senate. That is the interesting part. How Senator Palpatine outmaneuvers the current chancellor in the Naboo crisis, which he himself started. Really, the prequels is a much better series from his perspective compared to the rise of Darth Vader.

Episode II then, and again, the political maneuvers are the most interesting thing with the movie. How Palpatine are given extended powers and a republic army to fight the separatist. Much of it is probably due to the actor who really sells the role of this chancellor who reluctantly agrees to stop this threat (although we know he is the one behinds it). Sadly it's what is the main focus of the movie that drags the movie down, the Anakin and Padmé love story or relationship. Due to Anakin Skywalker being one of the most unlikable characters in the series. He is so blinded by his own ambitions, faults and feelings that you just hate him. He complains that he is being held back, doesn't get his credit or that no one acknowledge him. Everything is about this guy and it goes on my nerves. I might just say this due to being a political scientist, but the political stuff is so much interesting cause you don't have him around and the actors in those scenes are good, even Jar Jar Binks have a good plot point that is logical in the story (which gives Palpatine the power he wants, but it is logical) and he play the part good enough. Really, this plot is basically taken directly from ancient Rome when senators grabbed the dictatorship mantle and wouldn't give it back. Also, I didn't watch this movie in the theaters, neither episode III.

Interestingly, I don't find it as good. It lacks the political machinations of the earlier movies, since for some reason the subtleness of Palpatine is gone. He is a cartoon villain. The little political drama that exist is that the Jedi sees themselves forced to take control over the senate in order to stop this power hungry dictator. That is an interesting idea which backfires at them as it gives Palpatine the excuse he wants to eradicate the Jedi. Of course that only works as Anakin betrays them. I see why, he wants to save Padmé I get it, but since he was so unlikable in the last movie and he isn't redeemed here, he makes it worse. When Palpatine wants him inside the Jedi Council he gets upset when the Jedi gives him a place, but not the title of master and dares complain that it is unfair. What a prick! The Jedi overall seems to be pricks using the force as they choose, but still. Doesn't help that he has shown dictatorial tendencies from the second movie. I do not know how to fix this, maybe better dialogue, but you need to change the character of Anakin Skywalker. He can't be this self-entitled ass. It's not worthy of the Darth Vader of the original trilogy who was cruel, calculating and emotional in check. Another unrelated thing... why does the clone army fighters look like X-wings that the rebels used? Shouldn't they be more like Tie-fighters (which interesting enough the Jedi ships looks closer too)?

Overall, fun to watch, but I definitely look forward to the original trilogy this weekend. Also, as a side note, I don't know if Episode II and III had some extended scenes since those movies I've watched the least so I can't tell the difference.

The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies

Watched this movie yesterday and as someone said afterwards, what am I now going to look forward to? Well, beyond the extended edition next September/October... maybe Star Wars, but anyway. I enjoyed and it was a good ending for the series. Certain scenes was unexpected, but fun to watch like Gandalf escaping Dol Guldor. Other things was the small touches connecting to the books, for example that the orcs actually had some kind of vampire bats on their side or that when Bilbo used the ring in the presence of elves they shine of light in this shadow world (although one could argue that the effect only would have been around really special elves like Glorfindel which is the only one that was mentioned having that effect in the Lord of the Rings).

Was it something that I didn't like? It felt unfinished, and by that I mean that there was many things left hanging and this section is gonna be filled with spoilers so be warned. For example when the white council rescues Gandalf Saruman tells the others to leave Sauron to him. If you have seen/read Lord of the Rings you know Saruman is a traitor, but have he turned or is it a possible future confrontation with the dark lord that makes him turn (or it could have been a post-credit scene that we walked out of)? Then, what happened to Alfrid, the Grima Wormtounge of the series? Did he survive the battle? What happened to the people of Laketown, the dwarven kingdom of Erebor and what did the Mirkwood elves do? I know since I read the books and materials around it, but the movies left me hanging. I expect at least an hour extended material detailing Dains coronation, the funerals of the dead dwarves, the rebuilding of Dale and a reunion scene between Balin and Bilbo... that might be asking for to much, but it would be nice.

Pier Solar and the Great Architects

I've been playing this JRPG Pier Solar and the Great Architects on the Wii U. A game made for the Sega Mega Drive (or Genesis for you Americans) released for the first time in 2010. You read that right, 2010. This was the HD remake for modern consoles (and apparently the Sega Dreamcast) and it's a fun game with around 40 hours for one playthrough. The game is beautiful and you can switch between 16-bit graphics or HD or HD+ (what HD+ does I can't actually say since I don't see it) and also between original Mega Drive sound or CD quality. Really good music. It plays as the old JRPG with a lot of random encounters which I have a problem with today, but it works, although at some times traversing a dungeon is just a chore with the same creatures attacking again and again. That is a minus, it's not much variation of enemies, and I can't distinguish between different versions of the same monster.

Story then, the most important thing in a RPG. It's interesting and works good enough. It begin with main character Hoston looking for some herbs for his sick father together with his friends Alina and Edessot. Searching in a forbidden area they stumble upon a garden left by the Architects for the Goamen (which I presume is short for Goat men). That is the setup and now comes the spoilers for you all. The Architects are something between gods and scientists who created the Pier Solar, a machine that makes it possible to... do anything I guess. It's rather diffuse on what it actually is or does. It can create dimensions, change outcomes, travel in time, erase people, make people immortal and other things. As you see, omnipotent power. Of course this corrupted the Architects and they had a fallout which caused a war over the fate of mankinds free will. The rouge Architect was killed and all traces of the Pier Solar and this golden age was erased to save all life. And of course it's your job to ensure that it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

A good RPG that especially the Wii U really need. What misses is some voice acting, maybe deeper knowledge of the main characters and antagonist. But the most irritating thing is a glitch that seems to plague the game. When playing for a while the game seems to freeze, especially around entering different areas or initiating an encounter. I can't even finish the end credits without it freezing when going to the main screen (I presume since it's just black). I haven't seen anyone else complain about it so it might just be my console or download, still annoying though. But really, Nintendo need to fix a real JRPG cause I need to still my grand fantasy adventure craving. I know they have Dragon Quest X in Japan, but it's a online multiplayer game, I need my 50-100 hour single player experience.

Re-Election Time

So Sweden is in the unusual situation of kick-starting a re-election campaign just 2,5 months after the latest regular election. I say let bring it. I may be partial, but I hope the Alliance stomps the red-greens into the ground (unfortunately I don't have much faith in that we can stop or even outmaneuver the Sweden Democrats). As it looks right now we have a good position for it. The Red-Green government is seen as one of the most incompetent governments we ever have had. Only 2 % seems to like this combination, their policies have angered a lot of people across the country and the greenhorns in the Green Party have not been able to show some statesmanship worthy of a governmental party. Doesn't help that they are going to campaign separately, but on the same budget together that was co-written by the Left Party. All this have also cast it shadow on the Social Democratic party that is seen by many as THE Government party. It's a joke now. After some research I see that this will be the fourth extra election Sweden has ever had, the others was in 1887, 1914 and 1958. The only time the liberals came in top was 1887 when the free trade block won, the other times the liberals lost 6-8 %, hope it equals out. 

So why would we come out on top? The disdain for the current government. Also polls shows that a majority blames the government and the Social Democratic leader for this mess (with the Sweden Democrats on the second place) and if that view sets, the red-greens will loose. It doesn't help that when he speaks about responsibility and that he have reached out to the other parties it sounds more and more hollow when the last election campaign had its goals to push out the Center party from the parliament and this election opens up with a hope that the Christian democrats falls out. In government they go away from the deals made in the school area, they alone puts the green party in Pension group without asking the other members who all have veto and just expect them to agree with it since they are part of the government. They say they reach out their hand, but all I can see is a finger of Mordor's black frames and claws (this was a weak try to quote Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Chapter 10 The Voice of Saruman, but since I don't know where my English copy is I had to translate the Swedish one into English and we already know how weird the Swedish translation isso I don't know if its even close to the original, also don't take it to seriously, I just thought about this quote with all the reaching out).

Of course that might not be enough to topple the current government that they are worse than the alternative, to win you also need a vision to go with that people agree on. The Alliance must muster the strength to attack all other parties with political visions and solutions that resonate with the voters. The current economic crisis we will probably win on since we have the strongest economic policies according to the last election, but we need policies on housing, integration,the defence, law and order. If we manage that we might even stop the growth of the Sweden Democrats. And I know that the red-greens will attack us on that we make it worse for the unemployed and seniors, but counter it. Point out that even if the unemployment benefits grows it will not help the youth since they haven't worked enough, counter with a more matching working unemployment institute (either make it completely administrators and private alternatives focus on that or fix the current, less administrative). The seniors, just steal the Sweden Democrats talk from the budget hearings, if the economy goes down the pension lowers as well (which the red-greens budget even admitted). They must do this, otherwise we will loose, also dare be controversial. Attack the unions, they don't shy away from it so why should we? Even a poll yesterday showed that the union members of the largest one, LO, less than half is voting for the social democrats, but still they give money to the social democratic. The same poll showed that the Alliance parties have grown. Now is the time. Now or Never!. The Super-Election Year Goes Overtime!

(If you wonder about the flower its taken from Wikipedia on the Swedish Liberal Party, since I couldn't find a good picture on anything with the liberals concerning an extra election and the cornflower is the party symbol for the liberal party)