Inglorious Basterds: Great But...

Tarentino has done it again. Every scene in Inglorious slowly coils up like a snake about to strike. You wonder where it is going, but you know it is going somewhere that will leave a mark.

In true Tarentino style there are quirky and terrifying characters, but none more than Colonel Hans Landa (played by Austrian actor Christoph Waltz who stole the spotlight), the chillingly charming but guileful Nazi 'Jew finder', and nemesis of Brad Pitt's Lieutenant Aldo Raine.

One is treated to the clinical savagery of the Nazi  party as well as a slew of deliberately drawn stereotypes by way of characters and in the dialogue itself. The prejudice of the Nazi's, we are reminded, stretched beyond Jews and to blacks - or Negro's as well.

Tarentino's love for movies leads to a hint at the power film has to shape our perceptions - both his own film and films within his film. Even though he boldly criticizes the Nazi propaganda machine, he has a go at us as he churns out his own version of Nazi propaganda - only from a Jewish perspective. Inglorious may very well be what many a Jew would have liked to see happen in World War II. It definitely had an element of just desserts for what many regard as the wickedest movement in modern history.

But Tarentino might also be suggesting that brutality is brutal whomever delivers it - Jew, Nazi, Black or American.

The irony for me is Lt. Raine. He is a red neck caricature  who leads the 8 Nazi-killing Jews into occupied France. But one must remember if there's anyone who hates Jews and Blacks as much as a Nazi - it's the stereotypical American red neck.

A very well told story with a message we can't hear enough.

Coming Attractions: Must See Movies

There are a host of very cool movies out there to be seen - some have already been released and some are still to come. Many seem to have an end-of-the-world apocalyptic theme (why? don't know) - Here is my list of the ones to watch:

1. 9 - An animated feature starring Elijah Wood (Frodo, Lord of the Rings) and Produced by Tim Burton (Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). 9 rag dolls are brought to life and given the mission to save a humanity that it is near extinction. A heroic tale with a story reminiscent of the Ring Trilogy quest of fate and the Matrix's  humanity vs technology storylines. It stands out, like all Burton's work as different, imaginative and very likely with a strong message.

Release date: September 9, 2009

2. Let The Right One In - Critically acclaimed world wide is this simple but profound Swedish-made vampire story. A young boy strikes up a friendship with girl who happens to be a vampire. One can imagine the ensuing complications. There won't be anyone you know in this film and there are subtitled and dubbed versions. The former is recommended.  The fact that it is not a product of Hollywood may account for the fresh take on a very old genre. It's on DVD and iTunes now.

3. The Book of Eli - Denzel Washington returns to the big screen as a man with a mission - with something that can save a post-Apocalyptic world. That something is valuable enough to die and kill for and a bearded and greying, gritty and grim Denzel crosses a savage wasteland to fulfil his calling. I anticipate lots of beat-em-up action scenes, long periods of silence  and rapid fire action toward the end.

Release date: January 15, 2010

4. Avatar -  Directed by James Cameron (Aliens, Terminator 2, Titanic) we should be guaranteed a great ride. Tons of CGI, mechanised combat suits, sexy aliens and a touching story with a conscience. Earth men (apparently only Americans inhabit Earth) visit an alien land where one Earth man in particular (a paralysed scientist I think) takes control of an alien's body - effectively his avatar. War, love and CGI galore ensue. Sigourney Weaver is the big name in the movie which was apparently conceived some 14 years ago. The first link has a great trailer, but this one is cool too.

Release date: December 18, 2009

5. The Last Airbender - Directed by the unlikely M. Night Shyamalan (The 6th Sense), the writers of the cartoon series are behind the live action feature length version. Yes! Live action. Quite frankly it looks like it's going to an excellent interpretation of the cartoon you know and love. Unfortunately, being American-made the characters seem to be fairly white and American (we must remember that in movieland most human are such). Nevertheless, I think this one is going to be good. The trailer is certainly  convincing. Still, there are a bunch of Asian actors in it including Aasif Mandvi (The Daily Show) and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) as Zuko.

Release date: Juy 2, 2010

Other movies to look out for:

6. Daybreakers (another vampire flick)

7. Zombieland (gore comedy in the Shaun of the Dead tradition)

8. 2012  (End of world film that sparked interest in the Mayan calendar and will no doubt cause panic until December __ when the world will end...again)

9. Where The Wild Things Are (live action version of a classic children's tale - looks like the real...illustrated thing)

10. Tron Legacy (If you're old enough - you know)

Thanks to Colin Young (my Bro) for sharing his movie plans!

Book Review: Language of God by Francis Collins

That Collins is head of the Human Genome Project adds a hefty amount of credibility to his argument proposing harmony between science and faith. Even more convincing is that he defends science itself against forces (including irrational and incomplete ideas) within religion that would counter basic facts of nature as well as cogent, tested and accepted theories. He is not just an apologist for the Divine but for the natural as well.

Collins successfully guides both skeptics and believers through the essential definitions, arguments and theories of each approach so both can have a clearer understanding of the other and even their own position. There is no doubt that Collins is both a devoted (and accomplished) scientist and theist.

Apart from sharing some of his personal journey from atheism to faith and the role science played thereof, he shows with great effort to be impartial and tolerant of all views, just how the beauty, intricacy, structure and harmony of the human body & DNA, the universal Moral Law and the cosmos itself points to a Divine presence. He also counters some of the primary arguments of atheism's more prominent figures including Dawkins. His complete lack of hostility, his logic and scientific expertise make him a worthy opponent.

The reader will be encouraged not just to consider their own knowledge and approach but equipped with a mercifully simple introduction to scientific and spiritual concepts with which they may not be familiar. The atheist is given alot to consider (some might find parts of his argument too metaphysical) and the theist is educated and encouraged not just by a scientist but a man with an admirable understanding of God's nature.

Finally, Collins offers his own alternative theory to circumvent the irrationality of Creationism and the lack of rigour in Intelligent Design, but considers the reality of a universe governed by the interaction of the laws of physics, chemistry and evolutionary biology as revealed by science. He calls this approach BioLogos.

Unquestionably worth a read for persons of all persuasions.

Writers Note:

Collins includes an appendix where he discusses Bioethics broaching issues like cloning, homosexuality, stem cell research, genetic mutations and disease and the implications thereof on healthcare policy. Indeed he even touches on the current healthcare debate now raging in the USA. He does so with great objectivity and responsibility considering the many arguments for against each issue. Ensure you read this section as well.