Single-idea books with cute titles are supposed to be one path to big profits. So consider “The Starfish and the Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations” by Ori Brafman, Rod Beckstrom (Author)” or “Brainticklers : Beyond Y2K : Questions for the New Millennium and the Year 3000,” by Elizabeth Arnold and Rod Beckstrom (which is the same as what I call a “slap pack” of questions) or even “An Introduction to VAR” (1995) by Rod Beckstrom. (VAR turns out to be variable, a scientific concept, and also a program for sorting or creating algorithms.) What is being sold with this starfish/spider metaphor is an organizational design concept contrasting the centralized hierarchical model and the small local decentralized pattern.
This morning on NPR the author was interviewed on All Things Considered and professed to be surprised that the Teaparty movement had picked up the book. I don’t know why he should be surprised. In fact, the original movement that started this country pitted the decentralized colonies against king-headed England. And then the more-or-less “united” States spent the next century fighting the even-more-decentralized native American tribes on the rest of the continent.
What’s being talked about here is basic guerrilla strategy, the same discussion that goes on all the time about whether modern terrorists have one leader who can be conveniently assassinated or many small local leaders, hard to find and hit.
Unitarian Universalist people are also used to struggling with the dilemma of whether their denomination is a free-association (many small independent units — some call it “disorganized religion”) or should be unified (a third “U”) under a strong leader. They often use as their point of focus the idea of “values” that Beckstrom talks about, calling them “principles.”
Having been struggling with Deleuzeguattarian thought, I see the contrast in patterns in a slightly different way. Their “rhizome versus tree” is the same contrast, but what they discuss is how forces in society can and will self-assemble a kind of “machine” for specific purposes.
That is, affinity-needs interact with the ongoing forces we might call “history-in-the-making” and the purposes of government (acknowledged and unacknowledged) and commerce to produce groups.
Deleuze and Guattari also consider that rhizomes are in communication with each other, like cells in a resistance. Therefore one seeking to understand this phenomenon would need to know a lot more than what values the individuals share.
If we look at the Tea Party movement, we see that forces might include onerous taxation and regulation (the putative focus), the vacuum left by dysfunctional and deadlocked political parties, the schism between those who are educated to understand science and those who prefer to use authority figures, modes of media (decentralized blogs versus cable), overpopulation, distressing economic patterns often attributed to corrupt and greedy big shots, and so on.
The NPR host, possibly because the example offered was the Tea Party movement, seen as right-wing, then went to a bit of bad reasoning known in the trade as mis-placed concreteness.
The author had proposed the advantage of the starfish is that if you cut off its arms, it can regenerate and continue functioning. But a spider cannot grow a new leg and, when its head is cut off, is dead. So the host pointed out that a spider doesn’t have a head: the “head” is part of the body — to have a head, you need a neck. And technically neither animal has a brain. And besides that, sponges can be put through a sieve and resume function as a lot of little sponges. So do you want to be a sponge? Very funny. (I would consider the function of prison as a sponge sieve.)
We have not yet really looked at the forces that shattered lucrative arts organizations into hundreds of local groups and individuals. The switch to electronic communication was only part of the change. Publishing, for instance, is not being replaced by ebooks simply because it’s possible. The quality of the books offered; the over-hyping of them; the economic piling up of profit in the hands of a few (both within the publishing house where faithful editors were thrown out to live as independent agents, and outside the publishers when they were acquired by conglomerates who knew nothing about books and only wanted profit); the failure of schools to teach people how to read; the rise of fancy critical theory resistant to understanding; the failure of marketers to reach out to thin and specialized populations; the movement of populations both displaced and immigrant which require different languages and information; the new consciousness of the hidden costs of paper which were no longer so hidden; the diminishment of the status of “famous writers” (Partly because everyone forgets the renaissance of books after WWII when GI’s learned to read paperbacks and writers had plenty of raw material); the new private habits of passively watching television or actively playing electronic games; the necessity of working hours that don’t leave time for reading; the demand for living in big houses that need a lot of maintenance and earning enough profit to pay for it — not a little used bookstore at the beach that supports one old singleton and a cat. You get the picture. One could devise an algorithm.
One of the most powerful forces is the proportion of the world population that is young versus those who are old. The young are not “into” preservation and history. The world, so far as they are concerned, begins with them and they see themselves as creators as much as consumers.
Illustrated presentation of the world population (gecon.yale.edu)
Connection comes naturally to them, but not hierarchy. All the authority figures have proven themselves inadequate if not outright wrong. Families no longer exist in the sense that they did. International corporations are plainly and defiantly trumping nations by imposing their lines of supply across borders and evading any kind of accountability: kids know that.
So, will a persuasive leader arise to unite us again? Maybe not. The central unifying force that CAN pull the population of the world into cooperation is probably a threat to human life en masse. But so far no one has vividly enough explained AIDS or global weather change or starvation in terms that can be more compelling than the Tea Party movement.
And NPR, which is vulnerable to all the forces I listed above, needs to check their algorithm.
After being elected to go on a tour in North Korea, getting hit by a water bottle (and a door), and dying of syphillis, Justin Bieber announced that he would be releasing his first book this fall. Titled “Justin Bieber: First Step 2 Forever: My Story”, the teen singer’s first book sounds like an autobiography but according to Bieber himself it’s not. “…im a little too young to write a memoir” tweeted Bieber.
To be published by HarperCollins, Bieber’s book is full of exclusive photos showing his journey from Canadian teenager to Usher’s protégé. People gave the first glimpse of the book, specifically the cover.
(Credit: Robert Caplin)
Stamped with a ”100% Official” label and Bieber’s note: “Lots of exclusive photos just for you. Love Justin xxx.”, the book’s price this October will be 22 U.S. dollars. HarperCollins noted that while much of the book illustrates Bieber’s career up to present day, it also includes his personal life involving girls, girls, and girls.
So, are you going to buy the book? Well, many say no.
People’s poll showed an overwhelming 82% of people surveyed would not buy the book while PopWatch’s lunchtime poll revealed around 75% of those who voted didn’t care that much about the book insofar as the cover. Out of 156 people polled, 139 out of the 156 stated they weren’t going to buy the book.
On the other hand, those with Bieber-fever say they can’t wait until the book comes out.
Made out to be worth up to 50 million USD, a van Gogh painting was stolen from the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum in Cairo, Egypt. The canvas, known as either ”Vase with Flowers” or “Poppy Flowers”, was whisked away by thieves a second time. The painting was previously stolen in 1978 when it remained at large for two years before it was mysteriously recovered in Kuwait.
This time, thieves used a box-cutter to remove “Poppy Flowers” from its frame. The museum’s security, which would downright shame any security official, was mostly “dead”. Only 7 surveillance cameras out of more than were functioning. Even the functioning cameras were barely working and in addition, no alarm was turned on the day the van Gogh painting was stolen. Furthermore, to make it more easier for art thieves, the museum guards’ stationary rounds were “below minimal security requirements” according to the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.
Placing blame on the deplorable security of the Mohamed Mahmoud Khalil Museum, the Egyptian government has virtually imprisoned more than ten officials including the head curator and director of the museum inside the borders of the country.
"Poppy Flowers" or "Vase with Flowers" by Vincent van Gogh
Almost immediately after the art work was stolen, the Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni, declared Egyptian police recovered the painting from two “thieves” at the Cairo International Airport. However, Hosni’s news turned out to be “mistakingly” false. The van Gogh work is still missing and the “thieves” caught at the airport were just an Italian couple who had rushed out of the museum’s bathrooms judging by some of the seven cameras.
The latest theft has started to make the Egyptian government fret over the security of the rest of its museums which hold countless treasures and artifacts that have raked in billions of dollars for its tourism industry.
Securities at ports, airports, and other museums have been tightened as the search continues for “Poppy Flowers”.
“Woohoo! On my way to airport!!! Can’t wait to perform at the concert tonight!!! Holla Juggalos and Juggalettes!!!” Later, “Just landed in Chicago!! Almost time for the Juggalos Gathering!!” tweeted model and artist Tila Nguyễn, or more famously known as Tila Tequila. This eager tweeting was several hours before she, Tom Green, and Lil’ Kim attended the annual Insane Clown Posse meeting, otherwise known as the Gathering of the Juggalos.
A few moments into her rapping performance at the Gathering, Tequila encountered rounds and rounds of various objects being thrown at her. Faygo cans, plastic bottles, rocks, beer cans, pizza slices, chicken wings, fudge, hard candies, and objects covered in human feces and urine were strewn on the stage around her.
Tila Tequila did not stop there, hoping to “have fun with the crowd”, she kept performing and even at a certain point, took off her top. Whether it was her music or just her (actually both according to many with anti-Tequila sentiments) that urged the crowd to continue their actions, Tila couldn’t quell the rising heaps of trash on the stage. Nor could Tom Green’s absurd dance that tried to draw the fire away from Tila worked to appease the crowd.
According to Tila, she and her security guards rushed inside a trailer and barricaded the windows and the door as “2,000″ Juggalos tried to break in.
After Tila Tequila fled the scene safely, her tweets that had previously anticipated performing at the ICP gathering became furious warnings of a lawsuit. Tequila declared the “owners who run the Juggalos will be bankrupt” as her attorney, “Alan is already on it”. Recounting her experience, Tila Tequila did admit she ”was warned” but after the Gathering’s organizers assured her that the security will be tough and that the Juggalos “needed her”, she had no choice but to go.
Although Tila has received sympathy and support from her fans, she faces blatant criticism from both Juggalos and non-Juggalos alike.
“Ridiculous” scoffed a user on the HateMachine.us forum. Many have dismissed most of Tila Tequila’s injuries as “fake and exaggerated”. People have criticized her attitude and behavior in regard to the Gathering of the Juggalos. “She was warned to stay away from this…rough crowd, she was in fact warned days before the gathering” a comment on an article covering the Gathering of the Juggalos.
Photo by Nate "Igor" Smith
Tequila’s opponents expressed that while Miss Tequila’s injury was unfortunate, they emphasized that Tila has much of the blame for this incident:
Tila kept taunting the crowd with confetti spray – Her twitter confirms this: “I bought a TON of cool shit that imma spray at the crowd!!!”
Tila, despite getting hit by objects, refused to go off-stage and kept performing.
Witnesses say Tila herself threw a few objects into the crowd.
Tila Tequila's Twitter
Tila was warned beforehand and she fully knew what kind of ‘crowd’ she was dealing with and should therefore, not complain.
Her story about “2,000″ Juggalos trying to lynch her is fake since only around 900 Juggalos attended the annual event. – A Radar Online picture showing Tila strolling back to the trailer accompanied by her security detail backs up the Juggalos’ side of the story.
Some even accuse Miss Tequila of faking injuries for the press such as the mark on the side of her torso (shown on the picture of Tequila on the right). Photos of her performance at the Gathering, according to skeptics, reveal she had the “bruise” before any object was thrown.
Entertainment rental businesses like Hollywood Video and others have long moved aside off the stage for the new rental titans of the 21st century such as Gamefly and Netflix. Tough factors like Internet piracy and illegal modding married with tough competition have reaped quite a few souls in the entertainment business.
Establishing these facts, it was a small and pleasent surprise when Blockbuster, a well-known yet faded brand, announced that it would deliver video games by mail as of today. An attempt to regain ground in the market after its financial humiliations, Blockbuster offered a service worth looking at to its old and potential customers.
The game selection offered by Blockbuster will encompass more than 3,000 games from Playstation 3, Xbox 360, the Nintendo Wii, Xbox, and the Playstation 2 in addition to more than 95,000 available DVD and show titles. While Blockbuster’s monthly service fee for renting games is cheaper than Gamefly’s fee of $15.95, both By Mail and Total Access has 4,000 less games for its customers to rent.
Blockbuster By Mail and Total Access boasted a free inclusion of Blu-ray, in-store returns, game rentals, in-store game rental discounts, online DVD and game purchase discounts, and online blu-ray purchase discounts; all of which Netflix, Blockbuster’s archnemesis, doesn’t include in its services. Furthermore, Blockbuster’s assimilation of rental games won’t affect subscription fees effectively resulting in a reasonable, single package of service…which the company also mentioned a lot in their promo as unprecedented for other businesses like Netflix.
Another upside to Blockbuster’s new service is that there won’t be any due dates or late fees for the rented video games. The process of renting and returning games and movies in Blockbuster’s system is equally as simple as Netflix’s process. On a single banner, Blockbuster showed one could visit the website, pick out a game or movie, wait one to two business days, check the mail, and “enjoy”.
Free shipping is provided for those who wish to return the products by mail. Otherwise, you can go return or exchange in stores.
When subscribing to Blockbuster’s new service, a registered user or guest can see the plans and monthly fees offered to them.
By Mail is a plan that allows individuals to rent both movies and games.
1 Disc At A Time: $8.99 per month
2 Discs At A Time: $13.99 per month
3 Discs At A Time: $16.99 per month
Total Access is a plan that allows individuals to rent both movies and games with the bonus privelage of having five in-store exchanges per billing month.
1 Disc At A Time: $11.99 per month
2 Discs At A Time: $16.99 per month
3 Discs At A Time: $19.99 per month
Of course, all options shown give a 2 week free trial. Before this service was announced today, Blockbuster apparently had a pilot program since February 2009 that has turned out, evidently successful.
Bolivia was named in honour of the Libertador Simon Bolívar. Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, is the highest lake in the World. According to Inca legends it was the source of its culture. The lake was of great importance during the pre Inca world and in the Inca period. In times of the new World Colonisation the Spanish set out to control the Lake, the people, the culture and its natural resources. Today lake Titicaca is still in the eyes of developments of all kinds. From tourism to oil and several other projects the Lake and its surrounding mountains attract the world. However, Lake Titicaca, in Bolivia is a gateway into anthropology, history deciphering, ancient cultures and events that shaped the modern contemporary times.
Los Tiempos reported on the 28 of July of 2010, from the Bolivia. As it was scheduled, last Sunday an important extraordinary meeting was held. High figures such as the President of State Pluri-National, the Vice-President, Ministers, Vice-Ministers, directors and advisors attended the population of Huatajata, on the shores of Lake Titicaca.On the same day Prensa Latina reported that the Health Authorities of Bolivia had declared a National Epidemiological Alert due to a boom of (H1N1) Swine Flu. Authority spokesman said, that to the date there had recorded 32 positive cases, in nine departments.
Image: map of Camacho, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia and Peru Frontier. Camacho: Latitude -15.758378. Longitude = -69.064388 Location lock-in: Puerto Mayor Camacho Square, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia..
Reports of a polar cold wave was breaking local news of the region. Thousands of fish dying, people suffering and crops being affected. The Lake Titicaca serves as a temperature stabilizer. It warms the high region. Without it the area would freeze. Reports coming from the region also stated that the lake had lost 37 inches. Pollution was being documented and new oil developments on the side of Peru where being discussed and explored.
These were the breaking news from Bolivia, on the day this article was being published. A country like Bolivia can not be so easily defined. However, the relative peace of Lake Titicaca and its history called upon us with a different story, a story of source. Leading the way deep into pre Incan times, more than 400 years ago and beyond that as well. The story began to unveil itself.
The Master of Calamarca strikes a core into the nerve of Latin America. His story develops in Lake Titicaca. The Master of Calamarca is á key part of the Bolivian metamorphosing spirit. To understand the Master of Calamarca one has to understand Bolivia AD and Bolivia in 1642. In that year it was sealed by the work of the “painter” Jose Lopez de los Rios.
Image is Santa Maria della Concezione, Rome. The Yorck Project: Image GNU Free Documentation License. This shows classic European syle winged angels which where the inspiration but are very different to the Cuzco School paintings
Guy Brett wrote in, Being Drawn to an Image. Why do certain images matter to one, and why is the desire to answer this question as involuntary as the response itself? Why does it seem important that the answer should have some objective quality about it, an insight into history, society, knowledge, rather than point to a merely personal obsession?
The obsession of this article is a painting called Inferno of the Postimertrías Series. The author of this Painting is Jose Lopez de los Rios. Some translate his name José and Joseph. They should continue translating his entire name not just his first. If they did they would realize the name of José translates into Joseph Lopez of the Rivers. Any map maker knows that to make regional maps rivers are first to be drawn. It could be argued that José Lopez de los Rios paintings are a map. But are they just a map into a time of “evangelisation” and “confession” or are they detailed maps of something else?
Inferno and Glory: José Lopez de los Rios
Little is known about the life of Jose Lopez de los Rios. Those who do know about it do not post the information online. There are two sayings that in this case go hand in hand, first of all regarding information and why José Lopez de los Ríos life is not documented, and easily accessed online, the first saying, “everything happens for a reason.” The second saying goes hand in hand with legends and the name of the painting itself and leads straight into the heart of Bolivia today, it says “Where there was fire, ashes remain”. But leaving behind statements that for the reader may appear as conjectures, lets explore the facts behind the ghostly story of Jose Lopez de los Rios.
Image taken by the Sun Maker from a reproducing photograph dated and stammped 1642. This image belongs to a series of images taken by the Sun Maker and is kept on the SMICS digital storage. The painting is called Inferno and belongs to the series Postrimerías. Iglesia de Carabuco, Provincia de Camacho, La Paz, Bolivia. On the left inferior maring the painting reads in Latin: Horror in Habitat. This translates into: Horror in Habitat.
José de Mesa was the man who probably knew the most on José Lopez de los Ríos. José de Mesa, the architect known for having “built the Bolivian Art History”, died on the 25th of July 2010, just three days before this article was published. He was convinced that José Lopez de los Ríos was indeed the Master of Calamarca.
The Master of Calamarca was the name given to a series of paintings dated found in Boliva in the same period. All these paintings had several things in common. They were not signed. They all contained images of winged angels. Sometimes the angel was painted holding wheat in his hand (clearly roman or agricultural references) others times it had a sword and sometimes it was armed with colonial style rifle. As the painting are all similar in sytle they are all attributed to The Master of Calamarca. Who painted the series of Angels? What hides in the past and in the present behind these angels?
The Master of Calamaca
Image shows a Cuzco school Winged Angel. The difference with angel shown in the image above is notorious. Master of Calamarca Century XVII. Church of Calamarca. La Paz. Source: Jose de Mesa
José de Mesa believed that José Lopez de los Ríos was the Master of Calamarca. Some say this painter was Spanish while some say he was mestizo, meaning born in Latin America but descendent of European and Latin American lineage. Another theory is that many painters painted different series. If so they must haave had some kind of contact, direct or indirect between themselves. These theories still do not explain many things. Looking closely at the images of Angels in Latin America is looking into a message that to the day remains.
Was José Lopez de los Rios the Master of Calamarca? He was probably involved in some way or the other. Was he the Master behind a movement? It is also possible that José Lopez de los Ríos was one of the masters of the movement. It is possible that he taught others how to paint.
Drawing is a very unique impression, almost as a finger print. The angels painting in the Inferno are similar to the angels painted in the series of angels by the Master of Calamarca. Another question worth asking is not who are the painters but who are the winged Angels?
The winged Angels continued appearing even in later years. They rose through distant regions far from Bolivia into bordering countries. Although Angels where classic representations of the times, the Angles of the Master of Calamarca are different.
Guy Brett wrote about the angles. “…I became magnetised by the figures of angels. They are extraordinary resplendent. They have a material splendour in their dress. The spiritual (or is it psychic?) intensity of their presence goes together with a marvellous air of freedom and delicacy. If the Angel is already a hybrid (a human with wings), the Latin American angels seem to incorporate further incongruities into this composite of the human and the supernatural which hints at further, latent meanings.”
“Inferno” and “Glory” by Lopez de los Rios, where painted on linen. According to those who examined the pieces Linen was a material frequenctly used for courier type bags of the late 1600s. During a revision of the reverse of Inferno, which measure 8.20 metres long by 4.1 wide, an restauration spokeman, said the stitching of this style of bag can still be appreciated. Whether Lopez de los Ríos is the Master of Calamarca or not his painting Inferno took us the Master´s story and to many other. Inferno does not only contain vast information, it is a master key to Glory and to the winged Angels.
The official news of Ronnie Wood’s next big show is here! And it’s not his Faces reunion concert in August.
Rolling Stones guitarist and artist Ronnie Wood plans to be in Ohio to attend the opening of his new art exhibition at the prominent Butler Institute of American Art on September 21st. A collection of his works “accompanied by a full-color catalogue” will appear. The exhibition titled, Ronnie Wood: Paintings, Drawings, and Prints, will have twenty two pen-and-pencil drawings, thirty paintings, and seven other works of art.
Ronnie Wood, 63, is well known for both his works of art and music. His paintings often depict his friends, family, fellow musicians, role models and even himself. His joy in art came after his 12th birthday when he realized that a paint brush fit his hand. As a child, he went Ealing College of Art as the first step to begin his musical career.
Although he was minimally successful in the early 1980′s as an artist making woodcuts, he took joy in making woodcuts, monoypes, and other works. He attempts to refine his many techniques such as etching and screenprinting even today.
Youngstown’s Butler Institute of American Art’s director, Louis Zona delightfully stated that “Ronnie Wood is a most accomplished painter whose work demonstrates…a wonderful knowledge of the medium, outstanding technical abilities, and a extraordinarily creative mind.” Zona further stated that the museum was “honored” to host Ronnie Wood’s first major American exhibition.
Picketing funerals of dead U.S servicemen, showering the streets with extreme homophobic and racist signs like “THANK GOD FOR AIDS”, approving of misogyny, jeering at victims of 9/11 and other disasters, and other revolting acts define the Westboro Baptist church led by Pastor Fred W. Phelps based in Kansas. For some unfathomable reason, the Westboro Baptist congregation marched to San Diego on July 22nd in order to protest at Comic-Con. There weren’t any reports of a pro-gay meeting, Iraqi veterans honoring their fallen comrades, or anything that stood against the teachings of Westboro (which is almost everything) at Comic-Con.
Instead of smearing mud on the memories of fallen American soldiers at their funerals, Westboro Baptists left their usual environment and protested Comic-Con. Why? The Westboro Baptist Church website (GodHatesFags.com) gave a list of reasons conveniently in a 1-page PDF file.
“Comic Con is an excuse for whores to wear skimpy get-ups”. The form continues to say, “You idolaters [Comic Con attendees] have far too much time on your hands! Get on with some sober obeying; the time is short…Put away your action figures & get about the business of serving your God. You fail as a human being because you shun your only obligation in this life: “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man”.
Claiming to have over 43,000 peaceful demonstrations, Westboro gave more religious reasons for this particular demonstration. “They have turned comic book characters into idols; they worship the work of their own hands…The destruction of this nation is imminent – so start calling on Batman and Superman now, see if they can pull you from the mess that you have created with all your silly idolatry.”
Even if one had sextillion dictionaries just full of every synonym of stupidity or bigotry to describe Westboro’s thinking regarding their demonstration in San Diego (and every other activity), all of those words would still not be enough.
Fortunately, those at Comic-Con knew about Westboro’s plans and prepared to meet them head on in a counter-demonstration. Obviously, Phelp’s followers were massacred.
Led by an individual in a “Bender” costume from the cartoon Futurama, Comic-Con ‘nerds’ dressed in various outfits held humorous signs that effectively counter-demonstrated.
Memorable moments include Bender megaphoning “Bite my shiny metal ass” to the Westboro congregation while holding a sign that read “Kill All Humans” and a person in a Buddy Jesus getup holding up a “God Loves Everybody” sign contradicting Westboro’s signs that read “God Hates Fags”, “God is Your Enemy”, “You’re Going To Hell”. Signs like “God Hates Kittens” and ”God Hates Jedi” also accompanied the counter-protest.
This isn’t the first time Westboro was beaten at their own protests; for most of their 43,000 demonstrations a large amount of people with unbelievably good hearts counter-demonstrated with pro-LGBT and pro-peace intentions against the hate demonstrations of Fred Phelp’s followers.
If you didn’t know by now, another one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books has been selected to be turned into a movie. Those who don’t know Tolkien will probably know his famous and popular work, The Lord of the Rings. Last month, Gillermo del Toro, the director of a few movies like Hellboy, Mimic and the suprisingly good Pan’s Labyrinth, stepped down from directing The Hobbit.
Naturally, this raised a question for LOTR fans: who will be directing The Hobbit? In MTV’s interview with del Toro, the director thinks Peter Jackson is possibly “close to officially taking the job”. del Toro himself said he really wants “to see Peter [Jackson] do the movie” along with thousands of others out there.
If you haven’t read The Hobbit, then the story is essentially a prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and ‘sequel’ to The Silmarillion. The story doesn’t have Frodo Baggins in it, but centers around a much younger version of Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo, as his life lazily goes along in his hobbit hole, gets a visit from Gandalf who after talking with Bilbo, marks the hobbit hole as a rendevouz point for “guests”.
Bilbo finds himself to be involved in a daring quest with 13 dwarfs led by Thorin Oakenshield, rightful heir to a famous dwarf dwelling (the Lonely Mountain) and throne of the King Under the Mountain. Their mission: recover treasure. While going through an internal conflict between his Tookish and Bagginses sides, Bilbo along with Thorin and Company find themselves facing goblins, Mirkwood spiders, the xenophobic attitude of woodland elves, and at the end a violent and terrible dragon called Smaug.
A map from The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien/The Hobbit)
The Hobbit also delves into exactly how Bilbo Baggins found the One Ring, which lies at the center of the LOTR trilogy, and encountered Gollum. The witty book, on an interesting sidenote, also explains how golf was invented.
While Peter Jackson, who put the Lord of the Rings trilogy on the big screen, is an ideal choice for director, some have other thoughts on who will be replacing Guillermo del Toro; to name a few they’re David Yates, Sam Raimi, and even Tim Burton. Speculation of a director also naturally renewed interest in guessing a possible cast for the characters in the movie for many fan communities: As for who will be playing Bilbo Baggins, that’s even a hotter subject than who will be director.
Ian Holm
A few fans want to see Ian Holm, the actor who played Bilbo in the LOTR trilogy, back playing Bilbo but others have argued, “he’s [Holm] bit too old for The Hobbit’s Bilbo Baggins”. In a 2009 interview, del Toro confirmed that actors who played Gandalf, Elrond, and Gollum (respectively: Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, and Andy Serkis) in the LOTR films will be coming back in The Hobbit. Set for release in 2012, The Hobbit will be in two parts.
If you ever go down to the theatres this summer and can’t pick a decent movie, then choose Inception.
Inception made a grand appearence during the weekend garnering in a total of $60.4 million, trailers for Inception roused curiosity from many types of audiences after all, Christopher Nolan who directed dark, yet enthralling The Dark Knight had wrote the script himself. The sight of Nolan paired with Hans Zimmer, one of the most influential composers today whose works appear in Lion King, Crimson Tide, Pirates of the Carribean, and other popular films drew many expectations for this “dream team”. Also accompanying this dream team was Leonardo DiCaprio, a respectable actor generally liked by most critics. After watching Inception, movie-goers certainly weren’t dissapointed.
“The first masterpiece of 2010.” proclaimed Wesley Lovell on Rotten Tomatoes. Indeed, the intricate plot interwoven with magnificent music and amazing visual effects certainly made my boring summer full of shallow movies like Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, much less boring. Without going into to too much detail, the storyline unveils a professional team of special thieves – hired by corporate clients - to steal ideas, not diamonds or any other items of monetary value but ideas, by invading the human subconcious of their sleeping targets with coveted technology and skills in this surreal world.
DiCaprio stars as Dom Cobb who faces perils with his team and must carry out possibly, his last job. Cobb, instead of stealing something from the human mind, must now implant an idea into a target’s mind.
When watching the movie, your mind may attempt to replay certain scenes or the characters’ lines in order to comprehend some of the complicated things going on in this complicated plot (I know mine did or did I dream it?).
Inception certainly probes your mind while it rages along with its thrilling scenes, although it doesn’t bust your mind open and slather the insides with sweet honey to make you think after midnight, Inception can be called worthy of giving more than a decent, intellectual show to its audience. The plot’s bar for thinking is slightly far above the ‘norm’. To illustrate an example, twist endings in films like Push are certainly below Inception’s bar. With its mix of graphics, action, characters, music, and hints of romance Inception is definitely worthy of your summer time…and your mind.
