Movie review: Sherlock Holmes

Let me start with the disclaimer that I have never read any of the Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and therefore have no means of comparing this year's movie, directed by Guy Ritchie to the original work.  I mentioned to a friend and coworker who has, in fact, read all the stories, that I planned to see the movie on Christmas Day, and he expressed his concerns about the bastardization of characters that he cherished in his youth.  Well, I can relate to that, certainly.  (Allow me to shake my fist at Peter Jackson for his disfigurement of Tolkien.)

Very well.  On with it.

Firstly, the film is amply served by its two charismatic and versatile front-men, Robert Downey, Junior, and Jude Law, both of whom deliver appealing (perhaps even delightful) performances as Holmes and Doctor Watson.  They seem to have established the chemistry between them that is required to pull it off.  The supporting cast delivers as well.  (And I just love Robert Downey.  His well-publicized real-life weaknesses make him a brother.)

The sets, depicting London in the late 19th century, are captivating.  Viewers are presented with a chaotic, fog-shrouded city, filled with opulence and squalor in equal measure.

The story itself centers around Holmes investigations into a diabolical cult that is poised to seize control of the British Empire.  Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) is the villain, seemingly endowed with the powers of the black arts, who somehow cheats the hangman's noose and proceeds to terrorize the city.  Undaunted (of course) by the sinister nature of Blackwood's powers, Holmes and the reluctant Watson delve into the matter to discover its true nature and deliver London from disaster in the nick of time.

Throughout the viewing, it became obvious that this film, while it does relate a full story, is really just the opening episode of a planned new series of films a las Dark Knight or Spiderman.  There will be more Sherlock Holmes movies if this one succeeds.  Holmes' femme fatale, Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), confirms this with her warning to Holmes that Lord Blackwood is just a puppet inadvertently serving a greater evil:  the enigmatic and never-seen Doctor Moriarty.

Well, apparently, the film's producers have a high degree of confidence that the film will meet with enough success to warrant further episodes.  And I can't disagree.

Sherlock Holmes is a diversion from Ritchie's earlier, edgier work, which includes Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, both of which I greatly enjoyed.  But judging the flick on its own merits, I'd say Ritchie has succeeded.  Sherlock Holmes is a good, solid film.  It delivers a good amount of entertainment and the characters are portrayed in sufficient depth to make me want to know more about them.  So, I'll look forward to the next installment.  Maybe next Christmas?

Holiday best to all '09!

Winter is here!

Throwin' out a "Peace!" to everybody this solstice.  Peace is a good thing to be throwin' in anyone's direction.  But "Merry Christmas!" too, if that's your gig. 

The weather is cold and clear and Maty and I are battened down and holding our own here in Portland.  Just did a little last-minute holiday shopping and, believe it or not, I found the endeavor to be entirely tolerable.  In fact, I might even say I had a good time bathing in the frantic eddies of human bustle.

Maty, doing what she does so well

Humankind is heading into some rough waters.  It's not like we haven't seen it coming.  And I doubt we've hit the bottom yet.  Nonetheless, I'm upbeat.  Now that people are realizing how bad things might become, I believe we'll all start pulling together.  I've heard tell of times when people worked together for the Common Good and had it come out alright.  And, if it turns out that we've had our collective epiphany too late?  Well, at the very least, our decline will be more tolerable if we're kind to each other, if we forgive each other.

Present this photo as evidence in any future canonization considerations

Who knows?  We might even learn something from it all.

Every life is a poem.  No matter what happens, each of us has witnessed the miracle of Creation.

Our very best and most sincere wishes to each and all. May you have peace and contentment!

ASL: Fight for the Barrikady (Pt. I)

Note to readers: This post won't make a lick of sense to anyone who isn't familiar with the Advanced Squad Leader game system.

Despair not, ASL players!  Another vicarious ASL opportunity awaits!  Fellow Berserk Commissar Sonny Eberts (also known as Santino, the Bull) and I are about to engage in a playing of RB CGIII, the Barrikady.  Sonny and I have played several Red Barricades campaign games as teammates.  This is the only time I can remember having him as a Red Barricades opponent, though.  I have the part of the heroic Red Army facing down the fascist aggressors. 

As with my previous game both players will maintain a blog correspondence as the game progresses with the agreement that neither will read the other's blog until given express permission to do so.  Readers are encouraged to comment!  Got a problem with where I placed my AT gun?  Speak your piece!  Just be sure not to inadvertently reveal any information about Sonny's plan to me or vice-versa.

Here come the Jerries

A daunting task is laid before me.  Here come the Jerries, coiled up tight like a cobra before the strike.  I've been here before.  My heroes of the Soviet Union are going to get pummeled severely this first day.  With that presumption, I have two goals for the day:

1. Fight like hell to keep the Germans off the river.
2. Preserve as much of my force as possible.  Most especially my support weapons and my leaders.
   

Sonny sees this...

My at start forces are as follows:

• Rifle Coy
  447 x 12
  10-0 Commissar
  HMG, MMG, LMG, ATR, Lt. Mtr.
  
• Rifle Coy
  447 x 12
  10-2, 8-1
  HMG, MMG, LMG, ATR, Lt. Mtr.
  
• SMG Coy
  527 x 9
  8-1
  
• 45LL ATG x 2
  228 x 2
• Fort. Bldg. x 5
• Fort Pts. x 50

A nice snake-eyes for my second rifle company's leadership roll! 

I allotted my 8CPP for the day as follows:

• Militia Coy (reserve) = 3 CPP
  426 x 12
  7-0
  MMG, LMG, ATR, Lt. Mtr.
• KV Pltn (dug-in) = 2 CPP
KV-1 M42 x 2
• 40 Fort points = 1 CPP
• MOL capability = 2 CPP

I opted to buy the dug-in KV platoon to strengthen my right flank. However, being leary of heavy artillery and mortar smoke, I've spent fortification points to make them HIP and I've placed them to the south, on the perimeter of the debris field.

I also opted for MOL capability. I'll use MOL with discretion during play. If my infantry get a decent shot at any of his tanks, they'll break out the petrol bombs. Also, when the Germans get close, we'll toss firebombs at them in burnable terrain.  I don't have enough leaders to attempt kindling, so maybe I'll get lucky when I start chuckin' the hot potatoes.

Day 1 setup 

I've deployed the weaker of my two rifle companies on the right flank, with fortified buildings and a trench. The lone leader, a 10-0 commissar, will hang out behind the lines, rallying as necessary, but avoiding exposure to the enemy insofar as is possible.  The big machine guns for this company set up all the way back in the Chemist's Shop in the hope that I can keep them out of German hands.  I may bring them up to the first level, once I see where the Germans are coming.  The two dug-in KVs are also on hand to fire into the German flank if Jerry pushes hard for the riverbank.

My second rifle company, with the 10-2 leader, get the honor of defending the O6 factory.  The units in the M6 building are there for the duration.  If smoked in, they hold their positions and hope to ambush advancing Germans.  But they won't be falling back.  Stand and die, comrades!  The 8-1 and MMG however, are not so constrained.  If things get too hot, this group will fall back to the south.  The 10-2 and HMG are positioned in the back mostly for their own protection.  This leader will stay in the back and take long range shots, but under no circumstances will he seek to engage at close range.

The SMG company gets the job of protecting the railroad line (and the hidden ATGs).  This entire company has orders to retreat slowly to the south.  But I doubt I'll see many of them in the chow line this evening.  I've got a platoon defending the B12 building, but I don't imagine this will prove to be much more than a speed bump to any determined German advance.  The two ATGs are positioned to drill German armor that might get too frisky.  But I am nervous about my ATG placement.  They are in precariously forward positions.  In previous games, Sonny has favored this approach as the Germans.  I could lose them both. 

My reserve militia company is set up to protect the two ATG as much as possible.

Sonny is a tenacious player (that's why we call him "The Bull").  So, I'm going to have my hands full.  The most important thing is to maintain my own personal morale.  The Germans have a Big, Big Punch^tm and they're going to land one squarely on my jaw.  Nothing for it but to absorb and keep going.

To be continued...

Robert Burns said it best

Address to the Unco Guid

Robert Burns

My son, these maxims make a rule,
An' lump them ay thegither:
The Rigid Righteous is a fool,
The Rigid Wise anither;
The cleanest corn that e’er was dight
May hae some pyles o’ caff in;
So ne’er a fellow-creature slight
For random fits o’ daffin
SOLOMON (Eccles.vii. 16)

1.
O ye, wha are sae guid yoursel,
Sae pious and sae holy,
Ye’ve nought to do but mark and tell
Your neebours’ fauts and folly ;
Whase life is like a weel-gaun mill,
Supplied wi’ store o’ water ;
The heapet happer’s ebbing still,
An’ still the clap plays clatter !



2.

Hear me, ye venerable core,
As counsel for poor mortals
That frequent pass douce Wisdom’s door
For glaikit Folly’s portals :
I for their thoughtless, careless sakes
Would here propone defences -
Their donsie tricks, their black mistakes,
Their failings and mischances.


3.

Ye see your state wi’ theirs compared,
And shudder at the niffer ;
But cast a moment’s fair regard,
What makes the mighty differ ?
Discount what scant occasion gave ;
That purity ye pride in ;
And (what’s aft mair than a’ the lave)
Your better art o’ hidin.



4.

Think, when your castigated pulse
Gies now and then a wallop,
What ragings must his veins convulse,
That still eternal gallop !
Wi’ wind and tide fair i’ your tail,
Right on ye scud your sea-way ;
But in the teeth o’ baith to sail,
It makes an unco lee-way.


5.

See Social-life and Glee sit down
All joyous and unthinking,
Till, quite transmugrify’d, they’re grown
Debauchery and Drinking :
O, would they stay to calculate,
Th’ eternal consequences,
Or -your more dreaded hell to state -
Damnation of expenses !



6.

Ye high, exalted, virtuous dames,
Tied up in godly laces,
Before ye tie poor Frailty names,
Suppose a change o’ cases :
A dear-lov’d lad, convenience snug,
A treach’rous inclination-
But, let me whisper i’ your lug,
Ye’re ailblins nae temptation.



7.

Then gently scan your brother man,
Still gentler sister woman ;
Tho’ they may gang a kennin wrang,
To step aside is human :
One point must still be greatly dark,
The moving why they do it ;
And just as lamely can ye mark
How far perhaps they rue it.



8.

Who made the heart, ’tis He alone
Decidedly can try us :
He knows each chord, its various tone,
Each spring, its various bias :
Then at the balance let’s be mute,
We never can adjust it ;
What’s done we partly may compute,
But know not what’s resisted.

Health care reform: It all comes down to reconciliation

There is a scene in "The Godfather" (arguably Francis Ford Coppola's masterwork) wherein Don Vito Corleone reveals what he has learned from a meeting of the Five Families.  Up to that point, the Corleone family had thought the rival Tattaglia family was behind the gangster aggression that had killed Vito's eldest son, Santino.  But at the meeting, Don Corleone learned the truth.  On the ride home, he tells his consigliere, Tom Hagan:  "Tattaglia is a pimp.  He could never have out-fought Santino.  I should have known that it was Barzini all along."

As the health care debate in the US Senate lurches toward its ugly conclusion, the progressives among us are left feeling much as Don Corleone must have felt during that car ride.  All this time we had thought the Republicans were the prime enemies of real health care reform.  But it turns out that, like Bruno Tattaglia, Senate Republicans are just pimps.  (I'm being charitable).  The real enemies have been  Stinky Joe Lieberman (CT) and Ben Nelson (NE) all along.

Both of these "esteemed" senators have used the precarious balance of power in the Senate to pursue their own agendas, have leveraged their positions to the utmost.  Well, after all, this is the US Senate, and senators will do that.  But Lieberman, in particular, has been crass and overt about it:  changing his position on the so-called Medicare expansion, which he supported as recently as September, in order to extract the most benefit he can from the process.

The news came down last weekend that Harry Reid now believes he has the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture on the debate and pass a health care reform bill.  But the bill that he will pass does not include a public option, nor does it include an expansion of Medicare, the two most attractive provisions of reform (from a progressive point of view).  Some progressives, including former Vermont governor and presidential candidate Howard Dean, have gone so far as to call for liberal senators to kill the bill.  (Dean has since backed off on that.) 

I believe that, without a public option, or some kind of expansion of a publicly-run health care system, any so-called health care reform will be nothing more than another sop to health insurance providers.  And, indeed, stocks for health insurance companies hit a 52 week high last Friday on the news that an agreement may have been reached that did not include a public option nor an expansion of Medicare.  The bill that is proposed would mandate that individuals buy health insurance from private companies.  Get it?  We would all be required to pay money to health insurance companies so that they can continue to deny our health care claims.  Salad days ahead for insurance company executives!

The Obama administration has been pathetic and detrimental to the progressive cause.  I grant that President Obama sees himself as a facilitator and a shepherd, but after all, a well-placed word or two would be enormously beneficial.   I ask again, "What's it gonna be, Barack?"

But don't despair yet, progressives.  Remember that the bill passed by the US House of Representatives includes a strong public option.  (Thank you, Nancy Pelosi.)  After the Senate passes its monstrosity, the two bills will go to conference and undergo reconciliation.

I don't understand all the parliamentary procedures involved, but I believe that the reconciliation process provides alternatives that would allow for the bill to be presented to the two legislative bodies such that it can be passed by simple majority, rather than require that it overcome a Republican filibuster.  So, if my understanding is correct, we could still come out of this with either a real public option, or with an expansion of Medicare.

This entire process has been educational, certainly.  We've all heard pundits liken the legislative process to sausage-making:  the result might be good, but the procedure is ugly.  Well, this nightmare debate has proven the truth of that analogy.  But I'm still holding my breath, hoping that real reform that diminishes the power of the insurance companies and the corporate plutocrats will emerge.

If that happens, we're on our way.  If not, it is hard to imagine that we can ever again wrest power from them through political means.

Let's not do that

It's all gonna work out.

I know things look bleak.  World seems to be going to hell.  Signs of it are everywhere.

Here we are, sitting in this leaky old tub, bailing water.  And the swells are rising up high enough to where we lose sight of the shore now and again.  But keep the faith.  Things will be alright. 

Faces everywhere have a grim look to them.  Everyone seems to be waiting for the worst to hit.  After a while, people start to change.  They become stingy.  Stingy with their charity, with their words and feelings, even with their smiles.  They feel they must cling to what they have.  They clutch, imaging that by withholding today, it will somehow benefit them in the hard times of tomorrow.  They start to feel afraid to live.  They grow calluses against their natural compassion.

Let's not do that.  Instead, let's make our little stand right here and never lose our smiles.  Never lose our faith.  Let's make sure we keep track of our people so we do what we can for them when they need it.  Even if they don't ask.  Let's make sure we put a can of tuna in the food donation bin whenever we go to Safeway.  

People are good, just like you've always said.  People are good!

People are good and God is great.

Everybody's snarlin'

"Grr..."

"Somebody at work gets upset, says something snippy to somebody else.  Next thing you know, everybody's snarlin' and snappin' at each other."

"Because?"

"I guess it's because they're all feelin' the pinch.  Holidays, trouble at work, personal stuff.  There's a lotta fear out there."

"Hasn't there always been?"

"Not back in the '90s.  Not even back in Junior's day.  You know, when people are worried about their jobs, they start acting crazy.  Their 'bad sides' come out.  Nobody wants to be friends anymore.  Nobody trusts anybody anymore"

"But it isn't so bad, is it?  Think about Vienna in 1679.  Or Warsaw in 1944.  You've got it easy."

"Well, I can't deny that.  And when you put it in that light...  But, you know, the guy who can't find work, with a wife and two kids, things are pretty rough.  And people aren't getting along at all.  Lotta terrible vibes going back and forth.  Who knows where it might lead?"

"Warsaw 1944?"

"Knock on wood!  Knock on wood!"

"So, what will you do?"

"What can I do?  No.  Really.  What can I do?"