Final

Documentary? Environmental protection? Global warming and the end of the world? How bald and pedantic this film sounds like! But An Inconvenient Truth has jumped out the normal levels of conventional movies with its unusual single person presentation that offers the most persuasive and enlightened documentary ever. It drives us to explore the issue from the eye of humanity that changes our perspectives and summons for instant actions.

A film about the decision we should make, takes American former Vice President Al Gore's worldwide lecture as a theme and exposed a discomforting locked-up truth that wakes us up from self-deconstruction. For more than three decades, the long-term environmental activist collects enormous researches associated with global warming that ignore by the society. Al Gore zooms into core of how the world warns us with its fatal symptoms, including the exceeding increase of greenhouse gases that cause by human pollutions, the raise of sea levels that will eventually cause immersion of lands, the massive heat waves killed thousands around the world, the intensifying draughts and floods on after another that led to the dry up of Lake Chad and inundations in China and India, the meltdown of North and South Poles' ice and its impact on polar bears, the vanishing of the beautiful coral reefs, and the extinction of many other scarce species, the horrific spreading of epidemic infectious diseases like SARS, the real-estate, pop-up, etc, the all-time high record typhoons in Japan and tornadoes in the U.S, irregular hurricanes like Ivan, Frances, Jeanne and the most recent deadliest Katrina that not only cost myriad damages but also thousands of priceless life, and make countless more become homeless. The list goes on and on, none of these calamities sound strange to the world, and each of them work together in Al Gore's insightful power-point presentation to educate the public about the serious condition of climate crisis.

The globe is like a timing bomb, and according to the majority scientists, humanity will have to face big disasters associated with the sudden changes of the climate system on Earth. The dramatic increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is largely caused by human contamination. Many serious situations we have never experienced before will be all coming after us. Is God punishing us? Or it is our humans who really create these disasters ourselves? And now it's the time to face the "period of consequences". If this sounds like a groundless fear, please spend one drop of your spare time to watch this movie carefully, and then reconsider everything again. However, since idle theorizing can hardly make any efforts, therefore, reconsideration is not the only result pursuing by Al Gore from people around the world. Especially the U.S, he insists, as the biggest emission country on earth should realize the water is boiling before it is too late. But if the U.S. mainstream does not bother to change at all, what can the rest do? Al Gore tells us that the political and economic obstacles should not be an excuse, and as humanity, we should consider the global warming problem as a "moral issue". Are gold bars really weightier than the entire planet? And the future of our children? Do not make the end of the world a nonfiction to our offspring, and the know-how techniques are on our hands. Al Gore shows us a graph of how many emissions be will be cut in half with our determination to act, and the proudly reminiscence of American history had proven that we have the ability to do this.

Although, facts presenting is the orthodox system to make arguments more compelling, but the most crucial portion is the way Al Gore converts the literal warnings into true-to-life conversations. With confident, humorous and relaxing attitudes, he explains the global warming problem concisely to the common people. He calls for immediate actions and convinces that we still have time to make the change and save our only homeland - the Earth, for the moral responsibility of our next generation. He recalls the surprising facts from time to time, uses a whole brunch of comparable pictures, chart and graphs from the past and present, forecast future results scientifically and even included animations for sharp emotional and visual effects. Through Al Gore's lively presentation, these might-be "so-what" data correlated with every living thing in the planet had transmitted into a real world close-up, so stunning that they are enough to move people in every category. Besides the announcement of the vast range of scientific research reports that reveal and corroborate unbelievable emergency warning from the Earth, Al Gore had also melted down the economic and political controversies that cause the ignorance of environmental protection by giving alternative perspectives for these economists and politicians. And as a politician himself, Al Gore shared his personal and resonant stories about his lovely farm-life childhood and the highly-inspired time in college that set him a steadfast determination to change this global crisis by entering the congress. Although the outcomes were not as pleasant as expected, many set-backs and frustrations had beaten him to the bottom, however, the almost lost of his beloved son and remembrance of the death of his older sister reminds Al Gore the importance of life, and roused his willpower to start this mission of worldwide lecture. Throughout the slide-show presentation, the audience won't feel like they are listening to a politician or a scientist arguing the rights and wrongs, instead, they are listening to a person, as a part of the human race, who rings a bell and shows us what we had overlooked for so long.

Unfortunately, An Inconvenient Truth has to tolerate flaws of documentary film's dry and boring label which scares away many people before it can infuses its inspiration. Although Al Gore himself might have been the most attractive selling point for the film, but also because of whom he is, some people will more likely build up conceptual bias toward this inconvenient truth. In fact, many of these realistic people had already treated Al Gore's work as a propaganda campaign show that helped him to gain reputation. If the film is judged and rejected by its jacket, how many influential individuals will have the chance to get the massage? I ask myself after watching the film ironically, why should people still have to pay to know the truth if it is a deadly serious must-know? Nevertheless, how much percentage of factory owners and policy makers in the world whom really need to be stirred and make changes will have the time to hear this seemingly radical and heretic preaching? And within that tiny percentage, how many are willing to give up what they used to believe and live on from the previous state without any debates and arguments? And then how many will have the courage to move into actions for immediate changes? And within those enthralled individuals, how many will last permanently without stronger supports from the governments, corporations, institutions and other aspects of the public? Before actually trying to change the world, Al Gore might have to dig a little bit deeper on these issues and work harder to counteract these difficult barriers constructed sturdily by the society.

But perhaps, being a messenger is the best way to start. An Inconvenient Truth impels us to wonder why blame God for sending down natural catastrophe, but not blame ourselves what we did to the Earth? It throws behind all vex concerns and fears, the factors associated with global warming and the persuasiveness of Al Gore's presentation is unbeatably convincing. It pushes us to reconsider this crisis as a moral issue that humanity should make big change we are responsible for.

Unconvenient Truth

Documentary? Environmental protection? Global warming and the end of the world? How bald and pedantic this film sounds like! But An Inconvenient Truth has jumped out the levels of conventional movies with its unusual single person presentation that offers the most persuasive and enlightened intendment ever.

The globe is like a timing bomb, and according to the majority scientists, humanity will have to face big disasters associated with the sudden changes of the Earth's climate system due to the dramatic increase of carbon dioxide. Some of these disasters had already happened in only the past few years, including severe floods, droughts, the massive spreading of epidemic infectious diseases, as well fatal heat waves, and other serious situations we have never experienced, moreover, it is our humans who create these disasters, and now it’s the time to face the “period of consequences”. If this sounds like a groundless fear, please spent one drop of your spare time to watch this movie carefully, and then reconsider everything again.

A film about the decision we should make, takes American former Vice President Al Gore’s lecture as a theme and exposed a discomforting locked-up truth that wakes us up from self-deconstruction. For more than three decades, the enthusiast collects enormous researches like the increase of sea and greenhouse gases levels, the drying up of Lake Chad, irregular hurricanes, typhoons and tornados, the meltdown of North and South Poles’ ice and its impact on polar bears, the vanishing of coral reefs and scarce species. Although, facts presenting is the orthodox system to make arguments more compelling, but the most crucial portion is the way Al Gore converts the literal warnings into true-to-life conversations. With confident, humorous and relaxing attitudes, he explains the global warming problem concisely to the common people. He calls for immediate actions and convinces that we still have time to make the change and save our only homeland – the Earth, for the moral responsibility of our next generation. He quotes the surprising facts data from time to time, uses a whole brunch of comparable pictures, charts and graphs from the past and present, forecast future results scientifically and even included animations for sharp emotional and visual effects. These might have been “so what” data correlated with every living thing in the planet had transmitted into real world close-up, so stunning that they are enough to move people in every category. In addition to the announcement of the vast range of scientific research reports that are mostly unknown to the public but all reveal and corroborate unbelievable emergency warning from the Earth, Al Gore had also melted down the economic and political controversies that cause the ignorance of environmental protection by giving alternative perspectives for these economists and politicians. And as a politician himself, Al Gore shared his lovely farm-life childhood and the highly-inspired time in college that set him a steadfast determination to change this global crisis by entering the congress. But the outcomes were not as pleasant as expected, many set-backs and frustrations had beaten him to the bottom. However, the almost lost of his beloved son and remembrance of the death of his best friend remind Al Gore the importance of life, and roused his willpower to start this mission of worldwide lecture. Throughout the slideshow presentation, the audiences won’t feel like they are listening to a politician or a scientist, instead, they are listening to a person, as a part of the human race, who rings a bell and shows us what we had overlook for so long.

Unfortunately, An Inconvenient Truth has to bear flaws of documentary film’s dry and boring label which scare away many people before it can infuse its inspiration. And awkwardly, why should people have to pay to know the truth so inconvenient that nobody will want to know? Nevertheless, how much percentage of factory owners and policy makers who really need to be stirred will free up a time to hear this seemingly radical and heretic preaching? And within that tiny percentage, how many are willing to give up what they used to believe and live on from a previous state without any debates and arguments, then move on into actions for immediate changes? Although Al Gore himself might have been the most attractive selling point for the film, but also because of whom he is, some people will more likely to build conceptual bias toward the truths. In fact, many of these realistic people had already treat Al Gore’s work as a propaganda campaign show that help him to gain reputation. If the film is judged and rejected by its jacket, how many influential individuals will have the chance to get the massage? And within those enthralled individuals, how many will last permanently without stronger supports from the governments, corporations, institutions and other aspects of the public? Before actually try to change the world, Al Gore might have to dig a little bit deeper and work harder to counteract these difficult barriers constructed sturdily by the society. But beside these problems, the factors associated with global warming and the persuasiveness of his presentation is unbeatable.

An Inconvenient Truth impels us to wonder why blame God for sending down natural catastrophe, but not blame ourselves what we did to the Earth? It throws behind all vex concerns of politic and economic fears, and reconsider this crisis as a moral issue that humanity should responsible for.

Heartbreak Review

The Heartbreak Kid might not has what you are expected, but it has what is reasonable that comes out from the hands of the Farrelly Brothers. A remake of the original 1972 romantic and inspired comedy, the Farrelly's turned a warm-hearted film into gross-out humors.

Ben Stiller, as a 40's and indecisive man named Eddie Cantrow whom treats as a love looser meets and dates with this charming and amazing girl called Lila, played by Malin Akerman. After six weeks of dating, Eddie is forced to decide whether they will get married or Lila will have to go to Germen for her environmental research project. Under the pressures of his dandy father, by Jerry Stiller and his henpecked friend, by Rob Corddry, he finally decides that this is a precious chance to hitch this seemingly perfect match. Right after the marriage on their honeymoon trip to Mexico, Eddie found out Lila's terribly abnormal behaviors and truths about her debts and addition. Meanwhile, when Lila sunburns herself and has to stay in her room, Eddie wanders around and logically crashed into a lovely girl named Miranda, played by Michelle Monaghan. Again and again, Eddie tries but never has successfully fixed the mess upon the misunderstandings and his two relationships. Finally, everything blew up, and without passport and clothing, the poor Eddie stuck in Mexico as a juice-head. However, some Mexican friends convince him not to give up, which he did, eventually gets back to Mississippi illegally for his true love- Miranda, whom he finally found, but has been married to another man. Few months later, they meet again in Mexico, where Eddie has opened his sporting-goods shop with his new wife. Passion seems to heat up again between Eddie and Miranda, but unfortunately, in a Farrelly way.

The plot is not surprising, but keeps in mind that it was written 30 years ago, and the two brothers had updated it with their well-known malicious hilarity. Despite the fact that some familiar gags are old and random, there are also some scenes that make me wonder if I was watching a bloody horror movie rather than a relaxing comedy. The urinating act of Lila, the disgusting stuffs that spill out of her nose and those raunchy parts like the donkey dance and frenzied sex on bed did coerce me to say "ill" many times. Some ideas are more silly than funny, and that it fails to surprise audiences with predictable outcomes which turned the film into a still and boring farce. However, I don't expect for a thoughtful and sensible story in a comedy, so I let go all the twisted and senseless scenarios, and hope for pure laughs, in which the Heartbreak Kid did manage to include some humorous moments. Ben Stiller and the Farrelly Brothers' reunion since the There's Something About Mary collaboration offers an interesting possibility. The Stiller's (Eddie and his father Doc) also creates chemistry for the film, which is a plus, and other actors are fairly professionals on what they are doing. The most excited astonishment is to see Malin Akerman took such a brave step to act as the biggest buffoon within the film, moreover, she did an amazing presentation. Another positive element is the background music that went smoothly with the film as an enhancement to the highlights, which are not so much, and only enough to make some giggles.

The combination of sex, nudity, gross humors and profanity into crassness doesn't make The Heartbreak Kid go anywhere. The most meaningful positive thinking about this film is that at lease I laughed for the good of my health and it widens my awareness about the absurdity of marriage and love, and additionally expends my tolerance for horridness. If someone is a big friend of the Farrelly's humors and Ben Stiller's droll acting, or, let's say, you are extremely depress and have too much time to kill, I will recommend this movie, and for just a total of eight dollars, you can pray quietly that it will help to resolve your curiosity and sadness with its dark and evil farce.

My Response to Southwest Fashion Flap

Dress codes exist everywhere in the society, but people might not even recognize their presence, especially nowadays people are pushing back the limit line of vulgarity, obscene or patently offensive. Many restaurants and casinos could retain their policies over their customers that Southwest Airlines found difficult to carry out. Like other airlines, Southwest is not the only one that has contract of carriage on customers dress codes, but unlike those high-class restaurants and casinos where people mostly respect appropriate clothing, airports usually have a relaxing and shopping-mall-like mood where every different individual could show up.

Although the rule is here, which the Southwest employees did make it takes, but from the company’s point of view, to enforce dress codes based on personal taste is simply helping rivals by hurting its own business, and it’s the reason why Southwest has to step out and made apologies for offending these people. But do they have to right to force customers change dress? Yes, they have language in its contract of carriage. But did they state their manner requirements clearly when people buy the ticket? No, because it is unnecessary to make too much restrictions when it comes to business, unless it’s illegal.

In reality, dress codes are not national laws but a certain paradigm within the society, but every company, corporation or business have the right to make rules, airlines aren’t the exception. You won’t put into jail if they think your dress code is invalid according to their policy, but they can legally deny service for you if they want. Then it comes to our constitution on “Freedom of Speech” which people frequently use to protest themselves from what they do, what they say, what they write, and in this case, what they wear. Skimpy skirts and “MasterBaiter” T-shirts are not unlawful to sell and buy in this country, nor they are prohibit to wear in the public, but does it mean your freedom rights will end when you assaulted or offended others by dressing these clothing?

I’m only sure some people will think it’s inappropriate to dress like that, but there also people who think it’s fine to pop out from the ordinary, and however, we can’t satisfy every single person’s will. Although Southwest’s enforcement somehow seems trivial and surly, but keep in mind that the flight agents were just trying to keep things on track and avoid further complains that affect their reputations. Anyhow, Southwest had surrendered, which means at the same time that the other customers will have to endure every other’s dressing habits in the plane even though they consider “distasteful”. I wonder what will happen if some one wear bikini next time.

The question is left to benevolence to decide. Average people will have a better judgment to wear “casually” when going to spend hours in a crowded plane with strangers that might give them unfriendly stares if they dress “weirdly”. Plus, there are no big deals to wear something that fit little more into the usualness, and please give some sympathies to other people who might suffer from your outfits but cannot go anywhere else for hours. But what about some few others whom believe “normal” clothing is a torture to themselves? Well, they would fight back with the adorable first amendment for sure, but what does it led to? a label to tell others you are tacky? or lewd? Of course, there’re also some people who don’t matter what others think about them or even gratify for doing so. Human disciplines are changing, and when rules can no longer confine these individuals, the society will then be changed more or less by the influences created by these unusual persons.

We cannot tell if it is a right or wrong answer as Southwest stepped back for easy solution. All I know is that the society is updating for new concepts, and before the society itself gives dress codes a suitable conclusion, controversy is necessary for any results.