A Clash of Reduxes, or a review of the Clash of the Titans 2010

I recently watched the new version of Clash of the Titans with much anticipation; unfortunately, what I received was what I have come to expect from Hollywood (or Vancouver or England or where ever Hollywood is now).  I can forgive them for being lazy (but must I?) However, I will not be giving them a break on this one; (surprising, isn't it?)  It wasn't enough that they dusted off the old script from 1981; they just had to butcher it in the name of 'redux'.  Don't get me wrong; I am not railing against all 'reduxes', just this one.  The movies entitled Clash of the Titans both retell the story of the legend of Perseus.  The former rendition starring Harry Hamlin as Perseus and has the hero desiring Andromeda who is demanded as a sacrifice to the Kracken, a sea beast, who is ordered to lay waste to a seaport.  The latter puts Sam Worthington in the role as the errant Perseus.

The story begins as the first with a woman and her young son cast out and set upon the ocean by a jealous king; however, this is where the parallel ends.  The child turns out to be the son of Zeus who had visited his mother Danae, the daughter of the king.  Perseus grows up unaware of his true heritage as he comes upon the cursed kingdom ruled by the jealous king.  The original version has Perseus hearing of the Princess Andromeda who is set to be a sacrifice for the city to the Kracken.  Perseus then sets upon a quest to save the princess and have her for himself.  He is guided by a poet and playwright, played deftly by the marvelous Burgess Meredith, learns of the situation and goes about righting it according his view.  He sets out to solve a dilemma of killing the Kraken by consulting the witches, who are never really identified; but, tell Perseus that he must obtain the head of the Gorgon-who turns people to stone, even when dead, apparently-in order to defeat the Kracken.  During this quest he receives the help of Zeus-played by the dean of actors, Sir Lawrence Olivier-a number of items shield, helmet, sword, and bag; he also is able to break the winged horse Pegasus, who assists him in the culmination of the story-where he flies to the rescue of the princess turning the Kracken into stone and saving the day, the princess, and the kingdom.  

The new version is much less creative and seemed to be more interested in mocking the previous version than making a updated version or creating its own myth as did Star Trek 2009 v. Star Trek 1966.  In this current version, Perseus is no more interested in Andromeda, but in seeking revenge for his dead mother, killed by Hades as an oversight while punishing the city who brought down a statue of Poseidon or Zeus (this detail is unclear).  Perseus denies the demi-god status that everyone around him is able to discern.  The current version has only revenge in mind and the princess as not even an afterthought.  Perseus just wants to destroy Hades and by extension Zeus as his adopted family is killed-the only one he knows or about whom he seems to care .  After  the attack, Perseus is rescued and brought to the city that started the tift.  Perseus wants nothing to do with saving the city or even the women involved, just revenge for the death of his family. He is convinced to go on the quest; and goes knowing nothing of how to fight.  Perseus is finally taught to fight by the head of a detail sent by the king to accompany him or he them (this is also unclear); they are joined by a group that claims to know how to kill the monsters they are about to encounter.  This motley crew then meets up with the blue Djinn, who are the same creatures of Arabian legend and assist the errant group to tame large scorpions that grew from the blood of Calabos, after a soldier was able to cut the hand of Calabos off.  It was unclear what became of the hand.  The significance of this hand in the previous version was that it  had a ring of Calabos which was the answer to some riddle about Andromeda.  The quest then continues to the edge of the Tartaros, the realm of Hades.  It was here that I left the new presentation.  

The original legend of Perseus from Greek Mythology has Perseus inside  the chest with his mother, Danae, banished by Acrisius; he grows up on island of Seriphus.  King Polydectes of Seriphus is able to trick Perseus into the quest against the Gorgon Medusa in exchange for Danae his mother.  In the original story, he is aided by Hermes and Athena; they visit the Graiae, sisters of the Gorgon (the witches in both portrayals) who possess a single eye to see and a tooth to eat human flesh.  The Graiae direct Perseus, et al. to the Stygian nymphs who tell him where to find the tools against the Gorgon-the bag, the sandals (which are winged sandals), and the helmet (giving the wearer invisibility).  Perseus is given a shield by Athena that he uses to defeat the Gorgon, decapitating her. The Andromeda storyline comes from a separate deed where Perseus is returning to Seriphus having obtained the head of Medusa.  While on his way to Seriphus, through Ethiopia for some reason, he becomes enamored with Andromeda, the Ethiopian princess, and it was Cassiopeia-Andromeda's mother-who had boasted that Andromeda was more beautiful than the sea nymphs (instead of Hera in the first version).  It was Poseidon who was to release an unidentified sea monster, ostensibly a squid or octopus, against Ethiopia for the boast.  King Cepheus of Ethiopia consults an oracle-of whom or where is unclear; but, the oracle notifies Cepheus he must sacrifice Andromeda as justice for the insult against the nymphs and ostensibly Poseidon.  Perseus became enamored with Andromeda and uses the head against the sea monster turning it to stone, saving Andromeda,  marrying her and establishing the Mycenaeans , the pre-Greeks (although this detail alludes me; for, if they weren't Greeks prior to the establishment of Mycenae, then who were the inhabitants of the land prior to Mycenae being founded).  

The new Clash of the titans is wholly convoluted as the writer has appeared to have picked and chosen from both original legend and the previous incarnation of the story which gives credence to the criticisms against philosophy, religion, and bad storytelling that all employ the same tactic; the so-called, salad bar approach.    It seems to be a wider symptom of this post-modern era where the only thing that seems to be progressing and evolving is entropy.  We have progressed even faster than before into the civilization cycle and are traveling headlong to that end visited time and again by the great civilizations of the past: dilapidation.  There also seems to be a slight against Ethiopia as the only depictions of actual Ethiopians are those seen in the guilt-driven ads begging for money to sponsor a child.  The rest of Ethiopia's existence seems to be glossed over in all other depictions as if no one wants to acknowledge that it had a kingdom in its own right or that it was part of the great empires of history.  Perhaps it is my own lack of awareness, but I am at a loss to see a depiction of an Ethiopian in any context other than that I have already mentioned.     

I still hold out some optimism as the recent version of the same legend and story arc of Perseus, Percy Jackson and the Olympians-the Lightning Thief; holds great promise as a true redux of the legend of Perseus.  This occurs in the current world and recasts Perseus-aka Percy Jackson-as the unwitting son, of Poseidon this time, accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt the symbol of his power.  His mother is taken by a minotaur who is in league with Hades and is held in ransom for the lightning bolt.  Perseus then pursues Hades with the help of the daughter of Athena and a satyr (a goat-legged human who appears much like that of Pan).  In this version the winged shoes play their proper role as Percy confronts the true villain, the disgruntled son of Hermes.   I came across it thinking it a leftover of the Harry Potter stories, but the writer proved him or herself quite the adept at adapting the legend of Perseus.  

All-in-all the new Clash of the Titans (2010) is a flop; while having very cool special effects, it wasn't enough to save its poor story.  If you have purchased this movie, my condolences; if you have not, I implore that you save your money until a time where it will be virtually given away.  If you are a fan of the many stars in this new version, especially the delightful Alexa Davalos who plays Cassiopeia, then don't give into the temptation of paying more than $1.99 for the privilege of renting it.        

Troglodytes Trashing Trailer Trash.

    I understand the reason for and salute our founders for the first amendment, but there are times when it is pushed to the limit.  Take an article in the Wall Street Journal about Sarah Palin's Alaskan reality show, for instance.  There was the usual vitriol against her as so many people on both sides of the political aisle have such a profound fear of her.  However, what 'got my goad' was a remark by a person who called themselves 'PalinLovah'.  This person stated three words that forbid me to contain my wrath and embark upon a type of verbal orgy of slaughter, that should never be used.  However, it was too late.  The genie had been released from the bottle and the grotesque murder began. These three words have been a staple of elitist city-dwellers for decades and now seems to be a weapon of those who believe that those who are not like themselves need to be 'put down' as the phrase goes.  These three words are 'trailer; park; trash'.
    These words alone are innocuous.  They depict ordinary objects in our lives, but placed together they conjure an image of people who are sub-human.  Depictions which have been favored in many horror films of the last decade.  They are political fodder and are the staple in the so-called comedy routines of the likes of Bill Maher.  They are a moniker of a person who is unintelligent, rude, and filthy in the minds of those who hold such an opinion.  These words describe people who live outside the cities of New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D. C. and Chicago. 
    Not for nothin', but I have lived in trailers most of my life.  I live in one as I write this article.  This has included trailer parks where our most honorable Navy NCOs and Seaman have lived.  So, PalinLovah (surely a leftist fascist masquerading as a Palin supporter) you can get hunted and stuffed yourself.  The  men and women veterans of the Armed Forces and of World War II, Viet Nam, and the Gulf War many who currently live in trailers have done nothing to deserve such disdain.  If you weren't one of the San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago leftists who have dedicated themselves to destroying this country, then you wouldn't post such drivel; or, at least you would use your own name. 
    It seems to me that people like you started the movement that brought us such great hits as the Jim Crow laws, social security, and the current Administration.  Those who espouse and teach the notion that those of color weren't American, much less human, and had to be raised to the level of humanity.  You are of those ilk who support the misinterpretation of history to suit their own political ends, who project and impose their eugenic, fascist, atheistic notions, upon us all.  Notions that have failed in the face of real evidence.  The life and work of George Washington Carver comes to mind. 
    Sir or Madam, such notions are counter-American.  Opposed to the ideals of individual responsibility, individual ingenuity, integrity, and innovation.  I think you would be better off with those in Afghanistan and Iraq who wish to hold onto an ancient ideal that never was.  Where women are disfigured or stoned for the accusation of adultery.  Perhaps you would be more comfortable where the whims of sexually perverted and abusive men are law.  Such as countries which allow marriage to and sexual relations with children.  Yet, to those of your ilk, these in Afghanistan, Iraq, Thailand and other countries seem to be more noble in your eyes, than the poor in the USA.
    This is my counter-strike against you and those who are of such an ilk in this country.  It is the firing against the nation's domestic enemies as is my oath as a defender of the U. S. Constitution.  It is what I can do before the rights of people of my ilk are taken away by the current Administration or perhaps the next.  I am person who tries to find honor in all people; yet, find so many lacking, especially you.  So I point, fire back, and hope that it helps rather than hurts the cause of freedom, life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.  The cause which created America in the first place.            

The Hill That Regretfully had a Voice-Silent Hill

The movie, Silent Hill, was released in 2006 and is a movie based on a video game of the same title.  I know that if you are fan of the video game, then I am a tool; because it's a great representation of the game.  If you are not a fan, then you have no sympathy for me and I got what I deserved for wasting my time with it.  If you have a job, a life, and participate in a regular monogamous sexual relationship, then you have no idea what I am talking about.  Sure-you've heard of the movie, but you really don't know what it is all about.  The "plot"-I put in quotations because there really isn't one; after all, it's just a video game for lovers of gratuitous violence and another addition to a long list of movies, games, and other entertainment centered upon the values of fear, torture, and submitting to your enemies.  In case you are wondering,  I didn't like this film and this article is to tell you why.  

Anyway, the plot is essentially this-a woman with an adopted daughter has to go to a place called Silent Hill, WV for an unknown reason.  I say unknown, because I didn't see the movie from the beginning and I hope that such a thing would have been explained at the onset.  So, this woman takes her adopted daughter to this town.  She is not in the town very long when the daughter disappears.  The woman attempts to find the girl within the town.  In her search, she finds a number of strange characters including a couple women whose dress, attitude, and speech patterns indicate that they are cuckoo for canned goods.  They give the obligatory warnings about leaving the town.  The heroine ignores these warnings and searches for the girl.  She is then pursued by strangely dressed individuals who nearly capture her, but are dissuaded by the entire scenery changing into a cheap Dante's Inferno knockoff and a group of strange creatures who appear to want to help the mother in her quest.  It was at this point that I thought that this plot device was a wink at God helping this woman.  I think that would be a great theme-the Church being the dragon and these manifestations helping the mother and Child as told in the book of Revelation of the Holy Bible.  This, sadly, is not the case.  These changes occur throughout the movie as we find out that the pursuers in the strange clothes are members of a non-descript church who follows their own teachings and not that of Christ, hence forward to be further identified as the cult.  The creatures wanting to help are some type of manifestation of evil according to the cult.  Once the players in this drama are revealed is when the battle gets murky.  Apparently, this evil manifestation who is assisting the mother,  is some type of demon or perhaps a psychic manifestation of a terminally ill  girl who was declared evil , taken by this cult, and burned alive after being accused of being a witch.  The captured girl-the adopted daughter-is the "good" manifestation of the terminally ill girl, although it was never explained how or why this was so.  The final conflict matches the members of this cult against the evil manifestation where the manifestation had to "possess" the mother in order to defeat the cult.  The cult having some type of influence which prevented this manifestation from acting on its own behalf-that is, to seek revenge for the girl.  Prior to the final battle,  the mother realizes what was happening although she does a poor job of revealing it to the audience.  The next series of events is why this film angered me.  These events are again unclear as apparently the mother commits suicide in order to release the manifestation that possessed her.  The manifestation then takes care of business by slaughtering all the cult members and sending them to hell.  In the final scene, the mother and daughter escape the cult and drive home.  Upon arriving home, they are enveloped in a fog and are both apparently deceased. It was never explained how the child died in all this.  If she was dead and only a manifestation of psychic energy, then how was it she was captured and controlled in the first place? Again it is unclear  and never explained during the film.  The father/husband is aware that there is a presence in the house, but can't see the apparently deceased mother and child.   

What angered me about this film is there are so many murky details and doesn't explain why and how the woman and child were killed.  It is never clear how this child is a "good" manifestation and how the "bad" manifestation came to be.  The writer of this movie either was more interested in making clichéd insults against The Church or is just a complete idiot.  I liked the conflict with the cult as I agree that most denominations are not much better than cults as they don't rely upon the Word of God or conduct the Great Commission of preaching the Word of God and loving people.  I also like the theme of the mother getting her adoptive daughter and finding the details of that adoption along the way.  What I didn't like was the clichéd steam punk sets, the clichéd Dante's Inferno knockoff symbolism, and the ending where the child and mother die mysteriously.  If you are going to kill off the heroine and the child then set us up beforehand-that is foreshadow their deaths.  I then would have much more respect for this writer even though he killed them both.  They were killed off senselessly and ashamedly.  They do make it home, but as apparent ghosts that haunt the house endlessly;  a cowardly way out. 

This movie was stupid.  It didn't have any good storytelling elements.  It was poorly written and used clichéd criticisms of the Church at large; albeit, criticisms with which I concur.  I think that any group of people that places more honor upon its own theologies over that of the Word of God as a part of the Church should be destroyed.  This film showed that this evil was more powerful than those who were trying to resist it.  Albeit, that it had to use the heroine in order to accomplish this.  Such has been a theme of movies since the 1970s-that The Church is by no means able to resist the manifestations of the devil and people must be fearful and submit to them; even if you attempt to resist, it will be to no avail.  While this may seem true on its face, those who are true to the Bible always overcome-such is the definition of a miracle.    

Hello and Welcome

Greetings to the insightful madness of me.  I come in many forms, but for one purpose-to make my thought known prior to the coming onslaught against free speech.  I warn you now that I will seem pithy only occasionally and about as often as 10,000 typing chimpanzees who attempt to type Genesis 1:1; never mind why the chimps are typing, but rest assured your tax money was used to pay for the attempt. It will happen, however, so if for no other reason than to update your Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or other accounts to note the date, time, and remark-keep checking back.  It won't solve your problems, but it will assist you to avoid them for a few minutes; and, isn't attaining joy, even for a brief moment, worth the effort?; Train wreck or triumph, it will be notable.
A simple note about me.  I am of no noble house, nor any mover-and-shaker entity.  I am of the highest noble house and the ultimate mover-and-shaker.  I am a son of the Most High God, the dad to two beautiful daughters, a veteran, and a working stiff.  I am the target and the demographic of the politician wanting re-election and the Dane of existence of the current movement in power.  I am also the invisible majority; regardless of how much these New World Order Progressive World Communist Dupes {NWOPWCD} try to deny me. 
I will discuss many things and mostly my reaction to what has happened, what wasn't discussed, and about that which no one wants to talk.  I have served in Government and the Military at the lowest levels.  I have the insight of a chimp, the anger of Moses, and the training to properly use a firearm. 
I embark on this venture to make record that I made the effort.  The effort to inform, entertain, ridicule, cajole, encourage, rally, and incite.  I agree with some, argue with most, and ignore the irrelevant and will identify each along the way.  All that I ask is that you read what is there and give it a fair shake; not what you want to read to justify your hateful, threatening, and irrelevant avocation.  I will identify those with whom I agree and those I don't.  I don't need the NWOPWCD drone to perform that for me; they will say he agrees with that person, and that movement, and I say he didn't do any such damn thing.  
Those of you wishing to hate something about me, then I feed your pathology.  I support the Children of Israel, the US Constitution, and an Anti-Federalist form of Government.  I am an enemy of Eugenics, Manipulation, Racism and those who make improper claims of racist motives because they don't agree with someone, something, or to get an unfair advantage of the rest of us.  I am of  Blackfoot, Basque, Jew, German, English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh descent.  I will spare my other relations the embarrassment of my association to them (they are Haitian, as are my children).  I am a member of the Tea Party movement.  I will not feed into your hatred more than that for now.  Rest assured there will be plenty for your pathology. Essentially, I am the working poor everyman and take that perspective in everything I do. 
I have droned on sufficiently for my first post and will make the effort to make entries at least once a week and when something interesting happens.  Keep watching you might be the first on the crash scene