WE ARE THE ROBOTS AND WE HAVE COME TO KILL YOU

If the Internet needs anything, it’s more amateur movie reviews. So I should probably disclose that I saw Terminator Salvation over the weekend.

And ... well ...

I should start by saying that I used to have the first Terminator movie on video, and it’s a slightly dated but otherwise gem of an action film (as is almost any movie with Lance Henrikson and a Dick Miller cameo). T2 was a great extension of the premise and had a lot to say about humanity amidst the mayhem. Then we had T3, which was essentially an inferior rehash of T2, but with a suitably grim ending.

Terminator Salvation works in terms of breaking from the old formula (apart from the traditional climatic fight in an industrial factory), but it tries too hard to tie itself to the first batch (see: the traditional climatic fight in an industrial factory, among other things).

The story of Marcus (while not the most original idea – but then neither was the first film – just ask Harlan Ellison) is a nice twist and a potentially good story, but the actual storytelling process is sloppy. It does seem as though they ended up editing out half the dialogue (the half that actually explains what’s going on or why these people are doing what they’re doing) to make room for more action pieces (some of which are great, others not so much).

And frankly, Skynet’s Big Clever Plan to kill John Connor this time is just silly. At least as it’s presented in the final edit.

And speaking of John Connor, I think a lot more could have been done to build up his character as an inspiring Resistance leader. Which isn’t Christian Bale’s fault – he’s pretty good, but Connor was originally supposed to be a smaller role in the film – on this evidence, they made his role bigger without actually writing anything else for him to do or say.

So as cliche as it is to say it, there’s a good film in here somewhere. But as usual, someone buried it under a bunch of explosions.

He’ll be back,

This is dF

HK ACID RAIN, PART 3

ITEM: The Mong Kok Acid Bomber struck again last night. One bottle dropped at the corner of Nelson and Sai Yeung Choi streets , 24 injured – including a four-year-old.

The twist: the attack happened just five hours after the police switched on newly installed security cameras covering the area.

The police are reviewing the video footage for clues, though if the perp knew he/she would be on camera, they may have thought to wear a hat and sunglasses.

Which is worth mentioning because the Hong Kong police don’t use public surveillance cameras. Most buildings install them privately, and police will use the footage if someone commits a crime on tape, but they don’t have their own surveillance camera network like, say, the UK does.

They made an exception for Mong Kok because of the acid bomber, but the third attack pretty much proves that as a deterrent to crime, surveillance cameras aren’t very effective. Still, if they manage to ID the perp, it’ll be money well spent, though hopefully that won’t encourage the govt to build its own UK-style “Ring Of Steel” in the name of protecting the public.

Bruce Schneier has more on the surveillance camera issue, if yr interested.

BACKGROUND: Info on the first two attacks here and here.

Can’t stand the rain,

This is dF

DAVID CARRADINE ACTUALLY KILLED BY NINJAS

ITEM: David Carradine may have been killed by a secret society of martial arts assassins, claims lawyer Mark Geragos.

He made the claim on Larry King Live after a panel member noted Carradine was keen on following and disclosing secret societies.

"What that means is connected to martial arts and his interest in martial arts," Mr Geragos said.

“And so there is a suspicion that if there was some foul play, that that may be the first area where they should look."

I’m skeptical.

Still, “killed by a secret society of martial arts assassins” sounds like a lot cooler way to die than “autoerotic asphyxiation”. So I’d be pushing that theory too if I represented the Carradines.

Which leads to the other obvious question: did Michael Hutchence also know too much?

Exit the ninja,

This is dF