Wrath of the Titans
Why does Sam Worthington do it? For that matter, why are names Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Rosamund Pike and Bill Nighy on the cast list of this swords-and-sandals fantasy based on Greek mythology. A sequel to Clash of the Titans, which received less than stellar reviews from the critics, this new film perseveres in very much the same format, playing to a fan base whose main concern is big monsters rampaging across the screen in 3D. One critic described Clash as “there are titans, they clash,” and an equally succinct summary of Wrath is that “there are titans, they are very angry.” Worthington’s Perseus is the only person who can prevent the utter destruction of the world by the angry titans and various monsters.
The Lorax
Based on characters created by that genius of the nonsense fable Dr Seuss (real name Theodor Seuss Geisel), The Lorax is yet another in a line of high production value 3D animations. Judging from the initial response, the film looks likely to establish itself among the classics, along with Toy Story and Wall-E. With a voice cast that includes pop star Taylor Swift and actors Zac Efron and Danny DeVito, and animated by the same company that made Despicable Me, The Lorax manages to step out of the kiddy entertainment market segment and appeal to a relatively broad audience. The cute animal humor has mostly been done before, as has the cautionary ecological tale, but the whole thing has been put together with a degree of love and care for the material that makes it more than just the sum of its somewhat derivative parts.
The Intouchables
French movie about relations between a white paraplegic and his black carer that manages to pick up on the most egregious racial stereotypes and turn back the clock many decades on issues of racism. Created by writer and director Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, the film plays up stock gags of a boy from the projects taking pot shots at high culture, and Omar Sy, a fine actor and appealing screen presence, gets led into an unseemly Uncle Tom role. A score with plenty of catchy tunes and good acting give The Intouchables an appealing veneer, but that’s not enough to gloss over the ideological problems at the heart of the film.
2012 Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (台灣國際兒童影展)
The 2012 Taiwan International Children’s Film Festival (台灣國際兒童影展) opens today with a diverse lineup of 89 animation, documentary, short and fictional films, as well as television programs, selected from 27 countries. Tickets cost NT$50 per film, available through FamilyMart (全家) FamiPort kiosks. Screenings will be at Vieshow Cinemas Taipei Xinyi (台北信義威秀影城).
On the Net: www.ticff.org.tw
The Billionaire (Top Secret: Wai Roon Pun Lan)
Described as a Thai version of The Social Network, The Billionaire tracks the rise of social misfit Tob Ittipat, a computer game addict compulsively trying out all kinds of get-rich-quick schemes. Parents, teachers and even his girlfriend give up on him, but then he stumbles on a recipe for making a seaweed snack that he distributes through 7-Eleven and strikes gold. The film makes the melodramatic most of Ittipat’s early life, failing in one venture after another, building up to the inevitable big payoff. Directed by Songyos Sugmakanan, the film is a slick production that packs a few surprises.
Vincent will Meer
German road movie about a young man suffering from Tourette’s syndrome who takes off with two other residents from the care facility at which they are staying. All three have their own unique problems, and it is from these quirks and tics that the movie derives much of its humor. Using mental illness as a source of comedy is a difficult path to take, and director Ralf Huettner tries to avoid giving offense by making his characters so one-dimensional that we don’t really care about them.
Jason Han says that the e-arrival card spat between South Korea and Taiwan shows that Seoul is signaling adherence to its “one-China” policy, while Taiwan’s response reflects a reciprocal approach. “Attempts to alter the diplomatic status quo often lead to tit-for-tat responses,” the analyst on international affairs tells the Taipei Times, adding that Taiwan may become more cautious in its dealings with South Korea going forward. Taipei has called on Seoul to correct its electronic entry system, which currently lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan),” warning that reciprocal measures may follow if the wording is not changed before March 31. As of yesterday,
The Portuguese never established a presence on Taiwan, but they must have traded with the indigenous people because later traders reported that the locals referred to parts of deer using Portuguese words. What goods might the Portuguese have offered their indigenous trade partners? Among them must have been slaves, for the Portuguese dealt slaves across Asia. Though we often speak of “Portuguese” ships, imagining them as picturesque vessels manned by pointy-bearded Iberians, in Asia Portuguese shipping between local destinations was crewed by Asian seamen, with a handful of white or Eurasian officers. “Even the great carracks of 1,000-2,000 tons which plied
It’s only half the size of its more famous counterpart in Taipei, but the Botanical Garden of the National Museum of Nature Science (NMNS, 國立自然科學博物館植物園) is surely one of urban Taiwan’s most inviting green spaces. Covering 4.5 hectares immediately northeast of the government-run museum in Taichung’s North District (北區), the garden features more than 700 plant species, many of which are labeled in Chinese but not in English. Since its establishment in 1999, the site’s managers have done their best to replicate a number of native ecosystems, dividing the site into eight areas. The name of the Coral Atoll Zone might
Nuclear power is getting a second look in Southeast Asia as countries prepare to meet surging energy demand as they vie for artificial intelligence-focused data centers. Several Southeast Asian nations are reviving mothballed nuclear plans and setting ambitious targets and nearly half of the region could, if they pursue those goals, have nuclear energy in the 2030s. Even countries without current plans have signaled their interest. Southeast Asia has never produced a single watt of nuclear energy, despite long-held atomic ambitions. But that may soon change as pressure mounts to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change, while meeting growing power needs. The
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