Steven Speilberg is stepping back into a film genre that had made him a modern cinema icon in “Schindler’s List”, that is, in the realm of true-to-life drama. In “Munich”, Speilberg wades deep into political controversy that is not merely timely nowadays, but may also affect the courses of events as it can open old wounds, possibly swaying political compromises such as the ongoing (but yet to be complete) pull-out of Israeli occupation from Gaza.

“Munich” is being hailed by Paul Clinton of CNN as ” a masterpiece”,an acclaim rarely heard these days and this got me really excited. Perhaps, the last time that a movie had filled me with so much anticipation was when Oliver Stone’s “JFK” was about to hit the screen and it did not let me down. I have a great feeling that “Munich” would similarly satisfy my cravings and judging by the online trailers of Steven Speilberg’s latest ouvre, it may just surpass everybody else’s expectations. Watching snippets of the film, one could be amazed by the stark realism portrayed in it. The 70’s environment and feel is so well captured in details, even right to the very retro-looking buildings where the violent scenes had supposedly happened. The staggered takes by the cameras, the rolling shots and atypical angles effectively exhibits that real-life feel on the movie screen, as if the viewers are watching a real live event happening right-here-right-now and not merely going through a movie. Realism is high in this movie. Just like the controversy that got Speilberg so embroiled lately.

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Tommorow is Christmas Eve and like in years past, it’s gonna be a jolly time for me, my wife Evelyn, my mother-in-law Nanay Dora and of course the kids. The kids could by then hang around the Christmas Tree all day long it seems, like they did a year ago, from sun-up till the chimes ring for the momentous eve, not taking their sights off at the artificial six-foot tree in the sala even for a moments time, wondering all throughout what those wrapped boxes contain and what’s in in store for each of them (I could see that in their focused eyes somehow). The smell of spaghetti (the way I want it done–dry and chunky) is such a harbinger of celebration and merriment for me—like an aroma therapy— that without it, it feels like there’s no celebration at all.

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U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney has been into controversies more times than what could be acceptable for a politician that should be aiming towards the U.S. presidency just three years from now. Despite the repulsiveness of the lobby issue he got embroiled for and in behalf of Halliburton (the mega-corporation that had cornered the huge contract to rebuild Iraq under a cloudy bidding process and where Cheney was a corporate officer once before), he never seem to have bothered to deny anything or explain why he should not be seen as some sort of an improper or unethical government man. Lately, I have learned that he had strongly supported a bill that is now pending in U.S. Congress that would have allowed torture and harsh treatments of captives by American soldiers anywhere in the world. What the heck is wrong with this guy? I bet he can kiss his presidential ambition goodbye for no American would be sane enough to elect a guy who encourages cruel and inhuman punishment (but then, American voters can be so unpredictable).

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Former Defense Secretary Fortunato Abat should have known better that establishing “a government within a government” is never child’s play or a light matter. Under the law, that kind of move would almost always land you a criminal charge for inciting to sedition at the least, and rebellion or coup de etat at the most—if the said maneuver should prove to be attended by any form of armed uprising. Yesterday, Abat was “invited” by police authorities for questioning and PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil justified the warrantless arrest as the permissible “citizen arrest” that is allowed by our remedial laws in instances where any civilian could effect an arrest without the benefit of a warrant (whenever such person had witnessed a crime that has just been committed or is about to be committed.) (more…)

Who says technology is always good for us? Clearly, the great technological advancement we have experience in recent times—especially in the field of computers and communication—had been such a boon to mankind that many of us could not anymore imagine life without the Internet or cell phones. But like everything else, there is a downside to the onrush of technology, like upon salt—when salt is too much it becomes a health hazard. Even a harmless and innocuous everyday staple like water kills when too much is introduced into the human body.

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No, the SEA Games rigging issue was not among the major topics for deliberations in the ongoing ASEAN Summit in Malaysia but instead a more pressing issue will be at hand. High on the list on possible discussions is the brimming issue about Myanmar’s slow progress towards democratization, as emphasized by its doggoned refusal to free Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi from detention and the question now becomes: How Does ASEAN handle the Myanmar problem?

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