Archive for July 2008
“THE DARK KNIGHT” MOVIE REVIEW [No Spoilers] -THE DARK KNIGHT ASCENDS
THE DARK KNIGHT ASCENDS
**** [4 STARS]
[NO SPOILERS]
The Dark Knight boldly deconstructs and resurrects the superhero movie, confidently allowing the comic book genre to soar beyond superficial assumptions and transcend new heights as a legitimate, epic, philosophical narrative. The highly anticipated sequel to Batman Begins is surely not without its faults and not quite a “masterpiece,” but nonetheless it rightfully breaks new ground in tackling the much derided and mocked “comic” culture with a mature, intense sophistication; one that refuses to carelessly disavow the question, “What if a billionaire really did fight crime dressed like a giant bat?” Talented and intelligent filmmaker Christopher Nolan answers the question as philosophical meditation on morality, with an ethical code and moral boundaries as defining the nature of heroism and identity all amidst the vast backdrop of an old fashioned crime “epic” – oh, and with tons of massive explosions and excellent special effects, too. Read the rest of this entry »
Interview with Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize Winner
PORTRAIT BY RUSTY ZIMMERMAN (www.rustyzimmerman.com/)
By Wajahat Ali and Omid Safi
For Americans, an Iranian human rights activist seems like the greatest oxymoron since military intelligence. However, Shirin Ebadi was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize precisely due to her unflinching and indefatigable commitment in advocating human rights and progressive reform on behalf of women, children and political dissidents. The 61-year-old Ebadi was the first Muslim woman and first Iranian to be honored with the prestigious prize. Recently, she was named one of the top 100 public intellectuals alive by Foreign Policy, and their reader poll, which brought in nearly 500,000 global votes, placed her at number 10 on the same list. Despite her international influence and highly effective advocacy, Ebadi remains a controversial figure in Iran, primarily earning the ire of the current government due to her human rights complaints on behalf of political dissidents and minorities, such as members of the Ba’hai faith.
HELLBOY II: MOVIE REVIEW
WAJAHAT ALI
*** THREE STARS
Punch drunk off the critical and creative success of the Oscar nominated Pan’s Labyrinth, Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro unleashes his fertile imagination in Hellboy II: The Golden Army, a rich and inventive sequel expanding on graphic novelist Mike Mignola’s comic creation. Read the rest of this entry »
The World’s Top 20 Public Intellectuals
The World’s Top 20 Public Intellectuals
Dr. Sami Al-Arian Granted Bail
JONATHAN TURLEY
In a set back for the government, Dr. Sami Al-Arian was granted bail by Judge Leonie M. Brinkema today. Over the objections of the government and the pre-trial services, Judge Brinkema agreed that Dr. Al-Arian was not a flight risk and no danger to the community. The government has suggested that it may now block release by having Immigration officials hold Dr. Al-Arian for deportation — despite the fact that it is trying to hold him for years under a criminal sentence rather than deport him. Read the rest of this entry »
