Is there no one else? IS THERE NO ONE ELSE?

I can’t help but giggle at that. That and the repeated cry, “”HECTOOOOOR!”" during pregnant pauses in conversation.

Troy was a fantastically large and awesome movie, and it could have been an epic, except for the fact that the more intimate scenes were pretty much botched.

Eric Bana gets a nod from me, and even Orlando Bloom, who did a wondrous job portraying an ass like Paris. Peter O’Toole will always get a nod, even if he was in Supergirl asking Helen Slater, “”Squirt?”"

Brad Pitt… well, he certainly makes for an Adonis… an Achilles? Maybe. The problem with taking Greek heroes that portray singular character traits and making them human in a godless world is that, well, they sort of lose their impact of personality. Even, so, one can make that hero an altogether captivating human, and in that, where Bana succeeded, Pitt failed.

The battle scenes are also a mixed bag. Human mobs hitting other human mobs are rather dull. Personal combat is much more visceral, much more exciting. The highlight of the movie, appropriate enough for one that claims to be based on Homer’s The Iliad, is the duel between Achilles and Hector. And yes, it rocks.

The movie’s a bit of a bore, and sometimes far too silly, with battle tactics that imply these people can organize a 1,000-ship convoy across the Aegean but can’t figure out how to do anything else other than bunch up and attack. But it’s also rather fun. I definitely benefitted in seeing it on opening night at the Mann Village in Westwood, where the boisterous college crowd helped elevate the excitement. I doubt I’d've enjoyed it as much on a Sunday afternoon in the valley.

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The war on Iraq is now an occupation, and it is a mess. The lessons learned by earlier imperial conquests have not been learned. The very blogs of soldiers in Iraq note that people were happy when they first arrived, but after a year without power or water, it is very clear that the administration of the occupation has been quite poor. McArthur’s occupation of Japan went splendidly, as did the occupation of Berlin, or at least, our half of it. Actually, paying attention to what happened to the other half of Berlin ought to provide an example of occupying a place poorly, and causing many to resent their liberators, the term used by all Allied forces upon conquering Nazi Germany, including Communist Russia.

I am not sure if I would follow the media-heavy politicians’ cry for Rumsfeld’s head, though I certainly share it in spirit. I would, however, lay blame on the commanding officer of the occupation directly, then indirectly accuse the administration for its lack of vision in rebuilding Iraq. We have been more concerned in “”rooting out evil”" than rebuilding a country.

Why is it so hard to see that in rebuilding the country, in restoring and improving its water and power delivery, in repairing its streets and buildings, and to do so hand in hand, without oppressing the subjugated by standing over them, rifle held high, and demanding thanks for freeing them, is by far the best way to root out evil?

Do you think a people would stand with a terrorist if that terrorist bombed a construction crew comprised of Iraqi and American people rebuilding a school? a market? a highway?

Or would they feel resentful of the daily raids, the constant abuse though they be nothing as overt as a superior tone of voice? Would you be happy to have your city occupied by gun-toting fools who do nothing to rebuild a city they destroyed that continue to promise a better future?

Most Iraqi are glad the United States removed Saddam Hussein from power. That same group also agree that living conditions are worse, and that it would be best if the United States, if they continue to act like an occupying force continuing a useless agenda, would leave.

Sadly, this appears to be a trend. After September 11, the world was with us, and we journeyed forth with renewed vigor and purpose. Now, the world is against us, for that vigor and purpose has turned sour with unilateral action without world consensus. You may ask why we need such a consensus, for we are the greatest nation in the world. It is because we are the greatest nation that we need such a consensus - for our greatness is in the fact that we believe in democracy and freedom, and that without that consensus we for all intents and purposes are compromising the very reason for our greatness.

Now, though we did not wait and blackened our reputation by invading Iraq, we had a new opportunity. The world was willing to forgive, provided Iraq turned out for the better. And we promised such, that the country would be free to choose its own course. But political agenda has again turned that promise to ruin, and we continue our manhunts though we have Saddam Hussein in custody. We cry terrorists, we cry al-Qaeda, we cry anything that would justify the use of force. We do nothing to restore the country and its people, and instead propose to give them a shaky government in a few months with no means of carrying out a democratic purpose.

Democracy and freedom need infrastructure first, government second. Instead, we give them government first, infrastructure never. How long do expect Iraq to last as a “”free country”" under these conditions?

We are remiss in our duties to Iraq and to the world. And we continue to excuse our behavior under the guise of “”killing the towelhead”". Hate is an ugly word and an ugly reason. It is the emotion used by brutes, the tool of terror. Our use of it makes it no less uglier, and it serves the people killed by hate three years ago poorly.

Fun movie… the worst part, in all honesty, goes to the writer herself, Tina Fey. Not exactly a great actress, and prone to giving her character too many “”jokes”". Otherwise, she did a great job writing this movie.

Linsday Lohan… yeaaaaah, jailbait.

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If you are buying:

1. Alcohol
2. Produce
3. Anything without a goddamn barcode

Don’t fucking use the express self-checkout line, asshole!