Transformers Movie

It's finally out! And yes, I was one of the first people waiting in line to get a chance to see it.

So how did it go? Well, if you're not already familiar with Transformers, its actually a great cartoon series from back in the 80's. Look it up. With the new movie out, at first I had doubts about how well it would live up to the memories I had from the cartoon, but after seeing the trailer I was pretty anxious to get out there and see it.

So now it's July 4th... Biggest movie night of the year; we reserved the tickets and got there an hour early, and the hall was already around 90% full. I saw people I haven't seen in the past 5 or 10 years there to watch the movie. It felt like old times, lol.

So anyway, lets take a quick look at who worked the movie; you have Stephen Spielberg producing, so you can assume the effects are smack bang over the top amazing. Not only that, but you have Industrial Light & Magic working on the visual effects (and if you don't already know, that's a George Lucas company - of Star Wars fame), which just means you have some of the best effects people working their magic here. And it shows; the transformations are just SPECTACULAR. You jaw drops watching an F22 flying at top speed and transforming to a full-size robot as it crash-lands on the ground causing a shock wave to go through all the surround buildings.

See these pictures? Now imagine them moving; VERY quickly and smoothly...


Besides that, the cars, trucks, etc all look amazing; very detailed and actually pretty colorful too, making for a very fun movie to watch. There are a number of funny moments - so when you're not being loudly grateftul for the visual effects, you're sitting there laughing.

Bad points? Well, the plot and some of the narrative aren't exactly Oscar material; but then again that's expected from all movies following a similar fashion - Independance Day, Armaggedon, etc.. They all follow the same storyline of the Earth being under attack, everything seems bleak and suddenly the heros overcome and win the day. And there's the obvious love story that has to be thrown in there for good measure. Hot chick too. Story moves a little too fast and the acting isn't super amazing, but that's overshadowed by the humor and those darn-good graphics. And anyway, you're not really going in for the storyline if you're watching a movie about superhuman transforming robots taking over the earth, are you?




Oh, and another thing. Qatar isn't an empty desert. Get your facts straight!

One thing I missed back in the cartoons, was that every time the Transformers changed shape there was a sort of whooshing sound; that was a signature Transformers cartoon sound, i'm sort of dissapointed they didn't incorporate that into the movie. But I guess that's just me.

Overall, a really good fun movie, that lives up to the cartoon; you will come out smiling.

Rating 9/10

MP's: "Now you can hear us on the radio!"

That's what the MP's are out saying; promising more transparency and showing us exactly what they discuss, by broadcasting their parlimentary debates on air.

I really don't know how I feel about this; am I excited to finally get a chance to know what REALLY goes on inside those walls, or am I just worried about accidentally tuning in to their channel and having my brain fried by the amount of boring crap discussed on useless issues.

Well, either way, I guess its a step forward.

Aside from the whole MP's on the radio issue; I thought MP's were supposed to be a group elected to represent the people of a country. Unfortunately most of what we have seen is them working for their own agendas; not necessarily working to benefit themselves (although that has been the case a number of times), but generally fighting in what THEY believe in and not what they think the people believe in, whether it is a strong religious/political belief or otherwise.

MP's, please get the point here; we didn't choose you to make your own decisions regarding these subjects. We chose you to get our requests out in the open. Get more involved with the members of this society, go places, meet people, see what our problems are. Hopefully with a little bit of this, maybe the real issues we have will finally start to see the light.

Parliament debates on radio
PARLIAMENTARY debates are to be broadcast on FM radio channels, it was revealed yesterday.

The Cabinet agreed to the move "to allow people to follow the transparent nature of Bahrain's parliamentary process."

In other developments, measures to improve Tubli Bay's marine environment were discussed.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=186672&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=30104

To our Beloved MP's! We need your Help!

Urgent request! Our beloved MP's; we know we've bashed you at times because of all the wrong reasons; but now, there finally IS a calling for you!

Look at these images of something horrible I saw today, in a store window in Seef Mall!!!

Naked Mannequins! I can't believe we let this specific shop in Seef get away with such a horrible immoral act! Total indecency and 100% against our cultural and religious values!

MP's, we beg you; please do something about this! We all know that you're only good for THESE kind of decisions!!!


(and, it will also keep your mind of the real issues in Bahrain and stop you from making totally stupid decisions without studying their impacts on our Bahraini Society, and passing laws which end up hurting the people a lot more than they do any good!)

They don't seem to like it too much..

If you aren't aware yet, a decision was passed a few days ago banning contractors from working their staff during the hours of 12pm and 4pm during the summer. With the soaring heat and temperatures reaching 50 degrees celcius at times, it was probably the only humane thing to do. Obviously, such a decision was frowned upon by the contractors. Some argued loss of productivity, some argued increased expenses to transport labourers to and from accomodation during these work hours, and some went to the extent of saying that millions of dinars will be lost.

Can you believe that?

Contractors; I understand your frustration; I know that instead of making net profits of so and so million this year, you might have to deal with a few less million (if that is really how much it is going to cost you). I understand that you will have to forget about buying that fourth house in the Carribean this year. I understand, and I sympathise with your cause, I truly do. I also wish I had a house in the Carribean.

Why should they (the labourers) matter? After all, these labourers are plain animals, they're the ones who never work, slack off as much as they can, and cost you a fortune in salaries! They shouldn't get a break; they should stay in the sun, and work to earn that fortune that you pay them every month! I'm sure every single one of you contractors was born without a single cent to your name, and had to leave your family and friends and travel to a distant land to work like an animal for someone else who showed you no mercy, so that you can make a few dollars to eat every day. So why should you give these labourers a chance to relax? You worked hard all your life in the sun, didn't you?

But somehow, walking a few meters from your house to your car gets you all hot and sweaty. And you complain when your air conditioner isn't on full blast, and the temperature in your home soars to around 23 or 24 degrees.

..

....


Read the article below; an extract from today's GDN newspaper.

Working hours 'to hit mega projects'
By MANDEEP SINGH

PRODUCTIVITY in the contracting sector will drop by 50 per cent if the government's decision to stop labourers from working for four hours in the afternoon in July and August is implemented, it was claimed yesterday.

In a statement issued by the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it said the decision was impractical and would prove to be counter-productive.

"We are totally against it and will refuse to accept it," BCCI head of contractors' committee Samir Nass told the GDN yesterday.

You refuse to accept it?

"We have had a very lengthy discussion on the whole issue and are convinced that none of the contractors were consulted before the move was thought of," he said.

"This is going to be counter-productive, and will severely affect scores of infrastructure projects in Bahrain. The way it has been framed and is expected to be implemented is not right.

"There is an urgency in Bahrain these days to rapidly finish mega projects and these will be put off or delayed.

"The country cannot afford that. Productivity will fall by at least 50 per cent and that we can ill-afford."

Mr Nass said they were not only concerned about their profits, but about the impact the decision would have on Bahrain.

"Bahrain should not do it this way. No other country, even hotter than Bahrain, has such rules," he said.

"We are all concerned about our labour and do look after them. We will continue to do so. We want a fit and efficient labour force and we are concerned about them."

Mr Nass said no one cared to look at the technical aspect of the rule before it was drafted.

"There was no consultation with anyone," he said.

Of course there was no consultation; if it was left up to you, you would probably make them work 24 hours a day.

"What we want to know is how to transport the labour to their camps far away in peak traffic and get them back to the work sites in time to resume work.

"By the time they reach their accommodation, it will be past 1pm and then they should again leave by 3pm.

"They will have less than two hours of so-called rest."

On the other hand, he said, if they are not taken to their accommodation at noon and made to rest at the site for four hours, they will be within their rights to demand overtime.

"This is not going to work out at all," said Mr Nass.

He said all other associated work would also stop and would affect the projects overall.

"If heat is the only consideration, one should stop work for that time at refineries, smelters, shipyards, garbage dumps and power stations where people have to work indoors at temperatures in excess of 55 degrees," said Mr Nass.

He said that the contractors's committee has written to the Labour Ministry on these issues.

"We demand an immediate explanation on what we should do. We cannot stop work and agree to these impractical suggestions," said Mr Nass.

Impractical?

The ban on work at construction and other outdoor sites from noon to 4pm in July and August was issued by Labour Minister Majeed Al Alawi on Monday.

It follows a decision taken at the Cabinet meeting on Sunday.

Only animals I see here are the contractors themselves
------------For more post on slave labour, maids etc, click here

Transformers 2007

I really didn't know how to feel when I first heard they were working on the movie. Transformers was my childhood. Growing up watching the cartoon, begging my parents to buy me the latest toys (I try to avoid using the word "dolls" here; they were so tough and manly), and everything else to do with transformers; from the school lunchpack, to the wall laser light show, to the stickers etc.



Yes, Transformers pretty much defined my childhood phase. And as I grew and stopped watching them, I was left with nice memories. So now comes the movie, and I quivered to think how they can possibly destroy what used to be such an amazing childhood experience for me. To ruin what was an absolute joy to look forward to every evening (on Aramco Channel 3, that is), as i've seen what has been done to some classic cartoons or stories through their movie adaptations.



So here I am dreading it.

And since the trailer and movie posters came out, I tried so hard to avoid seeing them. And a few days ago, a friend told me how great this movie would be.

"What makes you think that?" I asked.

"I just watched the trailer! It's AMAZING!" And he kept going on for a few minutes about how great it looked and how advanced the graphics were and how it all looked like it was going to live up to everyone's benchmark of what makes an amazing Transformers movie, which, if to be judged by someone like me, were pretty high.

So here I am, hand on the mouse shivering, facing the YouTube.com main page, with the search box populated with "transformers trailer".

Pointer is on the search button...

So I decide to suck it up, and click...

A few minutes later, i'm actually pretty pleased! It's directed by Michael Bay, produced by Speilberg, with Lucas behind the effects; I had no idea they were working on the project either. So, looks like were gonna have a good one on our hands here (and thats probably an understatement)! Judging by the way it looked from the trailer, I think i'm going to be one of those people lining up to get a ticket on the first day the movie comes out!

I'll let you know when it happens ;)