Two new chapters have been added to Matrix Story. Follow the button on top to see those. I’ll be in Canada for the next couple of days, so its up to Kether to hold it down around here.

This review contains no spoilers, just general plot points and analysis

As previously mentioned, I had planned on writing a review of the movie District 9 last weekend. Said review probably should have been written in closer proximity to the date I actually saw the movie since my mind is like a giant hour glass and the sand is like my memory and that bitch leaks fast. With that said, my hope is to be able to present a review very similar to one you may have seen had I written when I intended. Let’s endeavor to that end together, shall we?

For those unaware, District 9 is a science fiction film directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson. The film takes place 28 years after a mysterious space ship is sighted over Johannesburg, South Africa. For 3 months scientists speculated as to the nature or purpose of the ship, finally resorting to flying to it and cutting it open. Upon doing so they revealed a race of creatures inside known colloquially (and somewhat derogatorily) as the “prawn” due to their similarity to a local cricket indigenous to the South African area. The creatures are rescued from the ship (as they were starving and malnourished) and brought to a government setup housing camp, known as District 9.

Our hero in this tale is one Wikus van de Merwe, an MNU (Multinational United) field operative assigned to manage the relocation operation of moving all “prawn” from District 9 to District 10, a newly constructed living arrangement 200 km from Johannesburg. We learn very quickly that Wikus is a simple, not especially bright or intelligent man. He has a wife, – whose father is his boss, somewhat stereotypically – family, and friends. He’s hard-working and very eager to fulfill his newly appointed role.

A fair percentage of the movie is shot in a mock documentary style which while immersing the viewer deeper into the events of the film, also has the unfortunate side effect of visual instability causing a potential nauseous or vertigo sensation (Blair Witch Syndrome). I think the positives of the style outweigh the negatives and after a certain point the film resumes being shot in a more traditional fashion.

The cast, which is almost entirely comprised of unknown actors, is wonderful. I found this really added to the presentation. It’s nice to see a film not rely on a familiar face to promote itself. Sharlto Copley, who plays van de Merwe, is a South African producer, actor, and director. His portrayal and performance is exquisite with much of the scenes shot in the documentary style being improvised. Proving, at least to me, that bigger isn’t always better and that genuine and brilliant performances aren’t reserved exclusively for the Hollywood A squad.

I found this movie to be a breath of fresh sci-fi air. In a summer filled with what could be considered “dumb action blockbusters” (with an exception or two), District 9 brings some humanity and compassion into the fold. Over the course of the roughly two hours you feel for Wikus van de Merwe and become attached to his life and his plight resulting in an enjoyable experience. I don’t really remember becoming especially attached to Optimus Prime as he once again fought against Megatron to save the Earth and Shia Labeouf.

The center of this movie, the discovery and subsequent treatment of the prawn, is apparently inspired by events that occurred in South Africa in the 1960’s in an inner-city residential area of Cape Town. The prawns themselves all being created through the use of CGI are beautifully represented, their movements and mannerisms really brought to life and made believable. Well, as believable as seven foot tall humanoid insects can be. It’s hard to really applaud the computer graphics when it has become such a standard in films now that any praise fails to reach the height of the technology.

Overall, District 9 is an inventive and moving tale of one man’s struggle with the humanity of an alien race and culture as well as his own. The movie has come under some criticism citing the third act action sequences as falling into the standard pitfall of a dumb blockbuster, but I don’t share those views. I feel the use of action sequences shouldn’t automatically label a movie as cliche or stereotypical. I think when applied appropriately and skillfully, an action sequence can supplement the underlying tensions and emotions of a scene or movie which I believe District 9 accomplishes.

For what it is, a movie about a South African bureaucrat dealing with an entire population of alien creatures, it does incredibly well in the face of transforming vehicles and American Joes. If you’re a science fiction fan, such as myself, I highly suggest checking it out. And even if you aren’t that into aliens and science fantasy I believe there is something present for everyone to enjoy. Assuming the first half of the movie doesn’t have you running for the restroom to orally refund your popcorn and coke.

The trouble with hyping a movie in August that doesn’t come out until November is that I will drive myself insane trying to digest every tantalizing morsel of information and redundantly analyze trailers, interviews, cast bios, etc. This problem is severely exacerbated when the film has anything to do with the Wachowski brothers and their pals John Gaeta, Joel Silver, and director James McTeigue. Enter Ninja Assassin.

The movie stars Korean multi-super-hyper-orgasmo-star Rain (if I’m understanding the language/hype translation properly) as Raizo, a child abandoned by his parents and raised amongst a secret, supposedly mythical Ozunu ninja clan as one of their own. He has a falling out with the clan, and ends up teaming up with a Europol agent who…you know what, never mind. The plot sounds a tad contrived, but I don’t really care too much at this point. Martial arts films tend to be the sole exception to my demand for good plots and characters. Besides, The Forbidden Kingdom also sounded contrived, but managed to keep me interested.

Time to make it Rain.

Interestingly, and somewhat disappointingly, both Jet Li and Collin Chou turned down the lead for this film. I would really liked to have seen Chou team up with the Wachowkis again after his role as what is (in my opinion) one of the most understated characters of the Matrix trilogy: Seraph. Still, the names backing the film more than cover the gap left by the no-names headlining, just as I imagine it does for the film District 9, which Kether may review here soon. Also, the company responsible for the choreography is 87eleven, which really should say it all. Check out the trailers and interview with John Gaeta for more information, but expect to see more about this film here in the future.

–Casimir

Well, I started this business as an “author,” and so it behooves me to get back to my roots. Sometime after the comic came to an end, I began feeling an itch to relieve the part of my brain that was the impetus for the Caveat Lector stories, and so I penned a variety of works of fiction to sate the need. There were varying degrees of quality, but that has always been true of the things I’ve written, present showcase included.

What is now being presented for your perusal and criticism is one of the longest, if not the single longest work of fiction that I’ve ever written, broken down into relatively easy to digest chapters. The challenge is that the story is not quite yet completed, but I think that I know where it will end. Hopefully it takes the proper direction and I won’t have to go back and scrap the whole thing. One really never knows, and that has often been the problem with the vast majority of my literary endeavors.

Getting to the point, I present to you Matrix Story, a labor of love that has germinated over the past year or more. The story will be sporadically released in single chapter format as regularly as I am able, and I hope to be able to make the page more accessible and lively at some point. If anyone wants to provide any kind of art to accompany the writing, that would be fantastic. Otherwise, it will stand as is. It may only appeal to those with tastes akin to ours, but I would imagine that would be most of the audience who reads this site already. With all of that said, I truly hope it is something that can fill some of the void left by the comic for you as it has done for me.

–Casimir

P.S. For easy access, see the button at the top of the home page labeled “Matrix Story.”

Employment. It is something we all must do. In what I consider a fairly unfortunate manner, this life is constructed around making a living. Trading a good or service for legal tender. Jobs are the foundation of life in the world (for the most part). Some of us are lucky in that we get to do exactly what we want to, what we are passionate or inspired to do. This percentage is incredibly low. Most of us work in order to fund what I call our “actual life”. The portion of day where we use the money earned to engage in the endeavors we actually desire, but no one will pay us for.

I am no different than this second group of people. Sadly, and perhaps even tragically, I don’t feel as though I have a passion in this life. Sure, there are things I like, even things I love, but none drive me to, or convince me that that’s what I’m supposed to be doing with my mortality. Even with the absence of a singular, overwhelming talent, I am content for the most part in being in the second category. I have never liked money. I find it rather repulsive. But, of course, like everyone else, I do require it. It is necessary if I wish to, well, live.

I’ve had an abundance of time to converse with myself about this very subject due to being fired from my previous employment in mid-June of this year. I felt quite ambivalent about it. Still do. I would make a tired argument about justice and deserved fairness, but these concepts are not in particularly high volume here in the real world. So, regardless of my partial anger or lingering feelings over my termination, I find myself now with millions others: Unemployed.

To be honest, not having a job has been wonderful. Yes, there are times when boredom creeps up on me like a vagrant in an alleyway, but that happened to me while working as well. And probably more often. Without the uncomfortable constraints of employment, it has freed me up to do the things I had to make time for before. Now the things I like to do are all I have left. But, this freedom does come with a price.

I know that not having a job is not ok. Not only does society say this is so, but my ever-dwindling bank account does as well. Even during my uninterrupted periods of pure leisure, my mind is plagued by this gnawing feeling. An ever present awareness of this unwanted necessity to find a new job. So, for the past couple months, as I splash in the cool, refreshing waters of personal fulfillment I also have been succumbing to the drudgery of job hunting.

I have spoken to others like myself. Wandering souls, ronin, samurai without a master. They have been on their journey for longer than I, but like them, I am coming to the unfortunate and dark reality that not only is trying to find a new job terrifying but trying to find a job when there simply aren’t any is much worse.

I have spoken to a number of recruiters, people whose job it is to find jobs for people like me, and the consensus is pretty much the same; you’re fucked. Granted, they may not present it in quite those stark of terms, but I believe myself capable and intelligent enough to interpret and translate their professional jargon into words we can all understand.

To be fair, I have had a few potential leads. All of which, aggravatingly, have fallen far short of even beginning to take corporeal form. Like an after-image or shadow dancing just out of my periphery. One moment it’s there then POOF, it’s gone. I’ve tried not to let these set backs get me too depressed or angry. Mostly because I don’t have a fucking choice. As I mentioned earlier, we all need jobs.

So, I guess I will continue to do what I have been doing. Trying to not let that nauseating taste in the back of my throat completely undermine the perhaps once in a life time reprieve from the tedium of a typical job. At the same time, searching through a limited amount of employment postings with diminished odds of success due to saturated unemployment. I think I finally understand how a homeowner attempting to sell their home feels. You’ve got something really extraordinary to offer, but no one’s buying.

Peace.