I watched First Blood Part II when I was still very young. I remember watching it with my family in a now-defunct cinema in my neighbourhood Ang Mo Kio (when it was still called a New Town in those times). The movie literally blew my mind away.
I remember coming across the newspapers in which the movie advertisements cried out:" Rambo is King!", "No. 1 in Singapore!" For months I would imagine myself as Rambo fighting imaginary enemies, with his huge machine gun and bow and explosive arrows.
For me the movie had Everything - an outcast hero, a beautiful damsel who could more than hold her own (and familiarly Asian), unambiguous enemies, helpless POWs waiting to be rescued, plenty of instant punishments for the wicked, ungrateful people whom Rambo worked for (and whom in the end got their just deserts), superb songs, and a happy ending. I couldn't have asked for more. First Blood Part II was for many many years my all-time No. 1 movie. And after more than 20 years, it still lists amongst my all-time favourites.
Years later I watched First Blood (Part 1). My now older senses connected straight away with this movie. Once again there was the same formula which made Part II a success, albeit without the damsel, less firepower (but nonetheless still instant punishment for the wicked).
Then came First Blood Part III. Again another superb movie. This time more firepower, more arrow explosives, and still the same Rambo cloaked in the armour of invincibility.
Despite many bad reviews by the press, and also by adults saying the movie was too incredible, too political (democracy vs communism, or what-have-yous...), I was never swayed. In fact some people even went as far as to suggest the whole series was to promote America and to demean her adversaries. Or in Part II, sour grapes because America kinda lost the battle in Vietnam.
While acknowledging that those could be the reasons of the producers, or that the movie could be used as a propaganda, I refuse to let them take away the merits of the series. What my mind does not accept cannot affect me. If I focus on the good things the movie has to offer, the bad ones cannot influence me. To me the series is about self-sacrifice, helping the weak, and blowing away the bad guys, and in the process Rambo being invincible.
Okay, Part 4 is coming out soon. I have watched the trailers. Rambo is bulkier and much older - Part III was produced in 1988, so it has since been 20 years... The movie promises to be super-gore, because as Stallone puts it, he wants to present the grim nature of the situation in Cambodia.
I'm certain the movie will attract some controversies, or maybe lots of controversies. But, by now, the readers should know the state of mind I bring with me when I watch this movie.
Family Image
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Ah Loong Business
The recent news of loansharks being arrested set me thinking about their predicament, and of what could have been different if certain sets of parameters are changed, if at all plausible.
But first let me make several assumptions:
1. Customers
Those who go to loansharks cannot get a loan from the banks, or do not realise they might actually be eligible for a loan from the banks.
2. Suppliers
Loansharks are operated by hoodlums. The entire operation may be owned (or financed) by ordinary, on-the-surface law-abbing persons (OTSLAP), but at the groundlevel the operations are handled by hoodlums.
3. Basic Premise
Loansharks satisfy the demand of a section of the market. As long as the demand exists there will be loansharks.
Loanshark operation is profitable enough to justify its existence outside the law. Not every loan-collection results in the hoodlums having to take drastic measures. Some clients pay on time.
Loansharks operate at grassroots level, to a certain extent, they depend on the neighbourhood for cover.
So, why would the loansharks want to destroy the "goodwill" of the neighbourhood, and bring unwanted attention to themselves? Surely the OTSLAPs would benefit by instructing the hoodlums to adopt more civil methods to their operations, like:
1. Be more courteous
2. Dont' get angry so easily
3. Don't disturb the innocent bystanders.
4. Set up a commission with the power to punish the errant loansharks.
If the OTSLAPs can achieve that, and get the customers and neighbourhoods over to their side, things might turn out more rosy.
But this is not possible.
At present, the "pool of talent" amongst the loansharks is sadly wanting. There are simply not enough talents to implement and enforce the above pointers. The local environment does not make it worthwhile for any person capable enough to accomplish the above 4 points to enter the loanshark business.
As such the future of loanshark business here is bleak, due to lack of sufficient talent pool. Business will continue because of the demand, but it will still to be a frantic cat and mouse game with the law-makers.
But first let me make several assumptions:
1. Customers
Those who go to loansharks cannot get a loan from the banks, or do not realise they might actually be eligible for a loan from the banks.
2. Suppliers
Loansharks are operated by hoodlums. The entire operation may be owned (or financed) by ordinary, on-the-surface law-abbing persons (OTSLAP), but at the groundlevel the operations are handled by hoodlums.
3. Basic Premise
Loansharks satisfy the demand of a section of the market. As long as the demand exists there will be loansharks.
Loanshark operation is profitable enough to justify its existence outside the law. Not every loan-collection results in the hoodlums having to take drastic measures. Some clients pay on time.
Loansharks operate at grassroots level, to a certain extent, they depend on the neighbourhood for cover.
So, why would the loansharks want to destroy the "goodwill" of the neighbourhood, and bring unwanted attention to themselves? Surely the OTSLAPs would benefit by instructing the hoodlums to adopt more civil methods to their operations, like:
1. Be more courteous
2. Dont' get angry so easily
3. Don't disturb the innocent bystanders.
4. Set up a commission with the power to punish the errant loansharks.
If the OTSLAPs can achieve that, and get the customers and neighbourhoods over to their side, things might turn out more rosy.
But this is not possible.
At present, the "pool of talent" amongst the loansharks is sadly wanting. There are simply not enough talents to implement and enforce the above pointers. The local environment does not make it worthwhile for any person capable enough to accomplish the above 4 points to enter the loanshark business.
As such the future of loanshark business here is bleak, due to lack of sufficient talent pool. Business will continue because of the demand, but it will still to be a frantic cat and mouse game with the law-makers.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Teck Ghee Primary School Library
When I was 9 year old, I was granted privilege to stay in school for one hour each week after classes to visit the school library.
The library was located on the 2nd floor of the only building of my school. It occupied an area the equivalent of 4 standard classrooms (which adds up to be roughly 2,700sqft). It was one of the few areas in my school which were air-conditioned (the others being our Audio-Visual (AV) room, and my principal's office, which i have had the misadventure to set foot on one occasion, but that is another story).
I remember the library being like a cocoon, a world of its own. Being air-conditioned, the library had to be enclosed. The shut windows were lined with pleated sky-blue curtains that blocked out a good portion of the sunlight. The mixture of fluorescent lighting and sun-lit curtains, in addition to rows and rows of bookshelves, plus a rare 20 degree-celsius temperature, gave the library a surreal ambience. The library was always quiet and orderly. The children went about their business coyly, almost out of obeisance to the wondrous secrets that were contained in the towering bookshelves that lined the walls. There was never a need for the teacher-in-charge to raise her voice to maintain order. Quite a stark contrast to the bright, airy, and sometimes very hot, classrooms populated by boisterous children and nervous teachers.
It was in that library where I first introduced myself to the ancient mythologies - Greek, Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and American. The stories opened a whole new world that was previously unbeknownst to me. I learnt of the 12 labours of Hercules, the battle of Perseus and Medusa, Achilles' heels, long before most of my contemporaries. I learnt that the Greek gods and their Roman counterparts are actually the same, but only differed in names (e.g. Mars is Ares, who was the god of war, and Jupiter is Zeus). I read of the anger and jealousy of Junos (Hera), and the playful little kid that was Ganesha (Indian elephant god). I journeyed with Momotaro and his pets(!?) as they waged battles with the demons......
On hindsight, I am glad I was exposed to such wondrous stories at a young age, when I could accept the stories wholeheartedly, without worldly prejudice, and before material skepticism creeps inevitably into the teenage years and adulthood. I must admit that over the years I have forgotten most of the stories and their contents. I am sure there must be many more hidden meanings that are contained in these stories which I never uncovered. But the most enduring quality that i inherit surely must be the willingness, even eagerness i think..., to believe in the wondrous, the impossibles.
The library was located on the 2nd floor of the only building of my school. It occupied an area the equivalent of 4 standard classrooms (which adds up to be roughly 2,700sqft). It was one of the few areas in my school which were air-conditioned (the others being our Audio-Visual (AV) room, and my principal's office, which i have had the misadventure to set foot on one occasion, but that is another story).
I remember the library being like a cocoon, a world of its own. Being air-conditioned, the library had to be enclosed. The shut windows were lined with pleated sky-blue curtains that blocked out a good portion of the sunlight. The mixture of fluorescent lighting and sun-lit curtains, in addition to rows and rows of bookshelves, plus a rare 20 degree-celsius temperature, gave the library a surreal ambience. The library was always quiet and orderly. The children went about their business coyly, almost out of obeisance to the wondrous secrets that were contained in the towering bookshelves that lined the walls. There was never a need for the teacher-in-charge to raise her voice to maintain order. Quite a stark contrast to the bright, airy, and sometimes very hot, classrooms populated by boisterous children and nervous teachers.
It was in that library where I first introduced myself to the ancient mythologies - Greek, Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and American. The stories opened a whole new world that was previously unbeknownst to me. I learnt of the 12 labours of Hercules, the battle of Perseus and Medusa, Achilles' heels, long before most of my contemporaries. I learnt that the Greek gods and their Roman counterparts are actually the same, but only differed in names (e.g. Mars is Ares, who was the god of war, and Jupiter is Zeus). I read of the anger and jealousy of Junos (Hera), and the playful little kid that was Ganesha (Indian elephant god). I journeyed with Momotaro and his pets(!?) as they waged battles with the demons......
On hindsight, I am glad I was exposed to such wondrous stories at a young age, when I could accept the stories wholeheartedly, without worldly prejudice, and before material skepticism creeps inevitably into the teenage years and adulthood. I must admit that over the years I have forgotten most of the stories and their contents. I am sure there must be many more hidden meanings that are contained in these stories which I never uncovered. But the most enduring quality that i inherit surely must be the willingness, even eagerness i think..., to believe in the wondrous, the impossibles.
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