Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Gotham
While I take these reports with a hefty grain of salt, it appears that Eddie Murphy will play Riddler in the next Batman film, tentatively titled Gotham. Other rumors include the inclusion of Catwoman and Robin as characters.
I like the Riddler character and I definitely look forward to Christopher Nolan's dark twist on him. But I have to question whether a comedic actor like Eddie Murphy will be too lighthearted for the tone that Christopher Nolan wants to set. Joker worked so well because his insane, gleeful sadism channeled the evil clowns such as Sweet Tooth, It, John Gacy, and Doink. It's easy to envision Eddie Murphy playing Riddle more like Frank Gorshin.
Many Batman fans love to hate Robin. He takes away from the brooding tone of the Batman series, they say, and he's forever ruined by visions of Burt Ward in short-shorts. But I happen to disagree with these bat-fans. While the Robin character has been mishandled in the past, he can work into the Chris Nolan universe if he conforms to the archtype of the squire to the dark knight, the hero-in-training. Initially unsure of himself, and often clashing with his mentor, he gains experience through many tests of his character. Only gradually does he earn the status of a true hero.
I'm enthusiastic about Robin but less so about Catwoman. It stems from a leeriness over too many characters in a film, leaving precious little screen time to develop all of them. It ruined Octopussy and Spider-Man 3, and it could ruin Gotham. Christopher Nolan would be wise to stick with two new major characters and make them really memorable.
I like the Riddler character and I definitely look forward to Christopher Nolan's dark twist on him. But I have to question whether a comedic actor like Eddie Murphy will be too lighthearted for the tone that Christopher Nolan wants to set. Joker worked so well because his insane, gleeful sadism channeled the evil clowns such as Sweet Tooth, It, John Gacy, and Doink. It's easy to envision Eddie Murphy playing Riddle more like Frank Gorshin.
Many Batman fans love to hate Robin. He takes away from the brooding tone of the Batman series, they say, and he's forever ruined by visions of Burt Ward in short-shorts. But I happen to disagree with these bat-fans. While the Robin character has been mishandled in the past, he can work into the Chris Nolan universe if he conforms to the archtype of the squire to the dark knight, the hero-in-training. Initially unsure of himself, and often clashing with his mentor, he gains experience through many tests of his character. Only gradually does he earn the status of a true hero.
I'm enthusiastic about Robin but less so about Catwoman. It stems from a leeriness over too many characters in a film, leaving precious little screen time to develop all of them. It ruined Octopussy and Spider-Man 3, and it could ruin Gotham. Christopher Nolan would be wise to stick with two new major characters and make them really memorable.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Bankruptcy of the Fiscal and Moral Varieties
When Barack Obama is sworn in as president, the first item on Congress's agenda will likely be the bailout of the big three American auto manufacturers. Listening to GM CEO Rick Wagoner would give the impression that seeing any of the big three go bankrupt would be the apocalypse. Nancy Pelosi has promised that Congress will not let Detroit fail. Barack Obama has expressed willing ness in spending up to $50 billion on bailing out Detroit, which is double the amount that auto manufacturers have begged from Congress. Ford CEO Alan Mullaly is making the generous offer to waive his salary--but only if he can extort $25 billion for Ford from the American taxpayer.
With the worsening of the credit crisis, America is entering an economic system that Jonah Goldberg has described as "liberal fascist economics." Simply put, the government picks the winners and losers. Government tries to control the industry, and industry exercises an undue influence over government. It resembles Mussolini's implementation of the syndicate, mergine government and corporate power until there is no distinction between the two.
In spite of the rhetoric, bankruptcy will not be the end of the world for Detroit. If nothing else, it could spell a rebirth for a mismanaged industry that is too broken to make effective use of any bailout dollars it received.
Why is Detroit in such dire straits? It boils down to a glut of unattractive cars that consumers don't want, excess factories that are outdated, and union agreements that create unsustainable benefits packages while limiting productivity. The problem does not lie with American labor, per se. Firms like Toyota, Honda and Hyndai are doing just fine with American production of most cars that are sold in America. But the Asian manufacturers stay successful with well-engineered cars that Americans want, and they employ non-UAW employees at their American factories.
A government bailout would allow Congress to dictate the terms of survival for Detroit, while allowing Rick Wagoner and Alan Mullaly to continue their failed policies which make their companies so unprofitable. Congressional Democrats, union bosses, and auto manufacturer management are too proud to embrace bankruptcy. Nonetheless, bankruptcy would allow the Big Three to craft more competitive labor agreements, close down outdated plants, and drop car models that sell poorly. The auto executives have to learn to swallow their pride and do what's best for the future of the companies.
If the Big Three were smart enough to evolve with changing times, they would evolve into leaner companies that focus on their strengths (trucks) and invest in the future (hybrids, battery-powered cars, and alternative fuel vehicles) instead of the losing prospect of going toe-to-toe with Japan for the small and midsize car markets. For too many years, Japan has held the inside edge in innovation, The result can be seen with the prevalence of the Toyota Prius on the streets today. Americans should be asking why an American firm couldn't be ingeneous enough to field a practical hybrid car first. Bad management and lack of corporate vision should be at the top of the list of reasons why.
President Bush set a bad precedent with the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street, but Democrats and Republicans alike can share in the blame by having voted for it. At least President Bush had the good sense to tell Detroit "no" when they came asking for their share of the pork. It appears that Barack Obama is in Detroit's pocket, although I doubt John McCain would have taken a free-market approach to the economic problems, either. The American public doesn't want to subsidize the tomfoolery of Rick Wagoner or Alan Mullaly, and they need champions in Congress who will put the brakes on this madness. The Detroit bailout will be the first real test of Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans. If the Republican party truly stands for free markets like their rhetoric would state, they'll filibuster this ill-conceived package of pork. They'll take the heat in the media, but win the respect of the American people.
With the worsening of the credit crisis, America is entering an economic system that Jonah Goldberg has described as "liberal fascist economics." Simply put, the government picks the winners and losers. Government tries to control the industry, and industry exercises an undue influence over government. It resembles Mussolini's implementation of the syndicate, mergine government and corporate power until there is no distinction between the two.
In spite of the rhetoric, bankruptcy will not be the end of the world for Detroit. If nothing else, it could spell a rebirth for a mismanaged industry that is too broken to make effective use of any bailout dollars it received.
Why is Detroit in such dire straits? It boils down to a glut of unattractive cars that consumers don't want, excess factories that are outdated, and union agreements that create unsustainable benefits packages while limiting productivity. The problem does not lie with American labor, per se. Firms like Toyota, Honda and Hyndai are doing just fine with American production of most cars that are sold in America. But the Asian manufacturers stay successful with well-engineered cars that Americans want, and they employ non-UAW employees at their American factories.
A government bailout would allow Congress to dictate the terms of survival for Detroit, while allowing Rick Wagoner and Alan Mullaly to continue their failed policies which make their companies so unprofitable. Congressional Democrats, union bosses, and auto manufacturer management are too proud to embrace bankruptcy. Nonetheless, bankruptcy would allow the Big Three to craft more competitive labor agreements, close down outdated plants, and drop car models that sell poorly. The auto executives have to learn to swallow their pride and do what's best for the future of the companies.
If the Big Three were smart enough to evolve with changing times, they would evolve into leaner companies that focus on their strengths (trucks) and invest in the future (hybrids, battery-powered cars, and alternative fuel vehicles) instead of the losing prospect of going toe-to-toe with Japan for the small and midsize car markets. For too many years, Japan has held the inside edge in innovation, The result can be seen with the prevalence of the Toyota Prius on the streets today. Americans should be asking why an American firm couldn't be ingeneous enough to field a practical hybrid car first. Bad management and lack of corporate vision should be at the top of the list of reasons why.
President Bush set a bad precedent with the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street, but Democrats and Republicans alike can share in the blame by having voted for it. At least President Bush had the good sense to tell Detroit "no" when they came asking for their share of the pork. It appears that Barack Obama is in Detroit's pocket, although I doubt John McCain would have taken a free-market approach to the economic problems, either. The American public doesn't want to subsidize the tomfoolery of Rick Wagoner or Alan Mullaly, and they need champions in Congress who will put the brakes on this madness. The Detroit bailout will be the first real test of Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans. If the Republican party truly stands for free markets like their rhetoric would state, they'll filibuster this ill-conceived package of pork. They'll take the heat in the media, but win the respect of the American people.
