Not Too Big To Fall

Conditions: Miserably Jolly

Who The Hell Do Greenpeace Think They Are?

After committing an act of piracy on the high seas and being arrested and put in jail, the so-called arctic 30 were released by the Russian authorities, likely as part of a move to make Russia more likeable in the run up to the next Olympic games. Now that they’ve been freed, there’s been a lot of talk from those who were detained.

The Greenpeace advocates were asked if what they went through was worth it. They all answered with they are attempting to spread the word about saving the Arctic and with all the news press that showed up here today, they felt they were at least on their way.

Ms. Harris declared that holding the Greenpeace activists in detention was totally obscene. It was a complete over-reaction on Russia’s part.

She added that even though she experienced no physical violence, but they all still endured torture. They had to spend two months in a jail cell in Russia for 100 days for a crime they never even committed. She said that she firmly believes that Russia only allowed them to go to elude global condemnation before the 2014 Winter Olympics being held there in Sochi, Russia.

- guardianlv.com

I’m sorry, but how is arresting people who illegally scaled an oil platform a complete over reaction?

An Argentine Greenpeace activist amnestied by Russia after being thrown in jail for protesting oil drilling in the Arctic demanded an apology from Moscow on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters at Buenos Aires International Airport following her release, Camila Speziale said Russia owed an apology to the 30 activists who were arrested and held in custody for three months.

“Russia should apologize to us all,” Speziale said as she arrived home with fellow Argentine activist and detainee Hernan Perez Orsi.

- rawstory.com

Russia should apologise? For what? Upholding the law? Protecting it’s assets? Since when did Greenpeace become some kind of above-the-law force, allowed to charge around in the name of environmentalists everywhere, boarding other vessels with impunity? Greenpeace have the right to make noise – and that’s it. They don’t have the right to attack other vessels no matter how righteous they think they are.



Film Review: Frozen

Disney's renaissance continues with Frozen, a classical fairytale retold with a more edgy and accessible style. Two sisters grow up together in a palace, one of them both blessed and cursed with the ability to create ice and snow. After an accident it is decided this gift must be kept secret, even from the other sister, and so the two live in isolation from each other and the village. Finally when the elder sister comes of age and it’s time for her to become queen, the doors are thrown open and the two essentially re-emerge into society again, which throws open a lot of change and chaos as the gift of ice gets out of control and freezes the entire village. The story becomes about one sister trying to find and help the other, while discovering love, betrayal and sacrifice. And a magical snowman.

While I did enjoy this film, I have to admit I didn’t enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It does suffer in comparison to Tangled, the previous similar Disney installment that had a more focused story to tell. This story is broader and has a confused feel to it, as we’re not entirely sure whose story this is, who it’s really about, and which relationship we’re supposed to be rooting for. It eventually becomes clear it’s about the younger sister rather than the older one, but it’s the older sister that has the “change” arc to go through. Finally near the end it picks up speed and purpose. The other issue is with the songs. Of course this kind of film is going to have songs in it, but I felt there was a few too many, and that at times they felt a bit disjointed, where they do the thing where they’re talking, and then launch into a song, just for the sake of singing? It can work, but here it sort of comes across as a bit awkward and, well, quiet. Also, while the animated snowman has all the jokes, I thought the character itself doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Of course it is brilliantly animated and coordinated, and the performances are terrific. The humour is spot on as well, and the ending is suitably sweet and warm. It really is a terrific movie that is telling its own kind of story. I think the film will work better the second time you see it because you’ll know what you’re meant to be focusing on. I like how confident Disney is becoming about their technically “old fashioned” kind of films, and I hope this approach is going to continue. I like that this more traditional, yet with a more modern attitude, type of storytelling is still getting made, and I really like that in the end the girl is saved by herself rather than some heroic guy. That’s pretty cool. Three icicles out of five.



- Peace out