From The New Yorker, the most damning, irreverent review of Revenge of the Sith.

I wish I could write like that.

Penguin Remixed -

Just got back from the Star Wars Ep III premiere! Much better than I and II, chiefly due to the lack of opportunities for Lucas's characteristic horrid romance dialogue. There were two scenes, and the lines were so bad that my brain just refused to memorise them even for future ridicule.

I thought of Phuong just because of her complete absence. So it always is: when you escape to a desert the silence shouts in your ear.

--- Graham Greene, The Quiet American

40 reasons to dislike Star Wars:
Guardian Unlimited Film | Features | Space invaders

Geoffrey Rush's impersonation of Peter Sellers in The Life and Death of Peter Sellers is excellent. His Dr. Strangelove in particular is flawless.

Look out also for a very hot Charlize Theron.

The film portrays Sellers as more child than adult through his life, but doesn't really go any deeper than that. So if you prefer your biographies to provide some kind of psychoanalytical explanation -- troubled childhood etc -- then this one will leave you dissatisfied.

In all, a clever film about a lost, lonely man.

While I was away, the MDA announced that it wants to manufacture its own film festival to go with its Asian Film Market.

TODAY, 27th Apr 2005: A First for budding Asian film talent

TODAY, 28th Apr 2005: So happy together?

Kenneth Tan isn't too convincing here. There are many small film festivals held throughout the year, but these are usually country-specific and have very limited runs -- usually about 1 week. They are also heavily supported by the respective embassies and high commissions, since these organisations consider them extensions of their diplomatic responsibilities.

The AFFF will be completely different from these small, "localised" film festivals, and will compete with SIFF in principle -- premieres are a key feature of SIFF too.

(There's also a conflict of interest. Kenneth Tan is on the SFC, which is part of the MDA. Why did Today let that slide?)

What I see here is wasted opportunity. Another one! Why is the MDA not working with SIFF? Is it MDA's highhandedness? Or is SIFF not willing to bridge the gap? Both?

Back from Cambodia. Heartbreaking.