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There has been less blogging with some pretty big life changes coming up (including a new [but not so new] job), so here's a quick post to get back into the swing. It's been some time since I have done a movie review (e.g. for Gods of Egypt in 2016, and Aladdin et al. in 2019, so here's one on Nezha 2, viewed in IMAX at Shaw Theatres Lido. I went for this without having watched the first instalment in what looks destined to be a drawn-out series (I'm holding out for the Nezha vs. Wukong crossover), and to be honest, I was pretty impressed - less by the CGI effects, though they were certainly grand and polished, but by the pacing and humour. Such cultural power by "soft persuasion" has been a department in which China has... not covered themselves in glory previously (a consequence of having a captive audience that's not exactly gonna be able to disagree with whatever messaging is being put out, under a one-party state), but they're getting a lot better, if box-office sales are any indication. It's already the highest-grossing animated film of all time, and fifth overall (above all the Star Wars flicks, to put this accomplishment in some perspective) The above could be slightly discounted by the fact that nearly all of its earnings (i.e. over US$2 billion of... US$2.1 billion) have been from the domestic market thus far, but let's not take too much away from this eminently-watchable action-comedy. It documents the bipolar hero (with accompanying sleep and dissociative disorders) struggle between the conflicting identities of demon and dragon, which is not resolved by his initial whole-body plastic surgery makeover. The story begins proper when his icy buddy literally perishes on the operating table (fine, a lotus-shaped table) after the unaccredited surgeon doesn't go heavy enough on the anesthesia, and after said buddy's dad threatens to escalate the matter up the chain of command, Nezha decides to enable a redo by winning the McGuffin, which involves passing three tests (the first trope of many). The first test involves Nezha beating up a bunch of adorable marmots, and after the next test has him chop the hand off an elderly kindergarten teacher in front of his horrified young students, Nezha begins to have serious doubts about whether he is the good guy after all. The anti-hero turn comes with a "Hello, my name is Nezha/Shen Gongbao/Ao Guang. You killed my father/master/son, prepare to die" triple combo special, in which miscellaneous family members are offed in quick succession to build up the stakes (one supposes possible CCP influence in emphasizing traditional familial ties and filial piety here, rather than the casual romances so prevalent in Western offerings). Enraged, Nezha goes on to kick the (admittedly large) behind of a lady of leisure minding her own business in her mountain retreat (hey, we never said that Nezha was a positive role model), concurrent with a Seafood Lives Matter uprising under the ocean. There's a heartwarming moment as the rehabilitated Red Dragon Army (more possible symbolism) troops exchange tako karaage and shark fin soup between themselves, before beating off the conniving White hegemons - or is that reading too much into it? While it has been said that Nezha 2 is best enjoyed with a deep understanding of its Chinese underpinnings, it takes care to throw in (and up) some universal fart and pee jokes; local Sichuan pride aside, there are numerous references (or maybe even rip-offs, if more uncharitably put) to global popular culture. For example, how can one miss the spin on the Evil Queen's famous scene in Snow White (or is it Fashionably Light Mocha nowadays?), where she questions her faithful magic mirror as to whether she is the "fairest of them all" (or, in these wokeist DEIs, the most fabulously tanned of all)? Telling the truth doesn't pay... And, in these trying times of rising unemployment and anti-immigrant sentiment, it's nice to see fellas reinvent themselves:  Guardians will be minions...
 A new model for international relations (Sources: kyivindependent.com, independent.co.uk) That wasn't that hard, was it (and guess what happens next)?
 Pure kino (Source: economist.com) [Modern adaptation of an old classic] FADE FROM BLACK: Int. of Don TRUMP's home office -day ZELENSKY (seated in pajamas in front of the Don's desk, facing the camera) I believe in America. America has made my fortune (cut to Burisma and Hunter Biden's extremely convenient unconditional pardon). I demand security guarantees! DON TRUMP I think you are skipping a lot of content there. At least you're all dressed up, I see. [Zelensky breaks down. The Don gestures to Vance to give Zelensky some lunch] Sorry... but not sorry. [Zelensky, taking the piss, goes off script] I -- I went to the United Nations, like a good Ukrainian. These Russians were brought to trial. The Security Council took three years and absolved them -- no sentence. No sentence! They went free that very day! I stood in the courtroom like a comedian. And that Putin bastard, he smiled at me. Then I said to my people, "for justice, we must go to Don TRUMP". DON TRUMP (apparently miming grabbing a pussy) Why did you go to the U.N.? Why didn't you come to me first? ZELENSKY: What do you want of me? Tell me anything. But do what I beg you to do. DON TRUMP: What is that? [Zelensky gets up to whisper his request into Don TRUMP's ear] That I cannot do. ZELENSKY: I'll give you anything you ask. DON TRUMP: Fine, investigate the Bidens. ZELENSKY: Uh, how about some minerals? DON TRUMP: We've known each other for many years, but this is the first time you came to me for counsel, for help. I can't remember the last time that you invited me to your house for a cup of coffee, even though my country is goddamn bankrolling your only hope. But let's be frank here: you never wanted my friendship. And you were afraid to be in my debt. ZELENSKY: I didn't want to get into trouble. DON TRUMP: I understand. You found paradise in America, got a good deal, made a good living. The Democrats protected you; and there were courts of law. And you didn't need a friend of me. But now you come to me and you say -- "Don TRUMP give me justice and security guarantees!" -- But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me GOD-EMPEROR. Instead, you come into my White House on the day our agreement is to be signed, and you ask me to do murder, for money. ZELENSKY: I ask you for justice. DON TRUMP: That is not justice; your country is still alive (barely) ZELENSKY: Then they can suffer then, as we suffer. (then) How many minerals shall I pay you? DON TRUMP (stands, turning his back toward Zelensky) Zelensky... Zelensky... What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? Had you come to me in friendship - and in a suit - then this scum that ruined your country would be suffering this very day. And that by chance if a dictator man such as yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you. ZELENSKY: Be my friend -- (then, after remembering something as the Don shrugs) -- but first, security guarantees... DON TRUMP: Can you even believe this delusional fool?! You are not ready for justice or peace if I am involved, because you feel that my involvement gives you a big advantage. I don't want advantage, I want peace. You have disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. You can come back when you are ready for peace, and not before. Oh, and no lunch for you. Good day, sir!
Several days after our previous update, our Glorious Orange Akiyama has indeed made his move:  Europe gets their collective panties in a bunch! [Embiggen!] (Source: mangakakalot.com) As it stands, the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are moving forward after insufficient bending of knees thereof, following this mostly-telegraphed (from October 2024) but still-very-funny development (that China/Yokoya might or might not have foreseen, as hinted in the last post) - as the GOD-EMPEROR cheekily dangled a US$21 million bid. Interestingly, certain Chinese subreddits appear to not want to acknowledge this big-brain 34D chess move by GEOTUS, which really only underlines his ability to remain severely underestimated by foes!
Precise terminology from the Feburary 5 post would be honoured as newly-installed U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hesgeth warned the European Union against trying to make America the "sucker" in his NATO headquarters press conference a day or so back, as he further announced that the U.S.A.'s security priorities lay elsewhere (and somebody better step up and bid, like, US$20 million on Lockheed Martin hardware) China has to be suspecting something, surely?  That sudden realization? [Embiggen!] (Source: mangakakalot.com) The surfeit of self-righteous whining from Europe aside, India, Japan and South Korea have wasted no time in entering more mature deliberations (and concessions), with South Korea eagerly clarifying that they have a free trade agreement with the U.S. that resulted in an average tariff rate on U.S. imports of only 0.79%. This should greatly help their case in avoiding the worst of the reciprocal tariffs - or at least more than strange mainstream media articles claiming a "history of trade openness" in Asia (now where did that come from)? Probably more importantly, China appears to understand The Greatest Game that is going on, with their Foreign Minister now promising to "play along to the end", translated from 奉陪到底. Much citing of the classics followed, most prominently the famous I Ching opening 天行健，君子以自强不息*, rendered as "The movement of Heaven is full of vigour. Thus the gentleman [ref. China?] (follows suit and) makes himself strong and untiring" - with the (correct) disclaimer that it was hard to translate, and perhaps DeepSeek could help. 也许有好戏看了! By the way, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed as Health Secretary - right after Tulsi Gabbard got installed as Director of National Intelligence - which should only amp up the entertainment value of what's probably going to happen. Since I'll be off to Finland for a week or so, more discussion on those (wise) appointments will have to wait.  [*Currently coincidentally hanging over my main door; in part the motto of my high school, and a number of Chinese educational institutions.]
 That self-sacrificial hero! [Embiggen!] (Source: mangakakalot.com) There would be feedback about the previous post, on how there was no indication that "the rest" would also be tariffed. Do not be overly concerned, fine people - when we say that nobody is to be left out, we do sincerely mean it!  And that means you as well! (Source: businesstimes.com.sg) Some three days after that post, GEOTUS declared his intention for more-or-less universal reciprocal tariffs, which we can hardly take much credit for predicting, given that it was one of his campaign promises - and whatever else one might say about him, he has been one of the most trustworthy U.S. Presidents on actually trying to fulfil his major platforms. Note that since these tariffs are, well, reciprocal, countries should have nothing to fear if they did not in fact impose them on America, in the first place. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be generally the case:  Wait, weren't tariffs bad and stupid?! (Source: reuters.com) ...which raises the obvious question: if tariffs are so dumb and irresponsible, why do these other fine members of the international community rely so heavily on them? Makes one at least think, doesn't it (as raised back in 2018, when it was one of his major grievances at the G7)? Our Foreign Minister's opinion that "Singapore is unlikely to be targeted by direct U.S. tariffs" does appear likely to hold given the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement that has bound all local tariffs for U.S. goods at zero, but our Senior Minister's observation that America may no longer be willing to underwrite global order, looks to be holding true too - before getting to the secondary effects. Well, nobody said that The Greatest Game was going to be plain sailing!
 [Embiggen!] (Source: mangakakalot.com) As tends to be the case nowadays, the online Reddit peanut gallery has been up in arms over (and confused by) the GOD-EMPEROR's seemingly crazy move to slap 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and 10% additional tariffs on China, with the promise of European tariffs to come. Seeing as the Liar Game manga has basically spoilered both the Pandemic Game arc (approximately late 2020 to 2022) and the Musical Chairs arc (beginning from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in mid-2022), it is hopefully not too much of a stretch to turn to it for inspiration again; and lo and behold, the explanation presents itself, from the Human Auction arc! There is game-theoretic method to the seeming madness, induitably, even recognizing that the surface-level justification of deterring illegal immigration and fentanyl imports is probably mostly an excuse. Taking a step back to objectively survey Amerika/Akiyama's situation, we have the recognized leader of The Game coming under heavy pressure by his rising rival China/Yokoya, who is (not-so) stealthily assembling a coalition of his own (i.e. BRICS/SCO etc.), with his fat bankroll. And, as the Liar Game has repeatedly shown, there really are next to no "permanent friends" in The Game; just allies of convenience (supported by mainstream and social media propaganda) It shouldn't need to be said, but Amerika/Akiyama's position is more precarious than his domestic FAKE NEWS outlets are letting on. A humongous national debt and aggregate trade deficit is one thing, but the loss of the bulk of the country's industrial base is quite another - one that is likely to be quickly fatal if actual conflict occurs, and next to insurmountable in a lesser quasi-Cold War scenario, if the guys who can still manufacture tangible stuff (hint: they're mostly on the Red side now) start to turn the screws. Given that the U.S. left has been seeing neither reason nor reality for some time, however, it was down to Orange Akiyama to deal out some shock and awe! Meanwhile, the rest of "Team" Blue is in a panic, with Canada, Mexico and Europe all pledging to go it themselves:  Team Red will be running out of arms anytime now! [Embiggen!] (Source: mangakakalot.com) Of course, the initial indignation and (empty) sound and fury over Akiyama/Amerika's force majeure done with, cruel reality reasserts itself:  Just one minor detail [Embiggen!] (Source: mangakakalot.com) Well, as of now, Canada and Mexico have bent the knee in time, with their initial concessions buying them a month to demonstrate their sincerity towards the U.S.A.'s hegemony - the only logical move, given TRUMP's anti-retaliation clause that promised further tariff increases if they tried to hit back. China was not going to be afforded that courtesy (and neither were they about to bow - this early, at least), and have countered with tariffs on energy, agricultural machinery and cars. The detailed analysis will have to wait for Twilight Struggle: New Moon to resume, but for now, let us bask in the strategic brilliance of the greatest political genius of our time...
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