KCR: The Next 100 Years (non-fiction, forecast)

Next 100 Years attempts to forecast the next 100 years, and while a lot of the political analysis makes sense, it comes across as a jingoistic declaration of American superiority borrowing elements liberally from military thrillers with power combat suits, hypersonic fighters and cruise missiles, even armed space stations (I guess they work off the same sources).

It is interesting to figure where the predictions came from, as the author details how he sees "nationalistic needs" and how they influence geopolitics and future conflicts. Basically, each country has its own version of "manifest destiny". For the US, it was to control access to both oceans (and later, guarantee access to oil). For Japan, it is the need to secure natural resources to feed its industries. For Russia, it is to protect itself from invasions by dominating its surroundings, and that means it will collide with China in the very near future.

You may or may not agree, but it does make sense... to a certain degree.

Rating: Try it

KCR: Stealth (movie, war, terrorism, scifi)

Image via Wikipedia

Flag of North Korean Army

Stealth is one of those big-budget productions that looks good, but full of holes... typical Hollywood production. The problem is it left a lot of "reality" out and the result requires you to leave your brain behind when it is supposedly about near-future.

The short summary: US Navy has deployed 3 experimental fighters called Talons, and they are amazingly effective. They were joined by an even MORE experimental plane, called EDI, and unmanned plane driven by Quantum computer AI. They attacked a terrorist HQ. They returned, but EDI was hit by lightning, which seem to trigger a change. Later, on another mission attacking rogue warlord with nuclear warheads, EDI disobeyed direct orders and went rogue. The three fighters chased it but one crashed into a mountain, another was damaged and ejected over hostile space. Third somehow convinced EDI to fly with him back to Alaska, but plane was damaged by crash landing. It is where the pilot discovered there's a huge coverup and he must risk it all to save the pilot behind enemy lines...

Geography is a major problem in this movie. If you need details, please consult the Goof section on IMDB for this movie. Computer goes rogue and was talked down was cliche. None of the pilots actually ACT like pilots... they talk way too much. I mean, who the **** talks about her ejection, giving blow and blow accounts of her falling out of the sky? ****. Then the idea of one person outsmarting an entire patrol of North Korean military, armed with everything, with just a PDW, is just idiotic and unrealistic. Then there's the problem with of Gannon flying EDI without a G-suit.

So, remember, leave your head at the door for this movie.

Rating: Rent it