Sunday, April 2, 2017

Buckaroo Bansai Comes To Washington!!!



TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION
"THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI"
BRIEF SYNOPSIS
Buckaroo Banzai, top brain surgeon, scientist/ adventurer and rock performer, is caught with his trusted allies, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, in a battle to the death between evil red aliens and good black aliens from Planet 10. An army of red aliens have escaped their prison in the formless 8th Dimension and established a base on earth disguised as human beings. Buckaroo Banzai unwittingly gives them the opportunity to return home when he successfully breaks into the 8th Dimension with his Oscillation Overthruster. Lead by demonic dictator John Whorfin, who has taken over the body of Italian scientist Dr. Emilio Lizardo, the aliens try to get the Overthruster back from Buckaroo Banzai. But the good black aliens are willing to destroy earth rather than let these renegades return to their planet. Even the good aliens have heard of Buckaroo Banzai --- so they give him the chance to save his planet. If he doesn't stop the red aliens, good-bye Earth!

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Last night, Grandpoppy and I decided to watch some old Sci-Fi movies. Grandpoppy insisted on watching, "The Adventures of Buckaroo Bansai Across The 8th. Dimension", again. I had never seen this movie before last night. WOW!

It was the craziest,,... disjointed Sci-Fi,... action adventure,... pseudo-romantic comedy film, I had ever seen! Definitely a low budget film! Interestingly, the low quality scripted plot seemed like some Hollywood producer had sucked out of the machinations of a 13 year old boy's brain during a surgical lobotomy and used it as a germinating seed, resulting in the creation of a disturbingly psychotic and weirdly confusing film. The movie runs from thread to thread like a freight train engineer asleep at the controls, barreling into the train station, without brakes!

Unfortunately, it's not so alarmingly strange that 33 years later, there are some familiar real-life parallels in this movie. In this 1984 film, Dr. Emilio Lizardo/Lord John Whorfin played by Actor John Lithgow, was a crazed and scheming character, bent on world domination, intent on getting his own way, at any cost, with bad hair. Lord John Whorfin was the demonic dictator who took over the body of scientist Dr. Lizardo, leader of a band of inter-dimensional aliens, from Planet 10. America's President Widmark, who suffered with back pain was strapped immobile, into a gyroscopic bed for skeletal traction therapy. Pres. Widmark consulted with his Joint Chief's of Staff and General Catburd, for their recommendations to save the world.

One of the most memorable scenes,was when Gen. Catburd recommended a pre-emptive strike on Russia to Pres. Widmark.  Catburd asked if the President wanted to use the "Congressional Declaration of War,--the short form", to officiate the preemptive strike? The General handed him an envelope, containing a sheet of paper with a single paragraph.

The scene changes and Buckaroo Banzai is told by Mission Control:
The White House wants to know is everything ok with the alien space craft from Planet 10 or should we just go ahead and destroy Russia? 
Buckaroo Banzai: Tell him yes on one and no on two. 
Mission Control: Which one was yes, go ahead and destroy Russia... or number 2? 

The scene changes back to the President. He reaches over to the nuclear ICBM portable launcher console, sitting beside him at his elbow and hesitated, ultimately deciding against pushing the red button.

It reminded me of the scene where Hillary Clinton gifted the red re-set button to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Geneva, at a news conference. Clinton's gift was meant as a symbol of resetting the strained relationship between America and Russia, back in 2009.  

Today, it has been reported on every television news channel, that in a Financial Times News article, President Trump has issued his warning to China about North Korea. Trump warned China, that America was prepared to "GO IT ALONE", in response to North Korea, and implied a preemptive strike against North Korea.

China has insisted on an adherence to their "One China" policy, that they want the world to acknowledge and respect. Early on, in the first few days of Trump's Presidency, he was either totally ignorant of the policy or he ignorantly ignored that policy, or he purposely with a defiant and blatant attitude, meant to disrespect China's policy. Regardless, of which reason explains his mindset, he offended China. He rankled their national ire, insulted their national sense of pride and nurtured a political resentment, resulting in an earned alienation when it comes time to call on their diplomatic help with North Korea. Either way, Pres. Trump's actions offended China. I wonder if they have put their resentment on a back burner for now, leaving a simmering pot of unresolved anger toward America's arrogant hubris to address another ominous day in the future. China's conducts its behavior with pride, discipline and mature restraint in their reactions to dealing with world leaders. China has a well-known "One China" policy. On the other hand, Trump touts a "One Threat", policy from his bully pulpit on the world stage. Trump's egocentric approach exemplifies a childish bully who takes his toys home when playing with his peers and doesn't get his way. Trump must have missed attending the Kindergarten Sand Box 101 experience. It's a place where children learn to share, compromise and all the considerate and polite social graces, in order to successfully, "get along" with others. Trump has not learned that he cannot demand respect, without earning it.

Unfortunately, America used to act like the "adult" in the room, respectfully negotiating with world powers. Now, China and every other country around the world will have to be the only "adult" in the room, negotiating policies with Trump. I fear that all this political posturing will lead to the unnecessary peril of a nuclear showdown in the offing. IS AMERICA REALLY PREPARED FOR THAT REALITY???

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