Mission Impossible Ghost
Protocol has been highly anticipated here in Dubai since Tom Cruise’s memorable stunts on top of the Burj Khalifa as he dangled and hopped across the world’s tallest building.
With the release of the trailer and the never before seen on a Western film, footage of the tower we all held our breath as Tom struggled to stay attached to the glistening glass.
But how every patch we have seen translated on the big screen when it was time for the real thing was really disappointing!
When it came to action and explosives Mission Impossible 4 did what the film does best; it delivered, but when it came to portraying the scenes shot in the UAE, it was quite a shock how the movie sustained Hollywood’s long tradition of stereotyping the Middle East.
We can’t deny that the geographical nature of the region does involve vast deserts, camels and sandstorms as the film depicts, however to introduce the city on screen with Tom driving his four wheel across oceans of sand you can’t help but wonder which airport did the IMF team choose for landing?!
Routs leading to Burj Khalifa which lies in the most constructed urban districts in Dubai seemed to be on the edge of some oasis where camels intercept your way and traditional souks are erected just around the corner!
Dubai’s landmarks, streets the whole city surrounding the Burj was completely edited out in the movie!
When the location supposedly changes to India again the film brings us to one of Dubai’s most luxurious hotels; Zabeel Saray at the Plam Jumeirah where the Dubai Film Festival had its closing ceremony last Wednesday, deluding the viewer to believe that this place lies in India!
It might be rather exotic to a Western audience to maintain the illusion of Middle Eastern desert life but it would certainly feel weird if New Yorkers had to watch actors ride on horseback to head to the statue of liberty and rush out of the Empire states building into a chase in China Town! Would the film makers dare shoot in a popular European location and claim it is in the big apple?
In the world of movies everything is credible but what was expected from a huge production lead by Tom Cruise who was hugely welcomed in the UAE was definitely to stay true to the story it is trying to tell!
Genre:
Action | Adventure | Thriller
Directed by:
Brad Bird
Movie Cast:
Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Josh Holloway, Anil Kapoor, Lea Seydoux, Tom Wilkinson.
This novel is a fictional adaptation inspired by an ancient prophecy…the narration is based on true events; however the claims and connections to scripture are completely imaginary.
Lamiaa ElKholy
Dedication …
To my Light, My son and the world as I wish to know it …
"Then God’s temple in heaven opened and in the temple could be seen the Ark of the Covenant. There were flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, an earthquake and a violent hailstorm. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Because she was with child, she wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky: it was a huge dragon, flaming red, with seven heads and ten horns; on his heads were seven diadems. His tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, ready to devour her child when it should be born. She gave birth to a son — a boy destined to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert, where a special place had been prepared for her by God; there she was taken care of for 1260 days."
The Book of Revelation (11:19 - 12:6)
Prelude
Ever since I have read the book of Revelations and the accuracy of the detailed prophecy of the woman clothed with the sun has been haunting me.
Everything around me started to decode into meaningful signs that made me believe more than ever that it is literally a prophecy that is not written in riddles as mostly believed but rather a true detailed account and description of end of time saviors and an end of an era of darkness which will begin by nothing than the book title a revelation or rather a series of revelations.
It all came together and the timing of days made a perfect sum to the time I spent in Eastern and Western deserts. The detailed description of my scream at birth and the suffering I have endured and the coming of my gorgeous man-child, a feature that has been associated with him since he was born and now as he evolved into Adonis a beautiful young man out of Greek Mythology.
To the sun that I thrive into and wear like clothes, to the attitude the warmth that I cherish and which characterizes my persona.
To the challenge that I have accepted to see beyond the hoax and beyond the false world that the empire of the dragon has created for over 400 years. As I discovered who I am and who my son is and as I realized the gravity of the task that is expected of me and the insanity of believing in that prophecy overlooking era’s of a carefully schemed heritage of hate and disregard for the holders of any text that differs.
Breaking from the one eyed, one track minded legions of conformers who accept and obey without the slightest doubt in falsehood. As I looked around me and saw nothing but utter loneliness and realized that I have called for this, I have asked for it and genuinely prayed to be part of something grave, something special that the Originator chooses for me.
I didn’t know back then it will mean that in ten years I will find myself in an un-coveted position, that it will be up to me to save some, to contribute to the revelations by guiding a world that shrunk into an iron rod that it will take just one to will it and to truly believe not in own’s ability as much as playing the part in faith it will lead to something far powerful.
My gift was in the shield that I have secured for myself against the scheme, my reason , the logic I have reconstructed for myself and has helped me advance in time for years to come, to foresee all that will happen and see it materialize before my eyes giving me confidence in my ability and judgment at a time loaded with insecurities and uncertainties. The prophecy foretold a coming of a woman clothed with the sun who suffers at child birth and mothers a man-child who will rule the world with an iron rod and they will both defy the devil to a pit of sulfur in an unseen battle in the heavens that will start from the day of labor till she is victorious and all is revealed… or at least this is my reading and understanding of how it should be.
Another false and evil scenario had to be created to counter destiny to prevent it from happening because for such a prophecy to be fulfilled the world as we know it with all its deceit should come to an end.
It must die for a new earth to be born for a true awakening that can only wipe away a prevalent world.
So the scheme was designed to make sure the woman never seizes to exist and if she does, she never seizes to think and for the child to never be born and if he does never to trust his mum, and for the world to dismantle and forget about the scripts and to live in fear of an eminent end one that should come with destruction rather than rebirth.
The schemers knew the world is theirs until an Anomaly occurs, until someone goes against the norm; the carefully designed reality that will hold everyone in place.
They had eternity on their side, mankind at the palm of their hands and the plan set, but the signs in the skies kept haunting them. The timely meteor crossing brightens their skies and threatens the dark on the date of his birth it shines so bright defying all.
The shield they have demolished reweaves itself and a state of bewilderment shook them to the core knowing a chosen one is reborn despite the careful measures and the incepted convictions that there will be no other but the last ones.
All gone in vain for the signs have appeared in the skies and the woman survived a bloody childbirth and the son of man was born.
One thing I consider is one of my greatest attributes yet one that always puts me in question is that; I don't lie!
I hate liars ... I have an inner lie detector that sometimes deviates and suspects truthfulness :)... I vowed a long time ago I can't even recall when, not to lie... that lying is for those who fear consequences... and being unusually self sufficient I hardly think about things that could scare me.
Humans mostly fear death, poverty and sometimes loneliness. knowing for sure I can't stretch my life a second, bring wealth upon myself or make somebody love me for who I am and not for how I look, makes fear in fact unworthy of attention.
So when I'm asked questions I answer them fully and directly when I have excuses, I say them and when I don't have excuses I don't make them up I apologize; and it feels great! It lifts a burden that liars experience, the look of shame that creeps against their will.
Saying the truth gives me the strength that I need to be me! The only drawback, and one that I also don't fear, is how truthfulness has become synonymous with stupidity and naivety. In modern terms you can't be smart and straight forward you have to be sophisticated and a clever liar!
People like me enjoy that inner discipline but find it really hard to bond with the masses who prejudge them, but eventually they find their likes and rejoice in the fact that they are not extinct :)
I couldn't have said it better, lovely song, great lyrics! I just love it when talented people use their creations to spread a word of justice and peace. Black Eyed Peas "Where is the Love"...
Avatar is a movie that has rocked the world and certainly mine. It's revolutionary in every aspect of its making. James Cameron takes the most acceptable form of transgression of our modernity, the right to ravish lands for resources, and turns it into an epic story of the perspectives and lives of the victimized Alien, the expendable Other. He takes a crippled marine to experience the unique unison with a man-made alien avatar that gives him infinite access to physical freedoms that can only be real in dreams. The Avatar is supposed to mingle with alien masses of planet Pandora, convince them to let go of their sacred lands which is lying on top of a huge natural resource the human military forces relentlessly seek. The movie takes us to Pandora's divine haven and its magnificent inhabitants and creatures, their beliefs and rituals and gradually have us witness the change that overtakes that soldier who becomes the leader, the chosen one that brings victory to the oppressed. A story that can not be broken into a few lines, for each and every detail carries a message that must be analyzed in depth.
For the first time a western movie explicitly points a finger against warfare, against imperial assault, and transgressions which are justified in the name of survival, wealth and upper interests. And for the first time, the point of view of the natives are treated with respect and is represented without sarcastic overtones.
The repeated words the natives use to bound, " I see you" is amazing for the layers of meanings, they reflect. It represents their spiritual insight, their unified vision, their common values and respect for the choices and the decisions of its individuals; certain they are always motivated by the best interest of the community. When Neytiri saves and brings Jake Sully's avatar to her tribe every one respects her decision. When Jake becomes one of her people he repeats the words to reveal his inner transformation.
One of the most expressive moments of the movie is when Jake seeks to be taught the ways of the tribe and he is told "you can't fill a cup that's already full." and Jake replies "believe me, I'm an empty cup." Unlike the brainwashed soldiers, Jake didn't receive the training or the preconceived misconceptions that mobilize the arsenal behind him. In fact, he lost his freedom and the life of his twin brother in the name of such invasions. Jake is made the perfect receptor, the perfect open minded character that is meant to see. Being a mindless follower ripped him and left him empty. These qualities become the essence of his eminent leadership that's prophesied from the minute Neytiri aims her arrow to kill him and he is saved by the peaceful passage of a holy seed.
The amazing ending, the moment Neitiri saves Jake again this time as a human is awesome! and the communal ritual that seals Jake's final rebirth or resurrection by dying to his old crippled form, is an epic visual spectacle to a puzzled audience that doesn't wish to see Jake hooked up to the simulator or departed from his love and new home. The movie is a milestone in the history of cinema and I say in the shamefull history of mankind.
