The Matrix

The Matrix is a 1999 movie. When you think about Matrix (the trilogy whose first part is the movie "The Matrix") the first thing that comes to your mind, or at least to mine, is an image of spectacular paranormal abilities such as scaping from bullets and jumping in slow motion, which actually seems more flying than jumping. Anyway, this movie's innovation does not end in the visual effect's aspect. The plot that guides the whole trilogy and this first part, in a particular way, shows fiction that, ironically, seems to be possible in the future.

That's why, for me, The Matrix is such a great exponent of what science fiction is all about. The viewer knows that in the actual time it is impossible to be controlled by machines, but the inevitable doubt that arises is, if we continue advancing at this same pace, by 2,199 will our technology be so advanced that the machines we created could control, or even destroy us?

This is the question that The Matrix answers in such an ingenious way, placing humanity at the verge of its own destruction, represented by the lack of freedom that the characters face all along in the film.

Therefore, by mixing special effects with a thrilling argument, The Matrix can be considered simply a great movie and one of the best examples of science fiction in modern days.

Metropolis

Metropolis is a 1927 science fiction film that involves elements such as technological machines, robots, complex  industrial mechanisms and structures, which are very creative for the time the film was made.

The movie´s plot is very well organized. It is a blend that perfectly portrays Freder´s fascination for Maria, the worker life´s instability, the central system that "powers" the city of Metropolis thanks to technology, and the way in which everything in the city is intrincately related with a technological component.

Overall, the movie is pretty impressing, depicting very good special effects for its time. Besides, the plot is interesting, coherent and well developed. 

Therefore, Metropolis can easily stand as a science fiction movie classic that captures the viewer´s interest and opens a whole "new world" for the involvement of special effects in movies and the usage of technology as an important factor that enhances the development of the movie´s plot.

The Fifth Element

This movie was basically about Bruce Willis saving the world. Although the plot is really weird, the overall sense of the movie is creative and even interesting to a certain extent. Science fiction is present during the whole movie since it involves several technological elements.

Eventhough, as I said before, the plot can be taken as interesting and innovative, I personally don't enjoy this type of movie. Besides, the special effects were outdated, making the filme quite boring.

Science Fiction

Science Fiction is a literary genre that shows events, which are not real, by involving a significant technological component in the story’s plot. 


Examples of science fiction:
Star Wars
E.T.
Star Trek
Frankenstein
Halo

Dragon Children

Have you ever wondered if people are just crazy when they say that China is taking over the World?
Well, apparently, China's stellar performance isn't limited to the industrial sector. As we can see in the multimedia story, they are now "colonizing" a new "territory": The intellectual one.

Chinese parent's obsession with their children's education is beyond normal levels, and that's why this multimedia story is so interesting. Through a mixture of interviews, testimonies, analysis and simple facts, the author(s) let us underestand why are Chinese people really "taking over the intellectual World".

Common Buenos Aires vs. Bizarre Buenos Aires

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39865255@N02/

Human Costs are built into an IPad

While reading this article, it is evident that the type of jouralism that it shows is far away from the traditional way of investigation and news-reporting. It is the perfect example of New Journalism since it involves elements that go beyond the simple WH Questions.


One of the first things that the reader may notice is that the article starts with Mr. Lai Xiandong's story. Then, it talks about why Apple suppliers are bad places to work in and about Apple's poor response to violations of its security and employment protocols, that frequently happen  at the company's suppliers or at the supplier's suppliers. 

At the end, the criticism merges with the original story which was the one about Mr. Lai, through the "bridge" created by the explanation of the accident at Chengdu plant. 


In that way, the reader is not only attracted by the technical component of the article, the one which emphasizes on statistics and security measures, but also by its human side, which is the one showed through the dramatic case of Mr. Lai.


In my opinion, this is a very good article that influences -to a certain extent- my views about Apple. I was very impressed by the company's continuos negligence regarding working conditions in overseas factories.