Atonement

Starring James McAvoy and our darling Keira Knightly, Atonement, set before and during the second World War, is a great film. Good acting and a fairly solid, mainly well thought, storyline make it an emotionally charged watch.

I had one issue with it, though. If you haven’t seen the film, I’m not actually sure if what I’m about to say is a spoiler, but I think it’s best to be safe rather than sorry.

The story centres around a girl, Briony Tallis, who has an amazingly inventive imagination. She mistakes an unfortunate series of events for something completely seperate to the actual events, which of course, the viewer is aware of. Consequently, Bobbie Turner (McAvoy), is given a choice after being convicted of rape on the girl’s eye witness report.

The story goes on to tell of Robbie Turner’s experiences and love for Tallis’ sister, Cecilia (Knightly). All very cute, don’t you think?

Sylvia

 So yes, now to my issue. Why the hell didn’t a character so reminscent, in appearance and imagination, of Sylvia Plath, not follow in the latter’s footsteps and commit suicide after her most terrible of acts?! The film ends in a stupid way, in my opinion. Tallis is “atoned” after having lived the life of a successful writer, who in her last work outlines the story of guilt and heartbreak that she, her sister and Bobbie go through.

The Tallis Sisters

I know I have an obsession with death, I do study it 25% of the time at University after-all. But seriously, the ending should have come with a nice overdose or jugular vein slitting/slashing; whichever you prefer. I know I’d prefer overdose. The question is…crack or heroin?

Go watch Atonement. Rated 8.1 according to IMDb.

Gun

The US Police force has successfully tested and brought into (limited) service a rifle that can, quite literally, shoot around corners.

The Israeli developed weapon will allow officers to shoot from cover at their target, using an LCD display to aid their aim.

Only in America, as they say, for a whopping $5,000 (£2,551)!

Obviously, this is extremely unlikely to become any more widely used than it already is, which is probably a very good thing for rock throwing Palestinians and O J Simpson alike..

Maid

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s official press agency, have revealed that an Indonesian maid was convicted and henceforth beheaded for the murder of her employer.

The judge revealed that Aisha Al Makhaled was suffocated with a pillow by her maid, who proceeded to steal jewelry.

Since Saudi Arabia follows the Islamic Shari’ah very strictly, those convicted of drug trafficking, murder, rape or armed robbery are excecuted – with a ceremonial sword in public.

 According to official sources, Saudi Arabia beheaded a total of 137 people in 2007, up from 38 in 2006.

O J Simpson better count his blessings. If he’d stolen some useless crap in Saudi Arabia weilding an AK with a bunch of his buddies, they’d all be 6 feet under, without a head.