Monday, June 22, 2009

"Pirates of Silicon Valley" my Response...

It was my first time to watch the movie in full account and we handed over a blog to have this reaction assignment for our MIS course subject. First I summarized this movie to have a brief orientation before I will have my bottom line; and it’s just only a short overview in relation to that movie.


“Pirates of Silicon Valley” was a film based on a historical fact regarding on Steve Jobs and how Apple got started and also about Bill Gates and how Microsoft got started. The movie then proceeds to narrate the events that led to the development of the first Apple computer. The movie is called Pirates of Silicon Valley because it is about piracy in the computer world and Silicon Valley is a place in California where computers are built. Bill Gates and Steve Jobs performed many unethical actions during the beginnings of Microsoft and Apple.

Noah Wyle and Anthony Michael Hall did excellent jobs of getting the "look and feel" of their characters' real-life personas, Anthony Michael Hall in his portrayal of Bill Gates. From the voice to the posture, and to the facial expressions, it was a very excellent portrayal.

The movie did not particularly display either character in a very favorable light. Mr. Gates is played by Anthony Michael Hall as a fixated person bent on world domination at any price while he sells products he does not yet own. Mr. Gates also accuses Jobs of not "getting it" because it didn't matter whose product was better. Bill Gates also showed a nerd character who was then a nobody and even got ignored by Steve Jobs in a computer expo.

Noah Wyle's role as Steve Jobs focuses on darker sides of Mr. Jobs including hi abusiveness, drugs, and especially his reaction to his illegitimate daughter which he denies is his. Noah does effectively capture the genius of Mr. Jobs while simultaneously showing his "mercurial" side.

The story then narrates how competition flared between the two leading companies and how they strived to outwit each other and finally, concluding in the scene where Steve Jobs and Bill Gates announced that they are good together.

In my opinion the real protagonist of the story was Steve Jobs not only because he got featured more in the film but also I admire his determination to uplift the name of Apple. Sure, he got some attitude problem going on but he did become successful, right? He also had flair in talking people into something but you really would not want to cross him when he’s angry or everything will just come exploding.

It was 70% of the movie focused on Apple and Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniac. Very little effort was put into Microsoft outside of Bill Gates’ Harvard days with his friends and soon to be fellow executives Steve Balmer and Paul Allen.

In the movie Steve Jobs split his company, Apple into two camps. One the old Apple computer camp, and the other the new Macintosh development camp. After seeing this effect on the company, Steve Jobs is forced to leave his position at Apple. Years later the movie picks up with Steve Jobs back in command of Apple who now has partnered with Microsoft and Bill Gates.
Really a short summary of the story…right?

The bottom line of my reaction in this movie, all I can state...

I was enlightened and more informed regarding on some added information on the origin of personal computers. It’s also a matter of values reflected in the movie. Companionship between Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniac, and Bill Gates and his friends. Conviction that their idea and insistence will make it to the pinnacle of success. Appreciative cooperation in their respective organization, considering you are dealing different kinds of people with different personality and capacity.

But there’s a negative attitude to be point out. It teaches me one thing; you should not be arrogant in whatever soaring accomplishments you will have. Because you will never know what the future will holds, sometimes those who are not considered before might be the one who will succeed more in their striving endeavor. Just maintain a humble profile and you don’t need to hurt someone’s feelings just to focus on your own interest, a good explanation will be a good step, and consider other people’s point of view. Because in an organization, it’s not only a matter of one brain functioning in, it’s sharing of idea and information in the organization to make it immense and successful.

But everyone deserves a second chance, and it’s a matter of coping, not just only on your determination to succeed again but also most especially on altering your unconstructive character. Because we cannot alter our lives by not altering our unconstructive attitudes.

And this is my response regarding on that movie…

From me: whimsy.datz