Edge of Tomorrow

Emily Blunt as Rita Vrataski, because who wants to look at Master Sargent Farell?

I have been thinking about belief, the protestant work ethic, Catholicism, and South America, and this scene from Tom Cruise's Science Fiction thriller Edge of Tomorrow pops into my head.

Master Sergeant Farell: Private Kimmel, what is my view of gambling in the barracks?
Kimmel: Dislike it, Sergeant Farell.
Master Sergeant Farell: Nance, why do I dislike it?
[Farell holds out the pack of cards]
Nance: Cause it maintains the notion that our fate is in hands other than our own.
[each soldier takes a card from the pack Farell holds out]
Master Sergeant Farell: And what is my definitive position on the concept of fate, chorus.
Squad: Through readiness and discipline we are masters of our fate.
[Cage watches as soldiers eat the cards they were gambling with, Farell walks over to Cage]
Master Sergeant Farell: You might call that notion ironic, but trust me, you'll come around.

I tried to find a clip to show you, but no luck. This scene is just the best, the delivery, the message, the situation, it's all just great. Master Sargent Farell, it turns out, is wrong, though you could argue that they were deceived if they they thought they were "ready".
    I saw the movie on the flight home from Argentina. Those earphones they give you on the airplane? They aren't worth a shit. Fortunately you don't have to hear anything to enjoy the movie. They background roar of the jet works pretty well as a sound track. I watched it again on HBO once I got home. It's a fine movie, never mind all the nay-sayers who are claiming that there are all kinds of things wrong with it.

Bonus: Master Sargent Farell uses 'ironic'. I have no idea what he is talking about.