The Machine

The Machine is rated at four out of five stars on Netflix. It explores the endlessly interesting idea of computer sentience. It is from an independent studio. It has no big name stars. It must be good.

The Machine is not bad. It hits all of the right tropes. Noble tough scientist with a secret working for the good of humanity by, begrudgingly, selling out to the military. Idealistic, brilliant, and beautiful apprentice. I startling breakthrough that is both the answer and far beyond what was expected. Sniveling, evil, self-interested officials messing with things beyond their knowledge or control. Noble, but misunderstood, minions that eventually rise up. An ambiguos ending that points to points to hope for humanity or its ultimate doom.

The through line story is standard and unsurprising. Sadly, the director decided to use a lot of jump cutting to tell the story. I found it jarring and without merrit. In the beginign of the movie, it feels like a device to cram in as much set-up as possible in as little time as possible.

It does keep the running time down to a reasonable 90 minutes, but at the expense of the story. You never see the key relationship in the movie develop. You never get a sense of how the central character matures. Instead, you get sudden, sometimes discordant, shifts. Maybe this techniue is supposed to build suspense or be post modern, but I found it annoying.

The acting in the movie is wooden. Toby Stephens, as the sensitive, dark scientist, could easily be mistaken for a robot. His sole expression is pained, like he is constipated. His character does have a lot to be sad about, but some range would be nice. Caity Lotz, as the titular Machine, whose character should be the most wooden, is actually the better of the two leads. She manages to give the robotic machine some humanity while never breaking the illusion that she is a machine.

I gave The Machine three out of five stars. It was not a bad movie for a rainy day on the couch. It does raise some interesting ideas. It is not anything more than average TV fare.

Asscension

Ascension shows SyFy getting back to its roots: intelligent, hard core science fiction.

It was a good effort. The premiss, or premises, are interesting. They consider big things in interesting ways. For the most part, the acting was solid.

It could have been a great effort. Instead the event felt like it crammed a twelve episode season into three nights. Many of the character threads were rushed. At least one of the plots lines ended unsatifactorally. When the big reveal does come, the show hasn’t earned it.

A longer run would have provided more time for the audience to get to know the players better. Things could have rolled out smoother and with more depth. The big thoughts could be plummed to deeper depths. Instead it felt like either something that was supposed to be a series being turned into an event for financial reasons or an event designed to set up a series.

There was enough in the event to hook me into a series. However, I feel a little cheeted out of the first season….

Lego Movie

Verizon is giving us a free three months of HBO and we took advantage of HBO on-demand to watch The Lego Movie.
I had high expectations for The Lego Movie. The good doctors of Wittertainment gave it stellar reviews. In fact the flappy handed one sang the song for weeks. The glowing reviews, and my undying love for legos, either made me predisposed to love the movie or set me up for crushing disappointment.
As the song says “everything is awesome”. I loved the movie. Visually it was incredible. The story was sweet and had its tounge far enough in its cheek to become schmaltzy. It is a rare gem that can be sweet and ironic at the same time. The Lego Movie pulled it off.
The ending was also perfectly balanced. It was sweet and poked fun at the franchise nature of big movies.
I am going to watch it again if a get a chance. I think I’m going to see if Bug will watch it with me. I think she’ll get a hoot out of it too.

My Week with an iPhone 6 Plus

For my bithday I decided to get a shiny new iPhone 6. I could not decide between the big 6 and the bigger 6 plus. The 6 plus looks like a clown shoe. On the other hand, the 6 plus had a better battery, a better camera, and the screen is glorious.
I stode in the store for an hour touching them both; I compared how they felt in my hand; I tried reading things on both; I played Clumsy Ninja on both. I had already polled the people I knew, and some I didn’t, about their new phones. Everyone I asked liked the phone they purchased regardless of size. The 6ers thought the 6 plus was too big; the plusers thought the extra size was the best. I obsessively read all the reviews I could find. The 6 is perfect; the 6 plus is perfect; the 6 plus is too big….
After all the hemming and hawing, I pulled the plug on a 6 plus. I could manage it one handed. It fit in my pocket. As in all things screened, bigger is better. The landscape mode tricks were impressive too. If the phone made use of the extra real estate would be killer.
It didn’t take long for me to adjust to the size of the phone. I immediately adjusted my grip so that I could use it one handed. The weight was a bit of an issue and my hands did tire faster.
The landscape keyboard was a blessing and a curse. The extra keys were nice. Bunching the most useful keys in the middle not so nice. Instead of having a little more romm for my fat fingers, I still had to tap on tiny keys. Now I had to stretch to tap on them. My typing actually got slower. Because of the increased size, the portrait keyboard, which I found easier for typing, was not great either. I found the 6 plus too top heavy for extended use.
For reading the big screen was better. There was more text on the screen and I could adjust the text size up if I was tired. Pictures were better too. This is where the 6 plus really shined.
Like many others, I did have bluetooth issues. I had to manually reconnect the phone to my  everytime I wanted to use it. While not a deal breaker, this was annoying.
Touch ID was great. I wasn’t flawless, but most of the times it didn’t work properly were user error. I didn’t get my thimb on the sensor properly.
Apple Pay was brilliant in it boringness. Every time I used it I marveled at how easy and utterly unremarkable it was. Paying for things should always be as fast and easy.
The camera was nice. I took some good pictures. The big screen made reviewing the pictures much easier.
Carrying the iPhone 6 Plus around was not much of an issue. It fit in my pants pocket without much trouble. It was a little awkward in some of my pants. Fitting it into other spots was more troublesome. It was too long for the any of the spots in my car. It didn’t fit in the waterproof pouch I use for kayaking and biking. It didn’t fit in the large touring saddle bag I have on my bike.
The biggest problem with the 6 plus was that it made my hand tired. While I could manage it one handed and carry it around withut trouble, my hands always hurt. I never felt like I had a solid grip on the phone. I never dropped it or really felt like I was bobbling it.
In the end, there was nothing wrong with the 6 plus. There was just a bunch of little things all related to its size. If the size was worth the accumilation of troubles, I would have kept the phone. However, it wasn’t. The extra size was nice, but not game changing. The landscape tricks on some of the apps hinted at how the size could be useful. At this point, there are not enough of them to make it worth the issue.
I found that if I really wanted the extra size, the iPad was better.

Boxtrolls

Bug and I needed something to do on a rainy Saturday. The movies, while still staring at a screen, at least require getting out of the house.
Bug saw an advert for Boxtrolls weeks ago. Using our generic iDevice, we also watched the trailers. Bug and I thought it looked fun. H wasn't so sure. The BBC's flagship movie program gave Boxtrolls a positive nod. The only issue was that it was PG and a little scrungy.
H was gone for the weekend; it was rainy; Bug handles scrunge with aplomb. The plan was set. Off to one of the local independent theaters for an afternoon of scrungy, stop motion movie fun.
We got to the theater with plenty of time. I checked if Bug needed to use the potty. "No." Then we rushed past the vending area to get some choice seating.
Bug wanted to sit in the front row. In a newer theater I would have weathered the storm of saying no, but this theater is set up to make front row viewing pleasantish. The screen is big, but not crazy big. It is also close to eye-level. You don't need to sit in astronaut position for the whole show or worry about only seeing part of the screen.
We got settled in and starting watching the few previews when a family sits next to us and they all have treats. "Daddy, I really wish I had popcorn." "We'll miss some of the movie." "I want popcorn more than missing some of the movie." So, we go get popcorn. Again I ask about the potty. "No."
Once we settle in with our popcorn, "Daddy, I need to go potty. I cannot hold it." The bathroom is right outside the door to the theater and is not occupied.
We settle in for the final time having missed about ten minutes of the movie. The bits we missed didn't hinder us from enjoying the movie or following the story. I'm sure it was fun stuff, but not terribly important.
The movie was great. The animation was beautifully scrungy. The story was cute. The characters were very well done. It is pretty amazing how much character a box can have. The humor worked for both Bug and I.
Kenzie had a good time and reported that she like it. She sat for the whole time without much fidgeting. The few scary bits didn't bother her much. She was appropriately tense. Bug doesn't like loud noises and nothing bothered her.
I'd give it a definite thumbs up as a family movie. It works on several levels. Fans of Beckett will enjoy the end credits.

Tiny

Being a person who doesn't like having too much stuff, I have been interested in the tiny house thing for a while. H put Tiny on her Netflix queue and we watched it this past week. The film was interesting, but flawed.
The central story, the film makers building a tiny house, felt more like a distraction than anything else. It was the interviews with people living in tiny houses that was the meat of the piece. I wanted more of the interviews and the issues about living in a tiny house.
The central story could have been more interesting if it was given more depth. There are mentions about money troubles and issues with not knowing construction, but they lacked details. It could also be that, in the end, I didn't find the film maker's compelling characters. They came off a bit like privileged lost ones.
The interview subjects presented a more diverse and compelling slice of humanity. They all had experience living in houses and made their decisions based on real world concerns. None of them did it simply to see what it was like. The interview subjects also lived their convictions. They lived in tiny houses.
The film makers never actually lived in a tiny house during the movie. From what we see of their lives, they are pretty typical. In the end, I wish they had actually had some experience living in the house.
SPOILER
My review may be tainted by my discovery that since building the house, the film makers have spent very little time in the house. The man did spend some time living in the house, but eventually quit it for LA. The woman lives in New York. While it is generally unrealistic to expect a film maker to "live" the life depicted in a documentary, this case felt disingenuous. They made it seem as if this was a life at least one of them planned on living and not just a stunt for a film project.

The Best Ride Ever

Last fall Bug decided that going on a bike ride meant "me on me bike, daddy on daddy bike." The trailer was no longer a first class citizen. Family bike rides became a little more difficult. Bug insisted on using her coaster bike. We still brought the trailer along in case she got tired, but getting her in it was a struggle.
I started looking at trailer bikes for those longer family rides. After a bunch of research, I decided that the Burley trailer bikes were the best. They were a little more expensive, but the hook up seemed a lot more secure. I liked the way it hooked up the bike like a fifth wheel. The seat hitches seemed flimsy in comparison.
All of this was purely theoretical. When I tried to buy one, the sales guys (they were all guys) told me that Bug wasn't tall enough. Trailer bikes are 20" bikes. There are not alot of good solutions for kids between four and five. They out grow the trailer, but don't quite grow into a trailer bike. They also don't have the stamina to do long rides on their own.
A few weekends back we met a family that had one of the Burley trailer bikes and loved it. Their boy was the same height as Bug, so we figured she had to be tall enough for it. Still it was a big money commitment, so we didn't rush out to buy it. It could wait until later in the summer when the opportunities for long bike rides was greater. Waiting also gave Bug more time to get used to riding her two wheel peddle bike. She has the balance part down and the peddle part down, but she hasn't quite put it all together yet.
The following week, I was sitting around and H said I should go to the bike store.... I bought the Piccolo which has gears. I know that at this stage the gears are superfluous, but over time they may prove to be useful. Bug and I were thrilled.
The bike shop put the required rack on my bike and showed me how to hook it to the rack. The attachment is like a 5th wheel on a pick-up truck. It vertically mounts to a heavy-duty rack and has a single pivot joint. The attachment has a level of redundancy. First is a quick release latch that provides a basic connection between the trailer and the rack. To fully attach the trailer, you screw the trailer into the rack. It is a sturdy connection.
I got it home and adjusted it to fit Bug. There are two adjustment points: the seat goes up and down and the handle bars slide up and down the tube. The seat adjustment has a quick release and the handle bars are hex bolts. It was pretty easy to do. It took a few minutes to get it adjusted and for us to get on the road.
Before heading out we had the safety talk. Bug must keep her hands on the handle bars, her bum on the seat, and her feet on the peddles. If she wants to stop, she needs to tell me and wait until I tell her it is OK to put her feet down. We are a team. Daddy is the pilot; Bug is the co-pilot.
We started out slow by doing a few short rides up and down our street. Then we branched out to a trip around the block. Bug did a great job and was utterly thrilled. She squealed with glee almost the entire time.
For a true test, the family went down to the Minuteman Trail for a Sunday afternoon ice cream run. From the parking lot we use to Lexington Center is about three miles. It was a good distance for a road test. Pulling the trailer bike is different than pulling the Chariot trailer. The trailer bike is more active. I can feel when Bug moves around and when she peddles. If she leans, it can be a little destabilizing. When she peddles it is a nice boost. The boost is particularly nice on hills.
Since getting the trailer, Bug and I have expanded our horizons. We have taken two trips from our house to the library. It is about five miles each way and involves some back roads. Taking the trailer bike on the road is a little nerve wracking because you never know what the cars are going to do, but I feel more comfortable with the trailer bike than I would have with the Chariot trailer. Bug is positioned where a car would expect a bike rider and she can see around better. Still I would not take it on a anything other than a quiet back road.
Bug loves the rides. She sings and laughs most of the way there and back. I love the rides too. I get a little bit of exercise and get to spend time with my daughter. I also get a chance to teach her some road safety first hand without worrying about her doing something too impulsive.
It is an expensive toy. The Burley version is about $100 more expensive than other models. I think it is worth it. The interface is substantially more solid. The addition of the gears also helps adjust the amount of assistance the child provides and gives them a chance to learn about shifting. Longer term, the Burley also has a conversion kit that turns the trailer into a regular bike.
Regardless of the money, it has been worth it for the sheer joy it has brought Bug. It gives us a fun, healthy way to spend time together outdoors. You cannot put a price on hearing your child happily singing "I love biking with Daddy. Playing with Daddy is great."

Godzilla

I grew up watching the Creature Double Feature every Saturday, so I am unlikely to miss a Godzilla movie. The last attempt at a Godzilla movie was so terrible, it made me more excited about a new one. That it was being directed by the same guy who made Monsters made upped the anticipation. I fully expected that the new movie would harken back to the classic Japanese Godzilla movies where Godzilla was a force of nature battling other forces of nature. Humans were the catalyst for the crisis or just unfortunate bystanders to the conflict. They are monster movies, but they are also reflections of the anxieties of their time.
I saw Godzilla in full IMAX 3D with Dolby DTS sound. If one is going to see a movie about a giant monster, one should see it in the largest format possible. Even if the story is terrible, the spectacle can save the experience.
Godzilla didn't need the extra size. The story is solid. The first part of the movie gets you invested in the characters. You want them to make it through the coming crisis. The story also invests the monsters with a bit of character. The story also has plenty of social commentary. There is the play on conspiracy nuts, the over confident military, the questions about the safety of nuclear power, the fear of nature unleashed. I even found a little bit of reflection on climate change.
By the time the spectacle happens, the movie has earned it. The spectacle is spectacular. The monsters are HUGE. The cityscapes are gorgeous as they are being crushed. The soundscape of the movie is lush and makes the scale feel even bigger. The 3D was unobtrusive. I don't recall even noticing it.
Is this Godzilla perfect? No. The story is a little weak in places. I'm not sure I like the stoutness of the new Godzilla. Compared to the last Godzilla movie it is a masterpiece.
If you like monster movies, Godzilla is a must see. Go see it on a BIG screen for the full effect.

Deep Freeze

Bug has been watching Frozen a lot lately. Every time I see it, I am impressed with the movies depth and complexity. Frozen subverts almost all of the princess movie conventions while at its heart retaining the power of the coming of age/heroic journey tale. It also pulls off the delicate trick of portraying deep sadness without becoming a deeply sad movie.
Two obvious conventions that it subverts are the central villain an the need for a Prince Charming. Frozen has a number of characters who can be seen as villains: the Duke of Weasletown, Hans, and even Elsa. None, however, are the central cause of the conflict in the tale. Hans and the Duke are certainly catalysts. Elsa's power is the proximate cause of the central conflict. However, it is deep sadness and fear that is the true cause of the conflict. The solution is not as simple as getting home or getting kissed or falling in love. It requires a recognition that feelings cannot be suppressed and that trust and love can balance fear and sadness.
Two characters present themselves as Prince Charming, but neither fulfill the role. Hans is the obvious choice. He and Anna appear to have true love. He is dutiful and loyal. His actions, in the beginning, never betray anything but Prince Charming. Hans, however, turns out to be a liar and a schemer. Kristoff, on the other hand, starts off as an oafish bit of comic relief. It is not until late in the movie that Kristoff becomes a stand in for Prince Charming. He may turn out to be Anna's true love and he does strive to deliver the true love kiss that will end the conflict. He is not allowed to succeed and doesn't get the kiss until the conflict is resolved.
The journey at the heart of the movie, while superficially Anna's, is truly Elsa's. She must learn to accept her powers, trust herself, trust her sister, and allow herself to feel: joy, fear, and love. The story shows Anna's journey because it has a physical manifestation. Elsa's journey is more subtle. Ultimately, it is Anna's sacrifice that shows Elsa how to take the final step out of the dark, but it is Elsa who must take the step. At each point in the movie the crisis is driven by Elsa's state of mind. By opening the gates, she is, grudgingly, accepting that the world cannot be shut out forever. Hiding in the mountains gives her the space to experience her inner strength, but only when separate from the world. The final resolution is her accepting both her powers and the world.
Frozen is a masterpiece.

Butter

Butter is one of the craziest movies I've seen in a long while. The plot is preposterous. The characters are over the top. The whole thing is whacked. Yet, it all works to make a bitting, dark, sweet social comedy.
The cast is littered with near-A list talent including Jennifer Gardner, Olivia Wild, Ty Burrell, and Alicia Silverstone. Many other cast members have familiar faces. They all do a great a job being overblown caricatures of stereotypes. Garner's ambitious house wife is crazed and in most hands would be completely unlikable. Instead she comes off as mildly sympathetic. Wild's stripper is deliciously depraved. Silverstone plays the liberal adoptive Mom with sensitivity without allowing the audience to forget why there is a stereotype.
The subplots twist and turn and at times I doubted that the movie would resolve things in a satisfactory manner. Then the movie ends and it all sort of makes sense.
I highly recommend Butter.

Hanah

Hanah is a top notch action thriller. The plot fits perfectly into the modern spy thriller genre: super spies, out of control government agents, cover ups, and questionable morality on all sides. The action is well choreographed. I liked the music that signaled bouts; it was subtle and fitting for the mood. Like all good genre films, it follows a well worn story arch. Unlike a great genre film, it does not play with the boundaries.
Hanah's strength are its writing and its performances. The characters, despite being stock genre tropes, are fully fleshed out and believable. Blanchet's CIA operative is deliciously twisted and broken. Ronan's Hanah blends the innocence of burgeoning young adulthood with a killer's coolness. The interaction between Hanah and the tourist family is brilliant.
It is definitely a movie worth seeing.

Inception

Instead of suffering through the Super Bowl, I decided to catch up on some movie watching.
Inception was on the top of the list. I have wanted to see it since it came out, but just have not had the chance. The only bummer with this plan was that I wouldn't get to see it on the big screen. Inception feels like a movie that should be seen at scale. Instead, I watched it on an iPad. (I forgot that the 27" iMac was available for use...).
Even in miniature, Inception is an exceptional movie. The set pieces and effects would be much better at big scale, but they are still impressive. The strength of the movie is that it doesn't require the set pieces and effects to have impact. The acting and plot are central to the movie. It proves that block busters can be smart, demanding, and original.
The plot is a mind-bender from the outset. I never felt certain where the 'real world' existed, if it existed at all. You are presented with what seems like a baseline real world, but hints are dropped that it may not be real either. For me, this made the experience more interesting. The location of reality doesn't necessarily change the outcome. It does, however, change how you feel about the ending. I liked that the plot doesn't force the interpretation on the viewer and trusts the viewer to make their own decisions.
The performance from DiCaprio is stunning. He is damaged and earnest with depth. He finds a way to make a slimy guy sympathetic. I never really liked his character, but I did care about what happened to him. I wanted him to succeed.
Nolan and DiCaprio are rightfully in the top echelon of film makers.

Georges

What can one do to cap off a great kayaking trip? Eat a great lunch....
After kayaking in La Jolla bay, we headed off to meet people for lunch at George's. It came highly recommended and since it was restaurant week, we hoped to be in for something special.
We were not disappointed. The view alone was worth the price of admission. The restaurant sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean. We had clear views of the coast for miles around. As a bonus we got to watch the the life guards use jet skis to drag swimmers out of the giant surf while sea lions danced in the water and laughed.
The food complimented the views. I had a chipotle dusted grilled chicken strips and fries. It sounds like a meal one could get at any joint, but it was at the next level. The chicken was moist and tasty in a way that I didn't know chicken could be. For desert, I had a maple cheesecake that rich, smooth, and just maply enough. The other deserts I tasted included a moist, almost too rich, chocolate cake and a toffee caramel sticky pudding.
Great food, great views, great day!

2013

2013 felt like a long year that flew past. I guess that is how time goes as you get older. It was a year with some big changes, but no big struggles.
Part of the reason, the year felt long was the constant balancing act between me time and family time. This year I probably weighted things to heavily on the family time side. It is not a complaint. I love family time. H and Bug are my two favorite people and being with them brings me joy. It is just that I also require time alone to kayak, bike, read, or just decompress. Often I feel like I need more alone time than most people and feel guilty about taking it. Then I fear that the guilt will ruin the alone time, so I don't take the alone time. Then I feel a little mad at myself for not taking the alone time and I don't get the regenerative effects. in 2014, I hope to find a better balance.
I had two big changes in 2013: a new job and Bug going to preschool.
The new job has been a generally positive change. I was miserable and bored at Red Hat. It was tough going from being senior and knowing where all the bodies are buried to being a new kid on the block. I had to learn how the new company functions, the politics, and the culture. That on top of doing the job I was hired to do. It is a good change overall. I did learn a few things about myself though. I like flexible work schedules more than I thought I did, I loathe commuting, and I do better working at home than I thought. I know these things because they are the only things I miss about Red Hat.
Bug heading off to preschool was more of a change than I anticipated. She was totally ready to go. I think she was a little bored with day care. For me the change was a reminder that with a child, things are always in flux. It seems like everyday she is a little more independent or has a new skill or is into some new thing. It is great and sad at the same time. She is doing great and that is what is most important.
Our summer was jam packed with travel. We went to Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Florida. Bug is a great traveler and that is a boon for us. She really seems to enjoy camping and kayaking. We got her out a few more times this past summer. The downside of all the traveling is the lack of downtime.
As get older, I am coming to appreciate the value of downtime more and more. Sometimes it is important to have nothing planned and nowhere to go. H jokes that I cannot just sit around for a day and do nothing which is true. I do, however, appreciate the lack of a schedule. I also find that at work, I find it more important to be able to have short days and see my family than be in the thick of things. Relax, be happy.

Hugo

I got Hugo as part of Apple's 12 Days of Christmas promotion and had a few hours to kill on a flight from Boston to San Diego. It was a pretty great deal since the alternative films I had already seen. My flight left supposed to leave Boston at an ungodly hour, so I am sleep deprived. The flight left the gate more than two hours late, so I am a little peeved. Taken all that in consideration, I found Hugo to be a pleasant movie. It was somewhere between good and great.
I watched it on an iPad which does the film a disservice. It begs for a bigger screen. Even on the iPad's 10" screen the cinematography felt expansive. I can imagine that in the theater, Hugo was breathtaking. The digital and the real blend perfectly. The interspersion of old film clips felt organic.
The story itself was interesting if a little predictable. For film buffs it was probably more engaging. The plot moves along nicely and never bogs down. The time shifting fits organically into the telling.
The movie's other great strength is the relationship between the two children. Butterfield and Moranz draw you into their touching relationship and their characters. Even as I could tell where the plot was going and saw the danger spots a mile away, I was rooting for them and concerned that they were safe.
So, good movie that is better to watch on a bug screen. 42" inches is probably the smallest size to get the full effect. Although, Hugo was still gorgeous compressed into a tiny 10" display.

Frozen

For Bug's first movie we decided on Frozen. It got generally good reviews from both the critics and other parents. I had also heard enough about it to believe that it wasn't the standard Disney princess movie where the hero and true love save the day. I'm not reflexively opposed to traditional fairy tale based princess movies, but I also like subverting tradition when possible.
Despite a rocky beginning, the outing was a success.
It turned out that the screening we went to was in 3D, so Bug was a little thrown by the glasses. Some of the previews were a little intense for her as well. The worst trailers, for a little kid, were for Maleficent and How to Train Your Dragon. How to Train Your Dragon was rough because, Bug saw the nice holiday special, so had happy feeling towards it. After the initial intro to the trailer, things get a little scary.
Frozen was excellent. There are a few heavy moments, but nothing truly scary. The music is great. The animation is luscious. The 3D effects were the smoothest I have seen. I do think that the movie is just as good without them; the 3D doesn't add anything. Bug stayed quite through the entire movie. She moved into the aisle a few times to get a better view of the screen. After the movie, she went home and asked to watch the trailers again. When asked what her favorite part of the movie was, she replied "the music."
Most of the story went over her head, which is to be expected given that she is under four. For us, or for a child old enough to follow it, the story is great. It balances serious and humor well. The tension is modulated well for the audience. You get that big things are being dealt with, but there are very few scares. The best thing about the story, for me, is its subversiveness. In many ways, it plays like the standard princess fairy tale with slight updates to make the princess more spunky ala Tangled. Then the plot turns and it is no longer in traditional fairy tale land.
The pre-movie feature, featuring classic Disney characters, is also top notch. To be most effective, it does require 3D, but it is a fun use of the technology.

American Hustle

H and I saw American Hustle just before the Oscar Nominations were announced. I was amazed that it dominated the nominations. It is a very good movie, but not what I would call award worthy. It is well shot, well directed, and well played, but I expected nothing else given the caliber of the cast and director. All of the four main players are A grade talents and if they turned in anything less than above average, it would be a disappointment.
The plot was lacking. The movie was too long. It could have lost a good 30 minutes. The starting in the middle and rewinding trope felt like a flourish. The narrative would have worked just as well by starting at the beginning and it would have saved time.
So good, but not great. If it is capturing the Oscars, 2013 must have been a poor year for movies.

The Airs

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Robot & Frank

Robot & Frank was a surprisingly deep movie. I thought it was just going to be a feel good odd couple tale. Instead, it offered a commentary on aging, our relationship to technology, friendship, and dealing with the decline of a loved one. It is also funny.
Frank is a retired cat burglar with some memory problems who insists on living alone. He has two adult children that try to do the best for him. It is clear that Frank was not the best Dad nor is he easy to help out. He clearly values his independence. He is an old school tough guy.
One day his son, who visits once a week, drops off a robot to help Frank. The robot is programmed to take care of Frank and help him improve his health and flagging memory. The interactions between Frank and the robot are great. The robot, while looking like a clunker, is capable of improvising and using human tricks to manipulate Frank.
As one would expect, Frank develops a fondness for the robot. The robots attempts to engage Frank in a project drive the plot. The plot in turn drives the thematic exploration without ever hitting you over the head. Most of the thinking comes after the credits roll.
The writing and acting is superb. Frank is delicately played. You are never quite sure about how impaired he is. He walks the difficult line between being a stereotypical grumpy old man and a lovable scourge. His interactions with the rest of the cast quietly speak volumes about the love he has for life and the knowledge he has about how the thing that makes him human is slipping away from him.
Robot & Frank will make you laugh and cry. It will make you love life and dread getting older. As with all the best things, it is bitter sweet.