Movies, Phantasy
In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been reading more and more alarmed voices calling for a moratorium on the development of advanced AI models. Even researchers who were previously enthusiastic about the positive potential of AI are growing concerned that we may be stumbling into building systems that could turn against humanity—like in one of those sci-fi movies where robots either enslave humanity or wipe us out entirely. Indeed, I just ready a study that expert on AI are more concerned that AI can harm humanity than the general public. Companion
Movies, Phantasy
I do not count myself as a big aficionado of Sci-Fi movies but Dunes get’s my two thumbs up. A marries futurism with features of the Middle Ages. On top, it puts the old theme of a person being the chosen one to lead humanity out of the darkness and mental superpower skills where you and take over the mind of another human being. The film is based on a 1965 novel that was considered unadaptable for the big screen after early flops. But the 2021 version is a success and I loved the attention to detail and learning about life in an inhospitable dessert. I am looking forward to the 2nd installment.Dune
Books, Fiction, Movies, Phantasy
Eric Carle made beautifully illustrated books. Here is his most famous one made into a beautiful short film of 6 minutes. Click on picture below to play the film. RIP Eric Carle - The very hungry caterpillar
Movies, Drama, Phantasy
This is a fairy tale like no other I have seen before. It feels like a Beauty and the Beast inspired Sci-Fi film set during the Cold War USA of the early 1960s. There is real beauty in the love story between a mute woman and a male creature that comes across as a mixture between a mermaid and robot. He also cannot talk but clearly has intelligence and feelings. The film at times becomes rather annoying when the portrayal of the US government and its personnel becomes a caricature rather than a realistic portrayal what the USA military was like during the conflict with the Soviet Union.The Shape of Water
Movies, Phantasy
As an adult you walk into Beauty and the Beast not expecting suspense how the story will end. Of course the beast will get the beauty in the end! The open questions are about their journey. What challenges will the couple face before their happy ending?
For me the best part of the movie had very little do with the two story itself. The makers of the film use the plot and the characters as an excuse to show off mesmerizing feats of imagination and creativity. The most stunning scene happens as the beauty (Emma Watson) takes her first dinner in the castle of the beast. She is alone. Only with the staff, who have been years transformed by curse some years ago from human beings into clocks, candle holders and walking closets. The beast is mad with fury in his quarters. We already have learned that the staff has a very strong incentive to ensure the beauty falls in love with the beast: If this happens before a rose dies the staff (and the prince who is trapped in the body of a beast) will be transformed again into their human form. But the rose has not much longer to live. I can assure you have never seen a staff figuratively and literally pulling out all the stops as in this scene. My gut feeling tells me that people behind Pixar movies had their hands in ‘cooking this scene”. In any case, go watch Beauty and the Beast have your iPhone ready and when this scene starts, record it on your phone. And next time when you get poor service at a restaurant, instead of complaining, ask the waiter or waitress to quickly watch this scene with you. This will give them clear ideas how you would like them to lift their service game.Beauty and the Beast