The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel is the latest film by quirky director Wes Anderson.  Like his other offerings, the movie is full of offbeat characters, colorful imagery, dry humor, and amusing situations.  This time, the setting is a fantastic hotel in a fictional eastern European country just before WWII.  The story centers on Gustave H, concierge, and his Lobby boy, the immigrant Zero.  Gustave is a ladies man, in a way- he romances elderly women- and ends up the beneficiary of one's vast estate.  The police are suspicious, and believe he murdered the old lady for her goods.  Also after him are the son of the deceased and his henchman.  Who's to blame for this situation?  Is Gustave innocent and, if so, can he prove it?  Can Zero help him through this difficult time?

I appreciate every Wes Anderson film to varying degrees- they're different, and generally have an element of redemption/reconciliation in them that's pleasing.  Here, the humor was there at times, the cast was top-notch, the story was a touch sadder than normal, and overall, it was pretty good.  Perhaps not as good as his first few films, but worth a watch nonetheless.


Rating: B

All Quiet on the Western Front (Erich Maria Remarque)

With the WWI centennial just around the corner, I thought it appropriate to read at least a few works on that terrible conflict.  First up: All Quiet on the Western Front, a fictional but realistic account of a German soldier's experiences over a three year period.  You see him in the trenches, on leave, in the hospital, under fire, at rest, on attack, on defense, with his comrades- it tries to cover several aspects of war.

Written by a German, the account is short (under 300 pages), fast-paced, poignant, and portrays well (as far as I know) the physical and psychological anguish experienced by soldiers.  I was especially 'impressed' by the psychological side of war- how it dehumanized, and ultimately destroyed, the wills of those who fought, leaving men as senseless husks without desire or direction at conflict's end.  You get the sense that some soldiers almost wanted to die, rather than live on with the memories and experiences.  Overall, this is a sobering, worthy read.


Rating: A

A Matter of Perspective

Most readers know that my family and I have been living in a state of transition for 2.5 months now.  Yesterday, we were going to close on a house and take a big step towards routine and normalcy . . . but due to others' errors, we have to wait another few weeks.  I'm very angry, frustrated, and tired . . . but should I be?  In a sense, yes, it is justified, but I have to keep things in perspective.

Let's face it: we, the rich western world, have lost a lot of perspective.  In general, our prosperity has increased to the point that most of our anxieties center on things which are, in the end, trivial matters.  Can I feed, clothe, shelter, and support my family?  Do I have employment?  Do I have a base of caring friends/family upon which I can rely?  The answer to these questions is 'yes' . . . so what is my problem?  Why do I tend to get angry over things like poor drivers, inconvenient parking, or non-ideal situations?  Why does waiting an extra week or two for my home seem to be such a big deal?  It's because I'm spoiled.  I've lost the sense of what matters in life; I daresay most of us have.

When I look at my children, I see the perspective problem in full force.  Most of their meltdowns are about unbelievably stupid matters.  "I want a different color fork."  "I have only 2000000 toys, and I need that one I don't have."  I look at them, mouth agape, and think "how can they get so worked up over such stupid stuff?"  Then, later in the day, we go out for a drive, and I'm behind someone going 5mph below the speed limit.  I simmer . . .  "How dare that person drive so slowly!"  "Woe is me!" "We might take 3 more minutes to get home!"  Fool that I am . . . I do the same thing.  I wonder how that starving child looks upon my plight.  And I wonder how God looks at us- those who He's blessed so much- whining about what we do. 

When the movers were packing up our belongings in England, I went through a now-familiar emotional cycle: excitement at what lay ahead, anxiety about what must be done to get there, and exhaustion as we progressed through each task.  I spent more time in the 'anxious' and 'exhausted' departments, and was getting tired of it all- I just wanted it to be done, and was in a mild state of depression.  I had occasional dead time with the movers, which I filled by reading Endurance (reviewed here)- the story of Shackleton's amazing Antarctic survival story.  All at once, the 'trial' of moving became very trivial indeed.  I thought I was having a bad day?!  How about that group of people stuck for years in a wasteland?  Suddenly, this 'horrible' move seemed rather easy indeed, and as I sat in my now-empty house eating takeout on paper plates, I couldn't help but think how blessed I was.

Like I experienced with the move, reading has proven helpful in correcting perspective problems.  Reading history, especially, shows us just how good we have it.  Right now, I'm reading All Quiet on the Western Front- a fictional account of a soldier's experience in WWI.  Today is 19 July.  Nine days from now, we commemorate 100 years since WWI began.  That conflict killed 15-17 million people and destroyed the life of millions more.  Even those who survived were permanently affected/impaired in irrevocable ways.  Am I angry that I have to wait for a house?  Yes, but it's lessening . . . and as I read more accounts of war and other horrible events, I start to feel very small when I complain about anything in my life. 

WWI photo . . . they had some justifiable grievances

I don't mean to imply that bad stuff doesn't happen- it does- or that we're never hit by tragedy- we are.  I'm simply stating that most of what we consider to be hardship, when we look at it through the lens of time, really isn't.  We are so blessed.  So blessed.

Yes, we have to wait for our home.  Chances are, by the time we finally move in, it will be a full 3 months since we last had a house of our own.  But it's a house of our own.  A house that meets our needs and more, in a safe neighborhood with good schools and convenience to amenities.  It is good; I am blessed; my needs are met; with this may I be content.

The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.  - Martha Washington

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Every now and then, a movie comes along that's unexpected but brilliant.  Such is Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, a comedic take on the standard horror film.

T&DvE is the story of two groups of people on vacation in the remote woods- a couple of hillbillies and a gang of college kids.  As you'd expect, the latter views the former with distrust, but are things what they seem?  Who should fear whom?

With comedy, gore, suspense, and (believe it or not) a meaningful message, I was shocked how good this film was.  The slapstick (and situational comedy) is well done without being over-the-top, the gore is gross but used to good effect, and the messages in the film (the importance of communication, self-confidence, and avoiding premature judging) are valuable.  I'm not a fan of the horror genre, but this twist on it was delightful.  With the aforementioned gore and foul language, it's not for everyone, but if you can stomach it, check it out- you might just be surprised.

Rating: A+

The Andromeda Strain

Based on the Michael Crichton novel, the 2008 two-part TV series The Andromeda Strain tells the story of a virus unlike anything ever seen unwittingly unleashed in Utah, and a team of scientists, military, and political personnel who race to stop it.  Can they?

I haven't read the book- which I suspect is excellent- but the TV adaptation is pretty good.  Production quality is good, and the story is suspenseful.  A weak, rushed ending with too many open ends and unexplained events detracts from an otherwise noteworthy effort. 

Rating: B

Davy Crockett: My Own Story (David Crockett)

Written shortly before his death, Davy Crockett: My Own Story is the autobiography of the famous "king of the wild frontier."  As you'd expect in such a work, Crockett takes a chronological approach as he outlines his early life, marriages, involvement in the Creek Indian wars, serving in congress, and bear hunting.  The last chapter appears to be excerpts taken from his diary at the Alamo- where his life came to a tragic and early end, as is well known.

Though it ends abruptly, I really enjoyed this book.  Crockett's language is simple- he's clearly a backwoods country bumpkin- but he has an endearing passion for life 'lived right,' simplicity, justice, and common sense.  It made me feel as though we've made our modern lives too complicated, and could benefit from a return to basics.  He "knowed" many things, and had mighty big adventures in his short life.  I found it telling that he focused far more on bear hunting than he did his stint in congress- almost as though he found the former more important or interesting.*  While it wasn't perfect, and didn't give a complete portrait of the man, it was enjoyable, telling, and is worth a look.

I'll end with a paraphrase I found compelling: regarding leadership, Crockett's approach was "neither seek nor refuse" office.  In other words, he wouldn't look to be a politician, but if asked, he would run. In a world where some are ambitious beyond discretion, he has a point. 

Rating: A-

*it probably was

Teamwork . . . Pass It On

"It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."
- Harry S. Truman

What a year for sports!  A few weeks ago, my favorite basketball team- the San Antonio Spurs- won the NBA championship (for the 5th time in 15 years).  Yesterday, my favorite soccer team- the Germany national team ("Mannschaft")- won the World Cup.  While I'm excited that both were ultimately victorious, for me it's especially enjoyable because both organizations built their success on a firm foundation of teamwork.

What is teamwork?  I define it as follows: the cooperative, collaborative actions of a group who seek to obtain a common objective efficiently and effectively.  They do this by putting the goal ahead of the individual- in a word, by being selfless. 

Teamwork is a concept often discussed in society today, and (rightly) upheld as necessary for success- but I see an inconsistency in the message.  We uphold teamwork as important . . . but look at the prevalence of commentary focused on individuals in sports journalism.  Who has dominated recent conversation in the NBA?  LeBron James (whose Miami Heat were soundly defeated by the Spurs in the finals).  In the World Cup, commentators consistently talked about whether or not Lionel Messi could lead Argentina to victory over the German team- he couldn't.  In both cases, the individuals overshadowed the rest of the squad- and the media loves that individual focus (watch a Portugal game some time and count how many times Ronaldo's name comes up).  They give a token nod to the true teams, then proceed to focus on only some individuals.  I contend this sends a wrong message.  Yes, some players are better than others.  But the teams are who wins and loses.  Everybody has a role- and important one- to play.  Nobody is good enough to win it alone.

Good displays of teamwork can be rare in sports (or society)- because putting something other than me first runs against my natural inclinations.  I want the credit.  Me me me me.  I love the Spurs and German soccer teams because they really do break this mold.  Both have a 'pass first' mentality that has proven successful.  And, as a (somewhat amusing) consequence, the media finds them comparatively uninteresting.  As a Spurs fan, a common complaint about them is that they just play good team ball . . . no flash, no controversy, no individual story lines- they just go out, play as a team, and win championships.  How boring.  We need flash!  We need drama!  All this selflessness isn't good for the TV ratings!  And the Germans!  Those crazy guys . . . they could be right in front of the goal and pass it!  It's like it's not about personal glory at all or something!  Sheesh. 

I could continue my rant, but I'll conclude here.  Thank you, San Antonio and Germany, for demonstrating that true teamwork- putting the good of the team above self- can not only work, but win championships.  You both deserve you trophies- hold them high, as a team.

The Body in the Library (Agatha Christie)

Spending more time in the car lately, I've resorted to audiobooks to pass the time.  The Body in the Library, by that "Queen of Crime," Agatha Christie, appealed due to its length (under 200 pages in print) and genre (I thought mysteries would be good 'car listening').  I wasn't disappointed.

It's hard to review mystery novels in-depth without giving away things, so I'll leave it at this: The Body in the Library is about a body that was discovered in a library (shocking!)- a personal library of a well-to-do aged couple.  The couple claims no knowledge of the victim or situation; can Miss Marple determine the truth?

The book was good- as I suspect Christie's works always are (this is my fourth, and I've been pleased every time).  It was easy enough to listen to in the car, though it's hard to get all of the details that can be so important and intriguing.  That said, I probably would have enjoyed it more in print, but as it stands, the audiobook wasn't bad.

Rating: B+

The Wrecker (Clive Cussler, etc.)

Clive Cussler has his share of hits over the years- especially his novels featuring Dirk Pitt.  The Wrecker, however, is one of Cussler's newer works, featuring a different protagonist (detective Isaac Bell) and era (early 1900s America).   In this story, Bell must stop an adversary committing sabotage all over railways in California and Oregon. 

How the mighty have fallen.  I love Cussler, but here I can sum up by saying "decent story, poor execution."  The writing was so lackluster that I put it down after getting a quarter of the way through it- which I've never done for a Cussler book (or any thriller, I think).  I don't know who actually wrote it- if this is a Scott work with Cussler's name on it to increase sales- but regardless, you can skip this one.

Rating: C-

Strasburg Railroad

One lesson quickly learned from our time overseas: tourism in the USA is very different from attractions in Europe.  Both regions have areas of astounding natural beauty; what sets them apart are their relative ages as nations.  With Europe's history stretching back thousands of years, it makes sense that many of their attractions center on things unknown to America: castles, abbeys, and other ruins from ages past.  So what does America offer on the sightseeing front?  For one, transportation, which was vital to connecting the vastness that is North America.  To that end, our first major travel adventure in the States was a visit to the Strasburg Railroad.

Located in the heart of Lancaster county's Pennsylvania Dutch country, the Strasburg Railroad is a heritage railway experience.  You can ride aboard an open-air car through acre after acre of Amish farmland over the 45-minute journey, enjoy the wooden dining car, and take in the sights (and smells) of the steam engines.  Thomas the Tank Engine is present at the park and comes out during scheduled Thomas days.  At the station, ride the hand-powered pump car, kid's cranky cars (powered by hand cranks), or the pufferbelly miniature steam train.  Several gift shops (including one selling all things Thomas) and restaurants (featuring the famous whoopie pie) round out the experience, and across the street is a train museum.

Though I grew up near Strasburg, I think this was my first visit in 25 years.  It was fun!  Both kids and adults enjoyed themselves, and I got that distinctly "Americana" feeling as I watched the steam engine pull into the station, not to mention some Pennsylvania pride.  Yes, America is different than Europe.  Different is fun.

Rating: A

The Everlasting Man (G.K. Chesterton)

In The Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton has two points:
1) man is unique among creation
2) Christ is unique among men- he's not just another charismatic leader
The first half of the book looks at point 1; the second at point 2.  Throughout, Chesterton looks at history from a high level (discussing the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, etc.) and points out how Christianity really was the thing that changed the world- forever.

Chesterton is a great writer, but I didn't feel this was his best work.  There are nuggets of absolute gold here, but they're buried between pages of arguments which expect the reader to have a lot of knowledge about the classical world and ancient pagan religions.  Since I have neither, I was often lost.  Additionally, Chesterton references contemporary arguments, movements, and personalities that are lost on us reading 90 years later (it was written in 1925).  While the aforementioned golden moments are marvelous, and I agree with Chesterton's line of reasoning and main points, there are better apologetic works out there.

Rating: B-

The Eagle

The Eagle, a 2011 film starring Channing Tatum, is the story of a Roman (Marcus Flavius Aquila) who sets off north of Hadrian's Wall in 140AD to recover a golden Eagle emblem- a symbol which was lost to the northern tribes after the disappearance of his father's ninth legion 20 years prior.  Aquila travels with a freed Briton slave who aids him in his quest.  Will he succeed in recovering the artifact?

The film was okay.  Predictable and nothing overwhelming, though I wasn't expecting much.  Based on the book Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff, I'm sure the text is much better. The historical event upon which the book touches is definitely interesting- in ~120AD, Rome's Ninth Legion disappeared entirely from the historical record.  It is hypothesized that it went north to modern Scotland to battle a Caledonian tribe, and no trace of them was ever found.  Other accounts posit that members of the legion did in fact turn up later in history in far-off places (eastern Europe), so we don't know for sure.

Rating: B-

The Man Who Was Thursday (G.K. Chesterton)

In The Man Who was Thursday, detective Gabriel Syme is recruited by Scotland Yard to infiltrate the Anarchist's Council- a seven-man group with each member taking the name of a day and led by the larger-than-life Sunday.  Syme succeeds and becomes Thursday- but as he seeks to bring the anarchists to law, he finds himself in a quite unexpected adventure.

G.K. Chesterton is amazing.  His prose is fantastic, eloquent, and insightful.  The story itself is gripping and meaningful.  This is the second time I've read this . . . and knowing the ending didn't diminish my enjoyment this time around.  Highly recommended.

Rating: A