Her Vs. Robot and Frank

    VS  
HER VS. ROBOT AND FRANK:  After watching Her I really wanted to compare it against Robot and Frank, a movie currently on Netflix.  Both dealt with similar ideas regarding humans and their interactions with artificial intelligence.  One deals with it in the form of an operating system and one with a robot.  Which one is more effective in delivering the point of this not-so-distant future of human/ AI relationships?

HER:  2013: SCI FI DRAMA: ++:  Her received many accolades and it certainly deserves it.  It's an excellent film and deserves to be on most must-see movie lists.  Spike Jonze carefully warns us against something that he feels is troublesome, but in a subtle and clever way; a love story.  The reason it's so effective is that it doesn't shy away from imposing the truth that humans are becoming increasingly dependent, if not utterly connected to, their electronic devices. Be it a tablet, laptop, or cell phone, it is almost impossible to go the day without seeing 90% of the population fixated on one.

The internet and the modernization of electronic devices have enabled us to be sufficiently enthralled in a virtual world.  People are becoming fixated on their avatars in World of Warcraft (I played Everquest way too much), or making Sims (I myself spent many hours until the game "stopped" because the world was too complicated), or re-inventing themselves on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.  Why?  Were people in the 70s and 80s living in the dark ages?  Were they completely devoid of entertainment?  How could they have lived?  These questions are now prevalent to younger generations, but they wouldn't have been to those in earlier decades.  They were placated with their CB radios, CRT monitors, and land-lines.   Why wouldn't they have been?  There was nothing else...yet

From telegraph, to radio, to television, to computers, to internet, to artificial intelligence, this progression has been steadily surging forward through the decades.  It actually seems like every decade there is a huge leap.


It begins..

It's not necessarily a bad thing to have a game or a distraction to occupy yourself during a commute, but when everyone is literally fixated on a hand held device it's a little unnerving.  Next time try to go out and notice this.  Really try.  OR try to put YOURs down. How long can you do this?  Can you?  You could, but you would laugh and say, "That was silly, let's not do that again..<clicks FACEBOOK>"


Why can't she be more like Samantha?

Either way, this movie drills this theme home.  Although he initially questions his new role with Samantha, Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with the operating system almost immediately.  In Robot and Frank it's a little different, but it has the same outcome.  Feelings for an inanimate object or program are manifested.  Why?  Is it because they don't object?  Not really, because as I will indicate, the Robot in Robot and Frank actually objects and argues with Frank.  Maybe it's because we can mold them.  We have to "teach" them how to think and that makes us feel good.  It makes us feel like gods in a way. This is very addictive..


Samantha goes where I WANT dammit!

What if our favorite electronic device or the internet said "NO", I don't want to do that.  OR, "I don't feel like going to the beach because the sand get's everywhere!"  We would have to adapt and make a compromise.  Even in Robot and Frank, the robot can be coerced into doing what Frank ultimately wants, even though it's against the law.  That would defeat the purpose.  We all hate when our devices run out of power.  IF they could be on all the time, I'm sure we would start to all lose a lot of sleep.  As it is, there is a phenomenon of people sleeping while texting.  This is scary.  It's not good.


Partners in Crime

Both movies make this point in a way.  Her leaves you understanding that he should have dealt with a human.  This is especially true during the scene with the surrogate.  He doesn't like  that because the elements that he wanted to avoid, such as human interaction and possible rejection (i.e blind date with Olivia Wilde), were re inserted.  Even though the surrogate could act interested, humans can pick up on body language very easily.  With computers and AI, there is no grey area. OR it was that he didn't want to taint the image of Samantha, but I think it's the first issue.  In Robot and Frank this theme is developed, but it takes a different route.  Let's take a look...

ROBOT AND FRANK: 2012: SCI FI DRAMA: ++:  The robot in this movie comes programmed with a holographic memory which cannot be partially deleted so it's all or nothing.  This is of critical importance because it has huge ramifications in the end.  


Robot can do chores!!

The Robot, who remains unnamed (an interesting distinction between the two movies), is purchased by a son who wants to assist his father who is becoming confused and possibly suffering from dementia due to lack of structure in his life.  The father, played very well by Frank Langella, initially refuses the Robot's assistance and shuns it.  It's not until Robot accidentally aids him in one of his favorite past times, theft, that Frank becomes interested.  Suddenly, Robot is useful.  Suddenly Frank found his "god" moment with the AI.


Let's see how you pick this lock...

Robot is not programmed against theft, but knows it's inherently illegal and therefore not a good "activity" for Frank.  He took the object Frank initially tried to take, because he thought Frank had forgotten it in the store. 

Robot even agrees to learning new skills like lock picking and walking quietly.  In addition, he adds a fictitious destruction sequence if anyone "molests" him or bothers him.  These parts of the movie are hilarious.  Don't tough Robot!!  Robot doesn't object to him "casing" a bigger plan to steal millions of dollars worth of jewelry because it is "engaging" Frank and he seems interested in something, as opposed to being depressed. 

Where Frank was once completely detached and forgetful, now he is "displaying great care" in his plan and showing vigor.  He has to if Robot is going to allow him to carry it through and help him.  The Robot is going to make sure that he has an airtight plan because he is a very "Strict Judge!"


Who's the boss here??

Ultimately, Frank spends many hours hatching a perfect plan which Robot is impressed by, but it's not until Frank says he will eat more fiber that Robot agrees.  This was both funny and pragmatic. Frank has the god moment where he controls the robot.  He likes that.  

Overall, Her delivered a more artistically sound movie but I thought watching Robot and Frank was more enjoyable.  While I felt sad for Theodore, I laughed with Frank and his robot.  There were some really funny scenes in this movie.  The getaway in the car when the robot jumps in was excellent, and when the robot wears his cat burglar outfit was hilarious.  The cinematography in Her should be studied carefully, because it was groundbreaking.  I felt that should be handled in another rating.  This one was more about the thematic elements and how they were delivered and my personal opinion.  It was very close and I welcome comments; this isn't really a competition as it is a juxtaposition..  Her 90 % Robot and Frank 92%


Not just a blender..

Unfortunately, the ending is the same in both movies.  Both main characters are left empty as a result of their interactions but during the process of their interaction, they were fulfilled.  Ultimately is this different from ending a real relationship?  Why?  I think it has to do with the syntax, which I will quote from the movie PI.  


Feelings are to humans as syntax is to artificial intelligence?