Morgan (2016) [+] Action thriller film. There’s a secret lab in a remote woodsy location and there was an accident. Lee Weathers (Kate Mara) arrives from Corporate to investigate and determine whether or not to cancel the experiment. That experiment is the artificial life form Morgan (Anya Taylor-Joy), five years old but looks like a teenager with enhances strength and reflexes and with emotions, though perhaps a bit more psychotic than empathic. Turns out that pretty much all the half-dozen people there are quite sympathetic and protective of Morgan which will make Lee’s job more complicated once she decides to terminate Morgan… I like the somewhat surprise ending where if you rewatch the movie with that knowledge it makes Lee’s characterization quite different.

The Gorge (2025) [/] Apple TV+ action/horror film. During the latter Cold War before the Berlin Wall comes down two snipers are sent to monitor a secret gorge to make sure the creatures down there don’t come out into the human world. Levi Kane (Miles Teller) is a former Marine sniper and currently a mercenary. Drasa (Anya Taylor-Joy) is a Lithuanian sniper employed by the KGB for political assassinations. Stationed on both sides of the gorge they manage to communicate and become friends over their year-long tour (which ends with them getting offed by their superiors but although it’s shown with Kane’s predecessor it doesn’t come into play at the end of the movie). Levi even manages to attach a rappel line and visit Drasa but it’s on the way back that he falls into the gorge with Drasa immediately following. Inside they have to fight off the mutants and get out before they’re infected and afterwards they’ll have to survive being purged by their superiors because they think they’re infected or worse, know the secret of the gorge… Perfectly entertaining film. Above average for Apple TV+ action movies. I like that Miles Teller has gone from playing “goofy why do people think this character is charming” to “oh, this character has rizz” which is more a function of becoming an experienced and better actor.

Love Game in an Eastern Fantasy (2024) [-] Chinese romance drama of 32 episodes. Modern day girl Ling Miao Miao (Yu Shuxin/Esther Yu) is somehow transported into a computer game based on the novel Catching Demons where her character is the minor villain Lin Yu. Not wanting to be the villain she is decides to change her fate even though the computer keeps giving her villainous quests. Miao Miao is determined to become friends Mu Yao (Zhu Xudan), help Yao get her love interest Liu Fuyi (Yang Shize), and get Yao’s brother Mu Sheng (Ding Yuxi) to fall in love with Miao Miao… I like the setup but after a few episodes they drop the whole computer game subplot and bring it back once or twice and then at the end, so for most of the series this is a plain fantasy demon catchers vs demons story and even the romantic elements aren’t emphasized. Then the last episode brings in a bunch of back story and it’s a bit abrupt (contrast with a K-Drama which would have seamlessly weaved the back story throughout the series until in the end you get this surprise tying everything in). Vaguely disappointed because I was expecting more.

Shovel Knight Dig (2022) [/] A version of Shovel Knight (which I haven’t played). Fantasy roguelike with 8-bit graphics and arcade soundtrack and sounds. You are a knight with a shovel. You dig down through dirt (or sideways and fast sideways digging prevents you from falling if there is no floor below you). Kill bad guys, collect gems, find secret areas, avoid traps. Lots of arcade timing and quick thinking required. Even with a controller I found it difficult to navigate (and without one feels like it’d be really tough to play). A full run is four levels then a boss level and if you die (or I guess if you finish) you mostly restart with nothing except gems collected. So there is no big quest (though there are quests, the first one being to find the missing blacksmith) and it's mostly random dungeon runs. Not really a game for me.

Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen, San Mateo [+] Second time ordering from here. Had two appetizers Sautéed Eggplant (sautéed eggplant cubes with tomato, garlic & bell peppers, and pita bread, $10.45) and Greek Fries ($7.85) which I’ve had before and liked. Eggplant dish is a cold dish but tastes pretty good — garlic cloves helps a lot. And the pita bread is thick and more bread-like than normal. Very filling.