THE IMITATION GAME
The Imitation Game is a 2014 historical thriller film directed by Morten Tyldum, with a screenplay by Graham Moore loosely based on the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the British cryptanalyst Alan Turing, who helped solve the Enigma code during the Second World War and was later prosecuted for homosexuality.
The story is told in a series of backflashes between Touring’s childhood, work and arrest, the main arc of the story being the story of his arrest and process due to his homosexuality.
The film’s title refers to Turing’s proposed test of the same name, which he discussed in his 1950 paper on artificial intelligence entitled “Computing Machinery and Intelligence”.[26] The paper opens: “I propose to consider the question, ‘Can machines think?’ This should begin with definitions of the meaning of the terms ‘machine’ and ‘think’.”
The movie has generally received favorable reviews. However, it has also received criticism from historians and academics regarding the events and people it portrays:
- Suggesting that the work at Bletchley Park was the effort of a small group of cryptographers who were stymied for the first few years of the war until a sudden breakthrough that allowed them to break Enigma.
- Naming the Enigma-breaking machine “Christopher” after Turing’s childhood friend and suggesting that Turing was the only cryptographer working on it with others not helping or opposed.
- Showing Turing writing a letter to Churchill in order to gain control over Enigma breaking and obtain funding for the decryption machine.
- The depiction of the recruitment of Joan Clarke as a result of an examination after solving a crossword puzzle in a newspaper.
- Exaggerating Turing’s social difficulties.
- Scenes about Turing’s childhood friend, including the manner in which Turing learned of Morcom’s illness and death.
- Clarke visiting Turing in his home while he is serving probation (there is no record of Clarke ever visiting Turing’s residence during his probation, although Turing did stay in touch with her after the war and informed her of his upcoming trial for indecency).
- Stating outright that Turing committed suicide after a year of hormone treatment. (The official inquest into his death ruled that he had committed suicide by consuming a cyanide-laced apple.)
CINDERELLA
Cinderella is a 2015 American romantic fantasy film directed by Kenneth Branagh, from a screenplay written by Chris Weitz.
Although not a direct remake, it borrows many elements from Walt Disney’s 1950 animated musical film of the same name. The story is inspired by the fairy tale Cinderella by Charles Perrault (with some references from the Brothers Grimm’s version of the story).
It stars Lily James in the title role as Ella (“Cinderella”) with Richard Madden as Prince Charming, Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine (the Wicked Stepmother), Sophie McShera as Drizella, Holliday Grainger as Anastasia and Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother.
MERLIN
In a land of myth, at the time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young boy. His name: Merlin.
Merlin is a British fantasy-adventure television programme. It was broadcast on BBC One from 20 September 2008 to 24 December 2012. The show is loosely based on the Arthurian legends of the young wizard Merlin and his relationship with King Arthur but differs from traditional versions. It was immensely popular and very well received by the public.
Merlin (Colin Morgan) is a young warlock who arrives in the kingdom of Camelot after his mother arranges for him to stay with the court physician, Gaius (Richard Wilson). He discovers that the king, Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head), has outlawed magic and imprisoned the last Dragon deep under the kingdom. After hearing a mysterious voice inside his head, Merlin makes his way to the cavern beneath Camelot where the Great Dragon tells Merlin that he has an important destiny: to protect Uther’s son, Arthur, who will return magic to Camelot and unite the land of Albion.
When Merlin meets Arthur, he believes that he is an arrogant bully and Arthur, likewise, has a less than stellar opinion of Merlin. After saving the prince’s life Merlin becomes his servant and the two begin to respect and trust one another. Merlin eventually becomes close friends with Arthur and another servant named Gwen (Angel Coulby). But when Uther’s actions eventually cause his ward Morgana (Katie McGrath) to turn against Camelot, Merlin must work together with Arthur to save the kingdom of Albion.
DOWNTON ABBEY
Downton Abbey is a British period drama television series created by Julian Fellowes. It was first aired in the United Kingdom and Ireland on 26 September 2010. Five series have been made so far.
The series, set in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey, depicts the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era—with the great events in history having an effect on their lives and on the British social hierarchy. Such events depicted throughout the series include news of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 in the first series; the outbreak of the First World War, the Spanish influenza pandemic, and the Marconi scandal in the second series; the interwar period and the formation of the Irish Free State in the third series; the Teapot Dome scandal in the fourth series; and the United Kingdom general election of 1923 and the Beer Hall Putsch in the fifth series.
Downton Abbey has received critical acclaim from television critics and won numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie. It was recognised by Guinness World Records as the most critically acclaimed English-language television series of 2011. It earned the most nominations of any international television series in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, with twenty-seven in total (after two series). It is the most successful British costume drama series since 1981.
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