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David McK (3233 KP) rated The Imitation Game (2014) in Movies
Feb 26, 2022
Drama based on the life and times of Alan Turing, the so-called father of modern computing, who worked in Bletchley Park during World War 2 to break the hitherto-believed-unbreakable enigma machine that the German high command were using to send radio messages to their fleets.
This flits back and forth between three timelines: the 1950s (just before Turing committed society, after being found guilty of Homosexual behaviour, which was outlawed at the time), the late 30s/early 40s (his work at Bletchley) and the 1920s (his childhood at a public boarding school, where he was bullied).
Cumberbatch manages to bring a different aura to his portrayal of Turing than he did previously to Sherlock - even though both are geniuses who struggle with a low EQ (Emotional Quotient) - while Kiera Knightley does her period piece acting as his fellow (perhaps even smarter) codebreaker Joan, who has to also put up with the misogynistic attitudes of the time.
And yes, the Imitation Game of the title is a real philosophical conundrum (which is described during the movie itself).
This flits back and forth between three timelines: the 1950s (just before Turing committed society, after being found guilty of Homosexual behaviour, which was outlawed at the time), the late 30s/early 40s (his work at Bletchley) and the 1920s (his childhood at a public boarding school, where he was bullied).
Cumberbatch manages to bring a different aura to his portrayal of Turing than he did previously to Sherlock - even though both are geniuses who struggle with a low EQ (Emotional Quotient) - while Kiera Knightley does her period piece acting as his fellow (perhaps even smarter) codebreaker Joan, who has to also put up with the misogynistic attitudes of the time.
And yes, the Imitation Game of the title is a real philosophical conundrum (which is described during the movie itself).
David McK (3233 KP) rated The Valley of Fear in Books
Apr 13, 2024
Sherlock Holmes stories I had previously heard of / knew (even if only a little bit) about:
The Hound of the Baskervilles (natch)
A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
The Red-Headed League
The Final Problem
.. and a few others whose name I cannot currently recall.
None of them, however, were this one.
Like "The Hound...", this was a later-written story, but is also set before Holmes encounter with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. And like "A Study in Scarlet", it's also very much split into distinct sections: the first section in which Holmes and Watson are called to the English countryside to investigate a murder (or is it suicide?), and the a whole other section set in the United States of America filling in the backgrounds of the principal actor of the first section.
Being new to me, also, I have to say I did wonder - until the reveal! - just how this whole section (and the mention of the Pinkerton Detective Agency) fitted into the first part.
Perhaps because of its novelty (to me), I also fairly enjoyed this.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (natch)
A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
The Red-Headed League
The Final Problem
.. and a few others whose name I cannot currently recall.
None of them, however, were this one.
Like "The Hound...", this was a later-written story, but is also set before Holmes encounter with Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls. And like "A Study in Scarlet", it's also very much split into distinct sections: the first section in which Holmes and Watson are called to the English countryside to investigate a murder (or is it suicide?), and the a whole other section set in the United States of America filling in the backgrounds of the principal actor of the first section.
Being new to me, also, I have to say I did wonder - until the reveal! - just how this whole section (and the mention of the Pinkerton Detective Agency) fitted into the first part.
Perhaps because of its novelty (to me), I also fairly enjoyed this.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Enola Holmes 2 (2022) in Movies
Nov 14, 2022
Pleasant and Entertaining
Back in September 2020 - in the heart of the pandemic shutdown - Netflix released ENOLA HOLMES which was dubbed “the teen version of Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes” - one can decide for themselves if that is a good or a bad thing. For me, this flick was an agreeable way to spend a few hours and I, for one, was looking forward to further adventures of Enola and her more well-known older brother, Sherlock.
And, in ENOLA HOLMES 2, we get exactly that. A very entertaining way to spend a few hours with characters that continue to be a joy to while away the time - and a mystery - with.
Starring Millie Bobby Brown (11 in STRANGER THINGS), Enola Holmes 2 follows the titular character as she has opened her own, competing, Detective Agency. But, as these sorts of things go, her case ends up intertwining with her famous older sibling’s case, so we really get “Holmes and Holmes”.
And that is just fine with me for Brown and Henry Cavill (who plays Sherlock Holmes and who has previously played the MAN OF STEEL) make a winning pair, working off each other with just the right tone of mystery and fun and they look like they are having a good time figuring out the central mystery of this story.
Credit for this must go to Director Harry Bradbeer (Director of the first ENOLA HOLMES film) who came up with this story based on Nancy Springer’s characters (she wrote the ENOLA HOLMES books) and to which Jack Thorne bases his screenplay on. Bradbeer seems to understand these characters and the tone of this film. He makes just the right balance between mystery and fun - keeping the proceedings moving along at a jaunty pace, so the audience can enjoy the ride, but aren’t too jostled around by it.
Brown and Cavill fit right into this tone as does the always wonderful Helena Bonham Carter (she of many films, let’s go with A ROOM WITH A VIEW) as the mother of both of these two Detectives. The sturdy David Thewlis (Professor Lupine in the HARRY POTTER films) brings along his professionalism, comedic timing and mysteriousness as Police Inspector Grail while Louis Partridge returns as the handsome almost-love interest of Enola, Lord Tewkesbury.
Special notice needs to be made of Costumer Consolata Boyle (THE QUEEN) she populates this film with the prerequisite muted colors of 19th Century London (lots of Grey, Black and Dark Blue) but she manages to give Enola just enough of a flair in her costumes. For example, the blue of her skirt is just brighter enough than those around her to punch her up, but it is not so much brighter that it is obviously making her stick out. It is a smart, subtle touch to a very pleasing film to look at.
And that is, really, the bottom line of this movie. It is a very pleasant movie, with a mystery that is interesting enough to keep a person hooked, but not overly complex or dingy as to turn people off.
A good family film - and that is a compliment - the type of film that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.
Letter Grade: B+
7 1/2 (out of 10) stars
And you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
And, in ENOLA HOLMES 2, we get exactly that. A very entertaining way to spend a few hours with characters that continue to be a joy to while away the time - and a mystery - with.
Starring Millie Bobby Brown (11 in STRANGER THINGS), Enola Holmes 2 follows the titular character as she has opened her own, competing, Detective Agency. But, as these sorts of things go, her case ends up intertwining with her famous older sibling’s case, so we really get “Holmes and Holmes”.
And that is just fine with me for Brown and Henry Cavill (who plays Sherlock Holmes and who has previously played the MAN OF STEEL) make a winning pair, working off each other with just the right tone of mystery and fun and they look like they are having a good time figuring out the central mystery of this story.
Credit for this must go to Director Harry Bradbeer (Director of the first ENOLA HOLMES film) who came up with this story based on Nancy Springer’s characters (she wrote the ENOLA HOLMES books) and to which Jack Thorne bases his screenplay on. Bradbeer seems to understand these characters and the tone of this film. He makes just the right balance between mystery and fun - keeping the proceedings moving along at a jaunty pace, so the audience can enjoy the ride, but aren’t too jostled around by it.
Brown and Cavill fit right into this tone as does the always wonderful Helena Bonham Carter (she of many films, let’s go with A ROOM WITH A VIEW) as the mother of both of these two Detectives. The sturdy David Thewlis (Professor Lupine in the HARRY POTTER films) brings along his professionalism, comedic timing and mysteriousness as Police Inspector Grail while Louis Partridge returns as the handsome almost-love interest of Enola, Lord Tewkesbury.
Special notice needs to be made of Costumer Consolata Boyle (THE QUEEN) she populates this film with the prerequisite muted colors of 19th Century London (lots of Grey, Black and Dark Blue) but she manages to give Enola just enough of a flair in her costumes. For example, the blue of her skirt is just brighter enough than those around her to punch her up, but it is not so much brighter that it is obviously making her stick out. It is a smart, subtle touch to a very pleasing film to look at.
And that is, really, the bottom line of this movie. It is a very pleasant movie, with a mystery that is interesting enough to keep a person hooked, but not overly complex or dingy as to turn people off.
A good family film - and that is a compliment - the type of film that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.
Letter Grade: B+
7 1/2 (out of 10) stars
And you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated 1917 (2020) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020
Saving a whole bunch of Privates.
397. 1917. Think Saving Private Ryan with a smaller cast, smaller family, different war, different ally, same enemy. Filmed in one long shot, tells the story of two soldiers sent on a slightly dangerous mission, ok, one soldier and he drags his poor buddy along with him for the ride. Friendship!! Lance Corporal Blake (played by Dean-Charles Chapman, ok pull up a picture of him. Observe. Now look up the actress Joey King. Observe.) is called to see the General, he has an important mission for him, to head over to another regiment before they walk into a trap, and cost the lives of up to 1600 men, including Blakes' own brother. And yay, just for being his friend, and standing next to him while he gets the orders, Lance Corporal Schofield gets to go through hell with him! An exciting and grotesque look at the battlefield, being filmed in one shot gave it intense feel. Doesn't let up until the end! Several popular Brits pop up in there for cameos, spotted Sherlock Holmes, a Kingsman, and Rob Stark in there. Worth the watch!! Filmbufftim on FB
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Dracula in TV
Apr 10, 2020
I missed this over Christmas so was quite chuffed to win a copy in a Smashbomb give away.
After watching all 3 episodes I have to say it takes some serious liberties with the source material (particularly in the devisive third episode) but as a whole I really enjoyed this. I am a fan of Sherlock (particularly the early episodes) so I liked what the team did here. The look is suitably gothic with a nice stream of dark humour running through. The production values and special effects were also quite impressive for a beeb production. I had never heard of Claes Bang before this but I have to say he was a brilliant bit of casting as Dracula.. charismatic and brooding.
Allot of people seem to hate episode 3 bringing Dracula to the present day but I personally found that episode allot of fun and an improvement over the slightly slow 2nd episode. (The first was the best by far though)
Overall though the series isn't quite something that will be regarded as a classic in years to come but I had fun watching it and will certainly recommend it.
After watching all 3 episodes I have to say it takes some serious liberties with the source material (particularly in the devisive third episode) but as a whole I really enjoyed this. I am a fan of Sherlock (particularly the early episodes) so I liked what the team did here. The look is suitably gothic with a nice stream of dark humour running through. The production values and special effects were also quite impressive for a beeb production. I had never heard of Claes Bang before this but I have to say he was a brilliant bit of casting as Dracula.. charismatic and brooding.
Allot of people seem to hate episode 3 bringing Dracula to the present day but I personally found that episode allot of fun and an improvement over the slightly slow 2nd episode. (The first was the best by far though)
Overall though the series isn't quite something that will be regarded as a classic in years to come but I had fun watching it and will certainly recommend it.
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