Showing posts with label World War II. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World War II. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 09, 2016

The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game was heartbreaking. I don't know why I waited so long to watch it. It was a brilliant film. I think it was worth every bit of acclaim that it has received. I loved Benedict Cumberbatch. I think I get why everyone loves him now. I haven't watched Sherlock, but I'm interested to see more of him. Everything about the way he portrayed Alan Turing, brought the character and time to life for me, was fantastic. I loved his relationship with Keira Knightly's character, Joan. I loved Joan, her struggles to be thought of as an equal, the sadness because her mind wasn't getting used.

They worked so hard, Alan Turing, Joan and the whole team, to break Enigma and end the war (World War II). They succeeded in their goal, even though there were doubters, people who didn't believe a machine could break the code. Their relationships, the ups and downs, the Russian spy, I wonder how much of that is true and how much is artistic liberty. It also makes me think such a brilliant mind lost, because of "hormonal therapy" to change his "predilections". You might as well try to "pray the gay away." I know it was a long time ago, but it makes me angry. I also feel like someone, a friend, the guy from MI6, should have helped him. What more could have come from the mind that invented computers if he had lived? (I know that the potrayal of Turing isn't the only theory regarding his death, but it is commonly held.) I'm going to stop being angry and instead be impressed that a film could make me feel so strongly. If you haven't seen The Imitation Game, you should, it deserves to be seen.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The Strain

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2654620/The Strain television series is making it's way to FX (and FX Canada) this summer.  I've had The Strain sitting on my shelf for quite some time.  I don't know why I hadn't read it.  With the television show premiere date fast approaching I figured I aught to read it right now.  I don't know why I waiting so long.  The Strain was more than I expected.  It was dark, gruesome without being overly gory.  It reached for my emotions with a stinger.

I loved Eph.  Everything about him.  A scientist, a healer, a father and a vampire hunter.  He was a fantastic main character.  I can't wait to see what he does next.  I'd also like to see what Nora does next.  I feel like she wasn't developed enough and she only existed to deepen Eph's angst.  A few of the characters were like that.  They either existed for Eph or for Setrakian.  I loved Setrakian's story. Holocaust survivor and vampire hunter.  He had a cool basement.

The Strain was creepy, tense and. great flow to the whole story with characters that you care about. I was in the novel's grip.  I wanted to know what happened next.  Too many nights I stayed up because I just had to finish "one more page".  What happened when the flight came down, seemed so real.  If a strain was going to be let loose on a city, they would do it this way.  I'm so excited to read The Fall, which I have... staring at me right now with its red and black eyes....


Sunday, April 04, 2010

Inglourious Basterds

Is Inglourious Basterds what would have happened if Quentin Tarintino was in charge of ending World War II? I finally got around to seeing Tarantino’s film this weekend. (It seems like I’m finally getting to see a lot of movies that came out just after my daughter was born.) Inglourious Basterds is a film I really enjoyed. I had fun watching it, though I fell like it’s one of those movies I’d have a difficult time sitting through again knowing what happens. It’s not that there is anything too upsetting or graphic. It’s more about knowing the result of the scene. Having seen it already, the mystery and anticipation is gone.


Brad Pitt was amazing. Lt. Raine was so different from other roles he has played. The entire cast was amazing. I loved Shoshanna. I really appreciated that we get to see past Private Zoller’s handsome front before the end. I did not expect to see Mike Myers either. It was a great surprise. Christoph Waltz tied the whole movie together. Tarantino’s style is all over his film, so you should appreciate his work, but this isn’t just for his fans, it’s for everyone who likes a good story.

Monday, April 09, 2007

No Day Long Enough

This book, No Day Long Enough contains an article written by my husband's grandfather. He had a phD and taught at U of T. The article is about "explosives and propellants" research during World War II. He was literally a rocket scientist.


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