The Imitation Game/ Alan Turing

(Pics courtesy of Wikipedia)

A Brilliant film about a brilliant man

Due to a book project I was involved in years ago, and a general love of history, the name Turing was familiar. When I learnt the full story of Alan Turing and his horrendous treatment from his own country after his service in the second world war, I too looked forward to the film starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing, and he did a brilliant job. I love this movie so very very much and could not recommend it more. Of course some aspects have been dramatised but what can we realistically expect from Holly-weird. The history of Alan Turing and the Imitation Game are things that can make me cry at the drop of a hat, the injustice of it all reminds me of Nikola Tesla (don't even get me started!)

This is a brilliant film that I could not tell you enough times to watch. Learn about Alan Turing and make your own mind up about what truly being of service to 'your country' is

X

Captions! (winners)

Marie Antoinette

She's the Man

Cosmo Kramer makes every day worth living

John Waters' brilliant speech! ^_^

All pics from Tumblr

X

Alice in Wonderland, The Cramps and John Waters: what more do you need?

Above, an anti-drug Public Service announcement from 1971, which is so brilliant

The Cramps giving a tour of their house (kinda) and a quick look inside their world

And everyone's favourite pervert, the marvellous John Waters giving a graduation commencement speech, 12 minutes of sheer brilliance

Stay Sick!

X

Man on Wire 2008

After repeated recommendations from my wonderful sister, I finally got around to watching this documentary.(Available on Netflix)

In 1974, French tightrope-walker Philippe Petit crossed a wire between the Twin Towers in New York City. The documentary looks at all the planning that went into it, and how his friends and girlfriend at the time struggled to help him out, realising there was a high level risk to this since-adolescence dream of his.

Here is Philippe walking between the wonderful towers of Nortre Dame cathedral

And walking the pylons between the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Planning for the twin towers crossing was extensive, and Petit and his team planned for years, helping him practise to compensate for wind by pulling on his home-made tightrope. They all helped him get up there and watched in fascination, particularly down below on the street, where a magical sight of a man walking a rope lay down in the middle, a magical piece of art. 

The twin towers were 417 metres high, a fall from this height meant certain death.

The film is a beautiful reminder of the heights man goes to (no pun intended) and how humans are capable of whimsy, dreams and beauty.

A must see!

All pics courtesy of Pinterest

X

The Caretaker An Empty Bliss beyond this world

James Kirby (The Caretaker) was inspired to make this album after reading a study in 2010 which suggested people with Alzheimer's had an easier time remembering certain information when it's contextualised with music. 

The fascinating thing about this album is how it is edited, some of the tracks loop and repeat in parts, then jump back and forth, in others it sounds like a needle scratching on an old record, stopping or starting mid-thought or contemplation, it's never executed in the form of a "fully finished" from start to end song structure. 

None of the work feels rushed or clumsy, or just too abstract in concept, the entire album is great listening and slows you down and is comforting.

Caretaker isn't just making good music here, he makes music designed to portray and mimic the puzzle like way our memories work, sometimes so clear, sometimes a memory is similar to trying to hold onto smoke, it just slips away

I don't own any of these images or sounds, all from YouTube, link provided

X

Moomin, Snorkmaiden and Snufkin

Oh Moominvalley! Apart from attending Hogwarts and living away from the reality of Muggle life, you are the one place I wish I could come visit

Snufkin is the ultimate wanderlust icon, a true hero for the ages, if only life could be more like his...

All pics Tumblr

X

Rick and Morty: Season two

Season 2, HURRY UP ALREADY! We're dying!!

Best Cos play ever above ^_^

All pics from Rick and Morty fake-book appreciation page

X

V for Vendetta/ Pink Floyd's The Wall

With both their iconic characters and themes, does anyone else feel a wonderful similarity between the 2 films? Everything borrows from something, but I think its a great thing, your own interpretation thrown in to expand on the idea more!

Both these films challenged the way my young self thought, and I am glad they did

We often hear about how essential it is to critically think, and these films and graphic novels serve as a friendly reminder of a not so friendly possibility/ reality/ future

We must remember and think about our fellow man, and strive our best to help them. To try to leave the world better than we found it seems pointless, and futile, and many people will say this is certainly the case, but I believe our actions, thoughts and how we treat others can have a gigantic impact, for the better

It starts with us all, don't finish watching these films and go back to being a dick, otherwise we've missed the point!!!

(Loved V's house though!)

I saw this picture with the caption "It's almost like we can't win" along with it, so true.

Here are the iconic freedom from repression Guy Fawkes masks being made in a third world factory in Brazil

It makes you think really hard about owning something so iconic

Pics from Tumblr

X

Nibbled to death by an Okapi

The first time I listened to the entirety of Machine Gun Etiquette by The Damned, the track loop at the end of Smash it up confused the crap out of me, but I knew I'd hear it somewhere before

The above animal is an Okapi, Arthur Dent brother was nibbled to death by one in the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy!

Well arthur isn't talking about his brother in the GIF below, but who doesn't love the Hitchhickers guide! What a series! (book, radio, tv and movie)

Culturally, I think I should just start identifying as British! 

All pics and gifs from Tumblr

X

Listen below!

Bonnie and Clyde

I really enjoy complete historical inaccuracy and hyperbole in film almost as much as I love sixties style and font in film! ^_^

Pics from wikipedia entry ;) 

X

The Addams family tv set: in colour

So we're used to seeing it like this, as it was filmed in black and white:

But in reality it looked like this!

Weird mind blown moment!! Love the still clearly 70's vibe even the most famous gothic mansion in the world gives off! The highly saturated colours of the behind the scenes look these pictures are from

Who else wants a house just like this!

So kitschy-goth good!

Pics from Pinterest

X

Etymology chart (kind of)

For other lovers of the written word and all things language related!

Pic from Pinterest

X

Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The longest poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, at the dawn of the Romantic poets era, if long poems and flights of fancy are for you, here is a LINK to the full text

These illustrations are by Gustave Dore and accompany the text well.

Even without a wikipedia entry pointing it all out, many have probably heard many a reference to this poem in many a way. Referenced in The Simpsons, Firefly, QI, everywhere!

It was considered a GOOD omen to see an Albatross (alive!) at sea, Captain Malcolm Reynolds knew that ;)

If you like metal, Iron Maiden have a brilliant 13 and a half minute spectacular based on the poem. Apart from perhaps demonising the poor little albatross a touch much, it contains lines from the poem and is a brilliant adaptation of it

Pics from Pinterest

X

The Science of Sleep 2006

This is the most charming film!

A must see!

All of Michel Gondry's work has a quaint magic to it, what a beautiful vision

Pic from Pinterest

X

Pan's Labyrinth

A MUST see!

Such visuals! So much attention to detail

Horror, Mystery and Suspense

What a film! Guillermo del Toro's journals from the film are quite amazing too!

Stills from film

X