entertainment

The Imitation Game: Turing’s Analogy of Gaming and AI Theory

December 30, 2015 Movies Technology

The Imitation Game produces an engrossing setting in a chamber with Detective Nock questioning Alan Turing, where he defines the theories of gaming and AI. The detective is clearly bewildered by the mathematical brilliance of his respondent. Alan Turing is widely considered as the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence today.

Turing seems to ostensibly denote the inadequacy of humanity about tolerating an individual’s right to freedom (a reference to his homosexuality) while harbouring a surprising curiosity in machine behaviour to quantify its emotions.

(Very well done Benedict Cumberbatch!)

Detective Nock: Can machines think?
Turing: Oh, so you’ve read some of my published works?
Detective Nock: What makes you say that?
Turing: Well, because I’m sitting in a police station, accused of entreating a young man to touch my p**** and you just asked me if machines can think.
Detective Nock: Well, can they?
Turing: Could machines ever think as human beings do? Most people say not.
Detective Nock: You’re not most people.
Turing: Well, the problem is you’re…asking a stupid question.
Detective Nock: I am?
Turing: Of course machines… can’t think as people do.
A machine is different… from a person. Hence, they think differently.
The interesting question is, just because something, uh,
thinks differently from you, does that mean it’s not thinking?
Well, we allow for humans to have such divergences from one another.
You like strawberries, I hate ice-skating,
you… cry at sad films, I… am allergic to pollen.
What is the point of-of different tastes, different… preferences
if not to say that our brains work differently, that we think differently?
And if we can say that about one another, then why can’t we say
the same thing for brains… built of copper and wire, steel?
And that’s…
Detective Nock: this big paper you wrote? What’s it called?
Turing: ”The Imitation Game.”
Detective Nock: Right, that’s…that’s what it’s about?
Turing: Would you like to play?
Detective Nock: Play?
Turing: It’s a game. A test of sorts.
For determining whether something is a…a machine or a human being.
Detective Nock: How do I play?
Turing: Well, there’s a judge and a subject, and…the judge asks questions,
and, depending on the subject’s answers, determines who he is talking with…
what he is talking with, and, um…
All you have to do is ask me a question.
Detective Nock: What did you do during the war?
Turing: I worked in a radio factory.
Detective Nock: What did you really do during the war?
Turing: (laughs softly) Are you paying attention?

River (TV Series)

December 17, 2015 General

My extreme fondness for thriller and suspense stories brought me to this 6-part British TV show called River on Netflix. Just like the other shows I had imagined this to be a mystery drama involving a police cop and his assistant joining forces to fight crime in a contemporary London setting, and the scenes played out exactly the way I had expected. But within minutes into the show the usual cop/thug drama turns into a creepy, supernatural, murder mystery that was successful in keeping me at the edge of my seat for the rest of the series.

Stellan Skarsgård plays a smart senior cop called Detective Inspector John River. A deep, sombre individual barely able to connect with the world outside of his own nonetheless truthfully connected with the voices inside his head. Struggling to revisit the disturbing sequences from his past, and remains fixated in the throes of his murdered colleague, while also getting mired in an immigration scandal bigger than he’d imagined. For the investigation to go ahead under his charge River must undertake scrupulous tests of his mental character and prove his sanity with the help of a fascinated psychiatrist played by Georgina Rich. The dramatizing by Skarsgård of an entity who appears to speak to himself being in a state of denial is laudable, when at times River’s hallucinations driven by his inner voices and conflict also leads him to become violent and aggressive in full public view. A sensitive, and brutal representation of people faced with situations, bordering schizophrenia, and that feeling of being judged unwontedly is quite palpable while watching River. To say the least, Skarsgård’s portrayal of John River is beyond words.

The culminating episode in which River traces the malicious truth was an emotional adventure personally. As unfair as it may seem River faces a numbing fact in realizing that a poignant moment has been lost forever in the sands of time and moving on with life is the only way forward for him. That apart the series lends itself to a particularly melodious disco track of the 70s called ‘I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves To Dance)’ by Tina Charles, which vividly echoes the feeling of mutual admiration between the lead pair. While I am not sure when or how would the next series of River do justice to the characters and the story, I am waiting anxiously to find that out sooner than later.

Drishyam

November 10, 2015 Movies

I hadn’t seen a taut thriller movie in a while and Drishyam fit that definition perfectly. Originally made in Malayalam by Jeethu Joseph and released in 2013, Drishyam (Visual) has now been remade in 4 other Indian languages, very recently in Tamil as Papanasam with Kamal Haasan and Gautami. The Hindi version which I thoroughly enjoyed has been directed by Nishikant Kamat whose earlier works I have enjoyed watching include his Marathi ventures the critically acclaimed Dombivli Fast (2005), and action drama Lai Bhari (2014), his Hindi action thriller Force (2011) with John Abraham, and Mumbai Meri Jaan (2008), a story about 5 characters in Mumbai and how their lives are affected by the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, which also won multiple Filmfare Awards.

A happy family in a serene Goan village, which includes the father (Vijay Salgaonkar/Ajay Devgn) running a small cable TV business called Mirage Cable Network, his simple, homely wife (Nandini/Shriya Saran) fondly looking after their two daughters, the older Anju, and the younger Annu. Apart from his lovely family Vijay has friends who vouch for his unblemished character, and he loves to watch all kinds of movies — you could see him glued to the TV set in his office all day and night, while his dedicated associate (José/Prathamesh Parab) goes around the small hamlet settling business. Then quite suddenly an incident occurs one stormy night and knocks the family into gloom and doom. It surrounds the bunch of happy campers into an unrealistic scenario with no sign of an escape from the inevitable. What happens next can only be described as an odyssey of plots and sub-plots and mysteries as Vijay goes from pillar to post to conceive a maze of mysteries throwing the police detectives, even the agile Inspector General Meera Deshmukh (another great portrayal by Tabu) in a tizzy, despite having an undoubted notion about the family’s undeniable involvement in the gory incident the police are sadly reduced to a gaping spectators! Under Vijay’s astute stewardship and shrewdness the family teams up to support the cause and overcome, what seems like an insurmountable challenge. But hang-on! It’s just when you think the movie is done and the cast has met its desired outcome, that the spine chilling climactic end is waiting to shock and raise your eyebrows even further. I can’t stop applauding the producers who have ensured the movie’s plot isn’t lost to the audience as it meanders from one sequence to the other ever so tightly, the sequences make you perch at the edge of your chairs, and if there was one movie where good music is used sparingly to provide relief from the ongoing tense drama, it’s Drishyam. It’s a brilliant plot, a brilliantly shot movie, and a must-see for movie lovers.

Despicable Me 2

November 8, 2015 Movies

I skipped the first instalment to watch this animated comedy, and the amusement lasted until the last sequence! A hilarious account of a super-villain turned hero/dad Gru managing a bunch of dwarfed, babyish characters somewhat awkwardly dressed called ‘Minions’, and 3 very cute daughters. The Minions are these energetic cheerful bunch of Lilliputians, with no regrets for their unremarkable looks, stature or appeal, having fun always but congregating when distress comes in the form of the villain Eduardo/El Macho. 

It has loads of artistic imaginativeness especially the gadgetry which included Lucy’s inventive automobile that is part-submarine part-aircraft and the jelly guns (slurp!), the design of the croc sofa in the girls’ room and the hippo chair, the nacho-shaped Sombrero with Guacamole that the characters dip and relish (that was so creative!), and last but not the least, a pet chicken called ‘Pollito’ acting as the villain’s henchman (or ‘henchcock’?).

‘Despicable Me 2’ is a mad comic caper complete with a love story, tons of Minion naughtiness, artistic fantasies, and 3 adorable little girls! I’m already waiting to watch the next release.

AIB Roast Cover

Fuss About Nothing!

February 3, 2015 Happenings

Virtually everyone in India is now talking about the (edited) version of the AIB Roast show on YouTube which was hosted by ‘Roast Master’ Karan Johar in Mumbai and presided over by the glitterati from the Bollywood industry. The talking point has been the use of offensive, insulting and politically incorrect language to create humour involving 2 of Bollywood’s upcoming stars Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, who are publicly known to share a good companionship. If reports are to be believed, the audiences paid INR 4000 each (about CAD 80) to watch the show (*gulp*)! AIB or ‘All-India Bakchod’ (loosely translated – Bakwas = senseless and Chod = f**k, one who indulges in senseless talk) is an incongruous bunch of talented stand-up comedians who produce and act in satirical comical videos on YouTube often targeting politicians and film personalities.

When I watched the video, I was offended with the free use of foul language, it’s frequency and unfettered use in an attempt to create humour, when the audience in the video seemed amused and was laughing away to glory I was smiling in awe. 2 upcoming actors with some credibility bearing the brunt of a noxious attack from a gang of AIB speakers, the comments petrifying and undignified which would make anyone grunt in disgust but for the affable Ranveer and Arjun who were chuckling in absurdity, swearing back at the speakers now and then, and cringing uncomfortably in their red armrests (as would anyone) as their personalities were being torn apart by waves of filthy lexicons. For a good reason I was shocked why 2 young and promising actors put up their dignity and career at stake and signed up for this noxious onslaught, when the audience of their films was already doing it for them at the box-offices across the country regardless!

The whole debate about morality and culture, and the use of ‘offensive language’ has been raked up again in the garb of “hurting public sentiments”, and may I add, unnecessarily, and pulling us in the tussle between modernity and ethnicity; the right or the worse, the choice that we as intellectuals have to make over a mediocre event! It’s so depressing. The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe to investigate if the show was “vulgar” and in violation of laws, now why would one waste tax-payer’s money on such an ordinary event. The right-wing political party MNS in Maharashtra on the other hand has demanded an apology from Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and others warning of dire consequences, luckily for them because their political fortunes were sinking already in the state for lack of a political agenda. And a police complaint has also been filed by the Brahman Ekta Seva Sanstha in Mumbai for use of “filthy and abusive language”. I am doubly upset now because the media and politicians haven’t helped by raking up an unnecessary controversy and offering credibility to such a crass show that it’s going to garner more hits and likes in the coming days.

Indeed the humour lacked an entertainment appeal so to speak, the speakers and the host sounded drab after a period with their continuous diatribe of raunchy and repulsive language, it was also shocking to see the free and open use of offensive language. Point taken. Let’s not forget that it was a privately funded show with full-grown adults paying for their own tickets willingly, it wasn’t a charity show involving the government or state money, and I don’t think any politician could be seen in the crowd applauding – if that’s true then it’s again his/her private business. The participants, the actors and the audience knew what they were signing up for. If so many others like me found the content to be offensive, my advice would be don’t watch it! If I felt any more offended than this I would hire a lawyer to fight a case in the highest courts of law in India. But any form of moral policing will only dent the fundamental structure of our democracy which we as a nation feel so proud about. Let’s stay away from advising others on the standards of entertainment and what others should and should not do, as long as they are doing it at their own expense and within legal terms. Let’s not play by our rules and pile up our definition of moral standards of entertainment and humour on others and ask them to “SHUT UP” and to fall in line.

A rational advice on choosing entertainment came in the form of a judgement from the Supreme Court of India. In its petition the All India Human Rights and Social Justice Front had argued that some scenes from the Aamir Khan starrer ‘PK’ hurt religious sentiment disturbing public order and hence the apex court should ban the film. The Chief Justice of India, RM Lodha said, “If you don’t like it, don’t watch the film. Don’t bring religious facets here.” also adding “These are matters of entertainment.  If you restrict it, it will affect others’ rights. Everything is on the internet.  What will you hide?”. Yes I am upset and offended, and it has hurt my sentiments. And honestly speaking, I won’t watch this crap again.