Customer Reviews

Breaking the Code [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

There are probably only a handful of actors alive as good as Derek Jacobi; this account of Alan Turing's life and disgrace in the eyes of the British secret service demonstrates why he's so good. The empathy and outrage the viewer feels on behalf of the embattled mathmetician finds its equal in the awe for his intellect that the solution of the enigma ciphers merits. Much like Prick Up Your Ears, this film shows up societal prejudice and how damaging it can be in the face of true creative genius.

I have just recently watched this video and found it to be an absolute delight! While several people fuss about the play not covering enough about Turing's theories, one needs to realize that it is a piece about the man, not his theories. The film version is somewhat different from the play version, which I was disappointed by. However, the performances are superb, all around great cast, but it is Derek Jacobi who gives such subtle depth and tremendous passion to this film. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys seeing an intelligent, meaningful piece about humanity.

I first heard of "Breaking The Code" as a play, with the same actor, Derek Jacobi, in the PBS mini-series "The Machine That Changed The World" (from 1992). Part 1 of TMTCTW showed a couple excerpts of the play, and it gave me the impression that the story really got into Turing's theories about computing, explaining them in a way that people could understand. These ideas have validity even today. I looked forward to this same depth in the TV production, but was disappointed. The TV version was more of a "message film". It emphasized Turing's homosexuality, which no doubt is an important part of his life. No telling of it would be complete without talking about it, particularly how it caused conflict with his government, which motivated his suicide. His mastery of mathematics is used as a jumping off point to show what a brilliant man he was and what a shame it was for the British government to oppress him. A valid POV, but I wanted more. The video version of the TV production (perhaps it was just the PBS version) contained another disappointment (it was no fault of the seller). A key scene showing how Turing was inspired to come up with his first theory on computing was trimmed and spliced together such that the train of thought was entirely lost. I know because I saw the complete version of this scene in a clip on YouTube. It felt insulting. The message of the video editors was "You don't understand mathematics. So we're not going to bore you with this." It felt as though Turing's unique contributions to our world (aside from the fact that he helped the allies win WW II) were completely swept aside, and instead he was used as an archetype of the oppressed gay man. It reminded me that TV is often dumbed down. Still, it's a powerful story. The climactic, tragic ending makes it worth watching. Aside from it disappointing my expectations it's a good story from a generalist perspective.

"Breaking the Code" is a well acted and produced film based on the true story of a hero of the Second World War - Alan Turing. Some will only know the name Turing from the "Turing Test" which determines levels of artificial intelligence, but it was the work that Turing did in breaking the German "Enigma Code" that helped the Allies win the war. This film is couched in these events but more directly addresses the fact that Alan Turing was gay and that he was arrested, jailed and persecuted for his unashamed behavior. Despite being instrumental in saving the world from the ruthless Nazi world view of racial purity and social-cultural intolerance, once the war was over, the British government enacted a similar intolerance which ultimately ends in tragedy. Derek Jacobi delivers a masterful performance as Turing. It is a shame that this production is not available on DVD - I was thrilled to be able to find an excellent VHS copy!

This movie about Mathematician Alan Turing and the breaking of the German Enigma Code during WWII is brilliant. British actor Derek Jacobi plays the role of Turing with such commitment and believability that you unexpectedly find yourself accepting the character of Turing for all his unnaturalness while at the same time shunning the accepted beliefs of how people ought to be in post-WWII Britain.

I must admit that I knew next to nothing about Alan Turing. This movie was a great introduction and summary into his life and heroic accomplishments. Its always wonderful to see a movie production try its best at depicting a historical genius on screen. Watching and hearing the dialogues Turing has in this film reminds you of just how much we may owe to this genius for our modern world of computer technology. His research had to play a role in my being able to type this review today.

We need future people to continue questioning as Turing did, if a mind can exist without a body? We should also wonder, as did Turing, if God might be a Mathematician? There is enough proof here on this earth to argue for and against both. Questioning is the key. We must continue to ask the questions that today go answer-less

One Courageous Movie about one honestly Curious Man!

Having seen Breaking The Code for myself at the reccommendation of a few close friends, I came away with the conclusion that this is truly a heartbreaking drama, because, as Derek Jacobi's breathtaking portrayal of Alan Turing showed me, this mathematical genius did not receive the laud he so richly deserved for cracking the Enigma code and making a contribution toward the winning of the Second World War, because he was so unfairly exposed as a homosexual and crucified for it in the media, in much the same way our Savior was crucified for doing the work he had been sent here by His Father to do. The worlds of math and science lost a truly great figure when Turing died in 1954.

Alan Turing was an English mathematical genius, pulled into WWII to break the cryptographic codes used by the Nazis. They used machines that could spin wheels and produce extremely complex codes nearly impossible to decipher. Turing conceived of a computer that could sort through endless combinations quickly and crack the codes, even though they were changed daily. However, he was caught in a gay affair with a male hustler and after prosecution, forced to take hormones as a "treatment." Although he saved countless lives and ships by cracking the codes, and invented the world's first working computer, persecution proved too much and he took his life in a most unusual way.

The world of cryptography is fascinating. So is the world of Derek Jacobi. It was a brilliant idea to offer a role of Alan Turing to Brother Cadfael. I set my heart to see a struggle of human intellect against the five rotating wheels. I wanted to see how a mind of a genius beats a U-Boat fleet. Unfortunately, instead of it, I've got another gay rights pamphlet. A point that no one should be punished for victimless crimes done in privacy is a very simple one, but not profound enough to keep viewer entertained for two hours.

I was excited to see a story about Turing. He was a mathmatical genius and a real visionary in computing machines. Unfortunatly, this video barely touches those things and instead uses Turning to show how unfair homosexuals were treated. It should have focused more on his accomplishments!!