Film Club w/c 4 Apr 2025 - Enigma (2001 film)

Ok here is my official review. I would give it maybe a 6.5 out of 10. I do like WW2 things so it was on theme for me. It was interesting to see some of the actors looking a bit younger, didn’t realise the film is over 20 years old. I found the whole thing about the code breaking quite interesting, something I’m am personally rubbish at. It would have good to understand this better but probably would be more of a documentary than a film. The machine thing they showed also looked quite interesting but wasn’t really explained. It was a fair watch but probably wouldn’t watch again. It was quite predictable in a lot of areas.. it’s not a part of WW2 that’s I really know do was good to understand this angle. 

A review - what did you think of it? Did you find anything particularly interesting? Could you rate it out of 10? That sort of thing.

I’ve watched the film now Lotus, not sure what happens next?

Nobody seems to have worked out my encrypted message above, so here's the answer - the message is: THE NAS SUPPORTS AUTISTIC PEOPLE

I used a pattern to make up my encryption, and each letter of the cipher was the 3 letters on in the alphabet from the letter in the original message. So T became W, H became K, E became H, and so on. 

Of course the Enigma machines didn't use a pattern when replacing letters for a cipher, the substitutions were random and the code changed every 24 hours, plus the messages were in German so the Bletchley Park staff had to have a knowledge of that language too. It just shows how difficult the job was for them!

Thanks, hopefully watch the other half this arvo. Not sure about your puzzle I’m rubbish at that kind of thing!

Take as long as you want, I don't have a stop watch going!

Then perhaps you might have a go at decoding my "Enigma" message below?

Just over halfway through watching Lotus, how long have I got before you call time?

Just bumping now my clues have appeared!

I did a post giving clues to my cipher, but then had to edit it because I made a mistake - guess what? It's now in spam prison! Argggh!

Thanks for your feedback. I was indeed trying to encourage community here, by giving us all.something we could share and discuss. I decided to choose only films that are free to watch, partly because I rarely pay for TV services and also to make it inclusive for those who may not be able to afford pay to view services.

I had thought about giving options and asking for people to vote - maybe I'll do that next time.

Ha, ha, I was no good at Rubiks cubes either, I think because they are a physical puzzle as well.

If you had an enigma machine, you wouldn't be able to decrypt any message unless you had the key. I'll give you some clues to help:

I said that my cipher followed the same substitution pattern as the word SUPPORT that I showed encrypted in my message below. So the substitution letters we already know are as follows:

Original letters:            A. B. C. D. E. F  G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O.  P.  Q. R.  S.  T.  U. V. W. X. Y. Z

Cipher Substitutions:  ?   ?   ?   ?  ?  ?   ?   ?  ?  ?   ?  ?   ?   ?   R.  S.  ?  U.  V.  W.  X. ?   ?   ?  ?   ?

Also, I told you that the message referred to THE NAS - so can you see two 3 letter words in the encrypted message? When you find those, you can then fill in more of the missing cipher letters above.

Finally, I used a numerical pattern to substitute the letters - can you see what it Is? It relates to the number that the letter falls at in the alphabet (e.g. O. Is 15, P. is 16, R is 18, etc) The enigma machine wouldn't have encrypted letters in a pattern, it was random, but I did it this way to try to make my message easier to decode.

Good luck!

There was a TV drama called the Bletchley Circle, based upon codebreakers that came out roughly the same time as this film.  I seem to remember (vaguely) watching the series, and thinking I'm done with the premise, so didn't view it.  

I think it's always difficult to recommend a film that others will like - particularly when there's so much choice these days.  Even the free channels are loaded with content.  I've got 12 items stacked up to view on BBC iplayer alone, and am trying to remember to watch them before they get removed. (I didn't realise there's films on there also)

I know I also have ADHD, and that makes my concentration appalling.  If I start watching something and it doesn't hook me from the outset, I can't sit there & hope it'll improve - I haven't the patience.  I've tried.  I'll have thought of 47 other things before settling back on that screen, and by then it's pointless to try & pick up the story. 

I knew that 'Big trouble in Little China' wasn't ever going to be for me.  Fantasy/action/comedy silliness type things aren't my genre so just a quick Google was enough.  Enigma, I'd probably manage - if I could keep away from other distractions.

The other thing is adverts.  3/4 mins of adverts every 20 mins or so, and my concentration is gone.  I use that 3/4 mins to do something else, and often don't return, getting embroiled in something else.   I guess this is why the BBC iPlayer gets more attention from me.  

I do appreciate your efforts Lotus in trying to arrange this, and I am surprised more haven't popped up with ideas/opinion/reviews.   I don't want to be disparaging, because essentially its an idea that could encourage community here.    Maybe asking for suggestions would help - or options, followed by a vote?   

Ta mate.......same to you.....and glad I made you smile!

I'm pulling the metaphorical plug now.

Number said:

Perhaps Gerald Ratner is now the head honcho for member communication services?

It feels like the new "Ministerium" for security and safeguarding, is modelled on the 1950-1990 GDR approach?

Retention rates for humans appears worse than for port-a-loo emptying operatives?

You raised 3 smiles at once there but as I don't have 3 faces, they merged into one.

Thank you for making me smile.

As I press return I think 'will it post or won't it?'

Fun here innit (not).

Take care N.

I share your sense of "exploding head" emoji.

Writing and posting a response these days is akin to driving a Ford Pinto around Baltimore?

Perhaps Gerald Ratner is now the head honcho for member communication services?

It feels like the new "Ministerium" for security and safeguarding, is modelled on the 1950-1990 GDR approach?

Retention rates for humans appears worse than for port-a-loo emptying operatives?

Whinging and whining is so unedifying.....and tedious as hell for everyone else....so I hope my attempt at some humour off-sets the "sink/stink"?!

Thank you for your timely reminder Debbie....I will have a period of "staying away" too, for all our sakes!

My review and quiz question have now appeared, after a spell in spam prison!

The other thing I said is that I highly recommend 'The Imitation Game'.

In the meantime and until my reply returns you may find this interesting re Turing (who developed the British Bombe) and computing before computers:

https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/lovelace-turing-and-invention-computers

My replies have disappeared too.

A good reminder of why I stay away from here.

Hi. I was reading your thread. I think it will be back. I think your code quiz triggered a spam alert. I was just going to ask if you could send me a Enigma Machine to help me with the quiz (no good at puzzles - I even used to take the stickers off my rubics cube )