query: Arya Stark is the daughter of Lady Catelyn Stark.

pos: Arya Stark Arya Stark is a fictional character created by American author George R. R. Martin . She is a prominent point of view character in Martin 's award-winning A Song of Ice and Fire series , and also a main character in HBO 's adaptation of the series , Game of Thrones .   Introduced in 1996 's A Game of Thrones , Arya is the younger daughter of Lord Eddard Stark and his wife Lady Catelyn Stark . She is headstrong , independent , disdains traditional female pursuits , and is often mistaken for a boy . She wields a sword named Needle , a gift from her half-brother , Jon Snow , and is trained in the Braavosi style of sword fighting .   Arya is portrayed by Maisie Williams on the HBO series Game of Thrones . Her performance has garnered critical acclaim , particularly in the second season for her work opposite veteran actor Charles Dance ( Tywin Lannister ) when she served as his cupbearer . She is among the most popular characters in either version of the story . Williams was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for the role in 2016 . She and the rest of the cast were nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2012 , 2014 , 2015 and 2016 .

neg: The Castle of Llyr The Castle of Llyr ( 1966 ) is a high fantasy novel by Lloyd Alexander , the third of five volumes in The Chronicles of Prydain . The story continues the adventures of Taran `` Assistant Pig-Keeper '' , primarily on the Isle of Mona west of Prydain , far from the forces of Arawn , Lord of Death .   Princess Eilonwy `` faces the unavoidable ( and in her view absolutely unnecessary ) ordeal of becoming a young lady '' , says Alexander .  Taran joins her escort to a royal court where she will continue her education , near to her ancestral home . Soon after arrival , she is kidnapped for the sorceress Achren . Taran and companions including Prince Rhun set out to rescue her .

neg: Eunuchs in popular culture Eunuchs have appeared many times in popular culture .   The Eunuch , a comedy by Roman playwright Terence .  In The Country Wife , the main character , Mr. Horner , pretends to be a man turned eunuch by impotence caused by syphilis in order to gain access to the bedrooms of married women .  Being proud of not being a eunuch is the subject of the song `` At Least You 're Not a Eunuch '' in the play Life and Death in Jaffna ( The Musical ! ) '' by Edward Cress  Eunuchs appear often as villains in Hong Kong kung fu and wuxia films set in ancient China . For example , the films `` Dragon Inn ( Xin long men ke zhan ) '' , `` Butterfly and Sword ( Xin liu xing hu die jian ) '' , and `` A Touch of Zen ( Hsia nu ) '' all feature a eunuch or a group of eunuchs as the main villain . A popular eunuch villain used in ancient China stories is Eunuch Wei , who is based on a historical figure named Wei Zhongxian . Eunuch villains are usually in charge of powerful political posts , such as being the leader of the East Chamber .  The Queen Salmissra , in David Eddings ' The Belgariad and The Malloreon , is only allowed to be served by eunuchs . Her Chief Eunuch Sadi becomes a principal character in The Malloreon , and is referred to in `` The Prophecy '' as `` The Man who is no Man . ''  The character and narrator Taita in Wilbur Smith 's `` Egyptian '' ( 1991 - ) series of novels is a eunuch ( performed as a punishment while a slave ) .  Bagoas was the eunuch favorite of Alexander the Great ( referenced above ) . Bagoas is the main character and narrator of The Persian Boy , a 1972 historical novel by Mary Renault .  Punk rock band the Descendents wrote a song about a eunuch called `` Eunuch Boy '' , which was on their 1996 comeback album Everything Sucks .  Eunuchs feature prominently in Montesquieu 's 1722 novel Lettres persanes , supposedly about Persian visitors to eighteenth-century France .  Varys , a character in George R. R. Martin 's series A Song of Ice and Fire , later made into the HBO series Game of Thrones , is a eunuch by castration .  A historical mystery series written by Mary Reed and Eric Mayer , beginning in 1999 , details investigations carried out by John , the eunuch Lord Chamberlain to Emperor Justinian I , in and around the sixth-century imperial court in Constantinople .  In the 2006 film One Night With the King , Hadassah 's ( Esther 's ) would-be boyfriend , Jesse , is captured by the Persian empire and castrated .  The 2002 historical science fiction novel The Years of Rice and Salt features many eunuchs in its opening section , including the character Kyu and the historical Chinese admiral Zheng He .  Three best-selling novels by Jason Goodwin , The Janissary Tree , The Snake Stone and The Bellini Card , chronicle the investigations of Yashim Togalu , a Turkish eunuch detective to the Sultan 's royal court , in the Ottoman Empire of the 1830s .  The historical novel Memoirs of a Byzantine Eunuch , by Christopher Harris ( 2002 Dedalus Books , ISBN 1-903517-03-6 )  The Japanese novel ( and later anime series ) Ai no Kusabi has within their caste system `` Furniture '' , or eunuchs who act as servants to the highest social class . The character Katze was once Furniture , but now works on the black market .  In the Japanese anime Code Geass : Lelouch of the Rebellion ( R2 ) the de facto rulers of the communist Chinese Federation are a group of eight eunuchs called `` High Eunuchs . ''  The character Naboo the Enigma from the British comedy act and television series The Mighty Boosh is a eunuch .  For the greater part of Iain Banks 's 1984 novel The Wasp Factory , the 16-year-old narrator Frank Cauldhame claims to be a eunuch , the result of being savaged by a dog when he was an infant . At the novels climax , Frank discovers that she was in fact born female .  In the TV show Major Dad , a eunuch was in charge of the Security wives of Emir of Katodd .  One of the characters that Voltaire 's Candide meets on his adventures is a eunuch .  The Vampire Eli in John Ajvide Lindqvist 's novel Let The Right One In is a eunuch . However , this detail is not made abundantly clear in the book 's 2008 Film adaptation of the same title .  The Yellow Bastard of the Sin City franchise .  In the Red Dwarf episode `` Quarantine '' , Rimmer is said to have been Alexander the Great 's chief eunuch in a past life .  In the manga `` Red River ( manga ) '' one of the main villains , Urhi , is a eunuch .  The eunuch Manan is a major character in The Tombs of Atuan , the second book from Ursula K. Le Guin 's Earthsea series . The story largely takes place in a large convent where no men are allowed , so a number of other eunuchs are mentioned .  In Robert E. Howard 's short story The Scarlet Citadel , the main antagonist has a eunuch prison guard named Shukeli . It is stated that in him , normal human passions have been replaced by extreme sadism .  In William Shakespeare 's play `` Twelfth Night '' , Viola initially decides to disguise herself as a eunuch named Cesario in order to serve Duke Orsino .  In the 2015 video game The Witcher 3 : Wild Hunt , the loyal servant and bookie of head Redanian Intelligence Sigismund Dijkstra is a eunuch , called Happen the Eunuch . He takes care of the Bathhouse in Novigrad , which is open to both sexes .   Category : Topics in popular culture

neg: Uathach In Irish and Scottish mythology , Uathach was Scáthach 's daughter and thus the niece of her rival and sister Aífe . Cú Chulainn , who had recently arrived at Scáthach 's fortress-home Dún Scáith ( Fortress of Shadows ) to be her pupil , accidentally broke one of Uathach 's fingers , and Uathach 's suitor , Cochar Croibhe , challenged him to single combat despite Uathach 's protests . Cú Chulainn killed him and became Uathach 's lover .

neg: Soap opera rapid aging syndrome Soap opera rapid aging syndrome ( SORAS ) is the practice of accelerating the age of a television or film character ( usually a child or teenager ) in conflict with the timeline of a series and/or the real-world progression of time . This allows for , for instance , storylines around a pregnancy and birth to be relatively quickly followed by storylines around the travails of that child as a teenager or young adult . This is usually accomplished by recasting the actor playing the part , although in some cases the character is not shown onscreen , only mentioned , until after they have been `` rapidly aged '' .   The process originated ( and is most commonly used ) in daytime soap operas , though it is also sometimes used in prime time shows . On sitcoms , a newborn infant character is sometimes aged quickly into a kindergartner , for greater comic potential , as was done with the character Chrissy Seaver on Growing Pains in 1990 .   The term was coined by Soap Opera Weekly founding editor-in-chief Mimi Torchin in the early days of the magazine , which began publishing in 1989 . It is now widely used in the soap opera media and is sometimes used as a verb as well ( `` the character was SORASed '' ) . Torchin has jokingly called it `` my one greatest contribution to the world of soap operas . ''

neg: Game of Thrones (season 6) The sixth season of the fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones premiered on HBO on April 24 , 2016 , and concluded on June 26 , 2016 . It consists of ten episodes , each of approximately 50 -- 60 minutes , largely of original content not found in George R. R. Martin 's A Song of Ice and Fire series . Some material is adapted from the upcoming sixth novel The Winds of Winter and the fourth and fifth novels , A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons . The series was adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss . HBO ordered the season on April 8 , 2014 , together with the fifth season , which began filming in July 2015 primarily in Northern Ireland , Spain , Croatia , Iceland and Canada . Each episode cost over $ 10 million .   The season follows the continuing struggle between the Starks and other noble families of Westeros for the Iron Throne . The Starks defeat the Bolton forces in battle , and Jon Snow is proclaimed the King in the North . Tyrion attempts to rule Meereen while Daenerys is held captive by a Dothraki tribe . At King 's Landing , the Tyrell army attempts to liberate Margaery and Loras , but Margaery capitulates to the High Sparrow , who becomes more powerful by influencing King Tommen . At her trial , Cersei burns the Great Sept , killing her rivals , while Tommen kills himself . Unopposed , Cersei is crowned Queen of Westeros . Ellaria Sand and three of Oberyn Martell 's daughters kill Doran and Trystane Martell and seize control of Dorne , and Olenna discusses an alliance with Ellaria . In Essos , Daenerys Targaryen is captured by Khal Moro who takes her before the khals ; she burns them alive and takes command of the Dothraki .   Game of Thrones features a large ensemble cast , including Peter Dinklage , Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Lena Headey , Emilia Clarke and Kit Harington . The season introduced new cast members , including Max von Sydow , Pilou Asbæk and James Faulkner .   Critics praised its production values , writing , plot development , and cast . Game of Thrones received most nominations for the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards , with 23 nominations , and won twelve , including that for Outstanding Drama Series for the second year in a row . U.S. viewership rose compared to the previous season , and by approximately 13 % over its course , from 7.9 million to 8.9 million by the finale .

neg: Character (arts) A character ( sometimes known as a fictional character ) is a person or other being in a narrative work of art ( such as a novel , play , television series , or film ) . The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person , in which case the distinction of a `` fictional '' versus `` real '' character may be made . Derived from the ancient Greek word χαρακτήρ , the English word dates from the Restoration , although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749 . From this , the sense of `` a part played by an actor '' developed . Character , particularly when enacted by an actor in the theatre or cinema , involves `` the illusion of being a human person . '' In literature , characters guide readers through their stories , helping them to understand plots and ponder themes . Since the end of the 18th century , the phrase `` in character '' has been used to describe an effective impersonation by an actor . Since the 19th century , the art of creating characters , as practiced by actors or writers , has been called characterisation .   A character who stands as a representative of a particular class or group of people is known as a type . Types include both stock characters and those that are more fully individualised . The characters in Henrik Ibsen 's Hedda Gabler ( 1891 ) and August Strindberg 's Miss Julie ( 1888 ) , for example , are representative of specific positions in the social relations of class and gender , such that the conflicts between the characters reveal ideological conflicts .   The study of a character requires an analysis of its relations with all of the other characters in the work . The individual status of a character is defined through the network of oppositions ( proairetic , pragmatic , linguistic , proxemic ) that it forms with the other characters . The relation between characters and the action of the story shifts historically , often miming shifts in society and its ideas about human individuality , self-determination , and the social order .

neg: Gilly (A Song of Ice and Fire) Gilly is a fictional character in the A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin , and its television adaptation Game of Thrones .   Introduced in 1998 's A Clash of Kings , she is a wildling from the wild lands north of the Wall . She subsequently appeared in Martin 's A Storm of Swords , A Feast for Crows , A Dance with Dragons and will appear in the upcoming novel The Winds of Winter .   Gilly is portrayed by Hannah Murray in the HBO television adaptation .

neg: Amy Barnes Amy Knight ( also Barnes ) is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks , played by Ashley Slanina-Davies . She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 14 November 2005 . Amy was created by executive producer David Hanson and Slanina-Davies was offered the role whilst looking for work as an extra . In 2009 , Slanina-Davies stated that she would be lost without the role and confirmed her loyalty to the serial . In July 2010 , it was announced that Slanina-Davies would be leaving the show . However it was revealed that she was back filming and staying in the serial in 2011 . Amy 's storylines have included underage pregnancy which resulted in the birth of daughter Leah Barnes and the subject of domestic abuse in her relationship with Ste Hay , portrayed by Kieron Richardson respectively . Whilst filming the storyline Slanina-Davies cut her long hair off for charity and this was scripted into the storyline .   Amy has also been part of a storyline which saw her pretending her daughter was suffering from leukaemia to scam money out of the community , off-screen this prompted Slanina-Davies to campaign for leukaemia and cancer charity CLIC Sargent and Women 's Aid . The issue of post-natal depression has been portrayed following the birth of her second child Lucas Hay . Slanina-Davies has also revealed that she has conducted extensive research into all of her issue-lead storylines . In 2012 , it was announced that Slanina-Davies would be written out of the serial . Amy departed on 8 August 2012 . Amy has returned for guest appearances in 2013 , 2014 and returned to the show on a permanent basis in August 2016 .   In January 2017 , it was revealed that Amy would be departing later in the year in a `` whodunit '' storyline which would see the character killed-off , making the second Barnes character to be killed off since her sister Sarah in 2009 . She made her final appearance as a corpse on 29 March 2017 , however continued to appear in flashback appearances throughout the storyline . Amy 's funeral was held on 25 April 2017 , with characters such as her mother , Kathy ( Sarah Jane Buckley ) , and Zoe Carpenter ( Zoë Lister ) , returning for her funeral .

neg: Female artist's novel Female artist 's novel is a literary subtype of Kunstlerroman which can be defined as a literary procedure which deals with the main female protagonist 's growing to maturity and gaining experience and independence as an artist , namely a writer . Based on the major assumptions of Kunstlerroman , female artist 's novel works as a portrayal of a woman 's artistic struggle as she acquires artistic freedom and masters the artistic craft of being a writer and gaining literary dexterity . The scope of the genre is deeply rooted in the main assumptions of Kunstlerroman , where the growth of the character is displayed from one 's youth to adulthood and deals with one 's emotional and personal development on the way to artistic fulfillment .   As opposed to Kunstlerroman , female artist 's novel focuses only on a female writer , who besides being a capable artist and creator of her own reality , is often to perform many social roles simultaneously ( e.g. the role of a wife , a mother , home guardian , etc. ) to meet expectations the society imposes on her .   The genre itself is more gendered due to its focus on a female position .

neg: Aredhel Aredhel Ar-Feiniel ( Y.T. 1362 -- Y.S. 400 ; died aged 1738 ) ( born and known in Quenya as Írissë ) is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien .   She is called Ar-Feiniel , the White Lady of the Noldor . She is the daughter of Fingolfin , sister of Fingon , Turgon , and mother of Maeglin . She was born and raised in Tirion .   Aredhel is tall and strong , beautiful , extremely willful , adventurous and fickle , easily bored and restless , fond of hunting and riding in the forests :  `` I am your sister and not your servant , and beyond your bounds I will go as seems good to me . ''   Her skin is pale and her hair dark ; she always wears silver and white . She would often ride and hunt in the company of the sons of Fëanor , her kin , but was not fond of them .   After arriving in Middle-earth , Aredhel dwells in Nevrast with Turgon , and goes with him to Gondolin . But after two hundred years she tires of the city and longing for the forests and wide lands overcomes her . Aredhel asks leave to depart . Turgon is unwilling , fearing the exposure of the Hidden Kingdom , but eventually relents .   Riding with companions , they are denied safe passage through Doriath because they seek the sons of Fëanor . And so they travel the East Road along the North March of Doriath .   There Aredhel Ar-Feiniel is separated from her escort in the dangerous region of Nan Dungortheb . She reaches Himlad safely , and waits there to meet Celegorm who is abroad . Ever restless , she wanders off and becomes lost in the forest of Nan Elmoth .   Eöl Mornedhel , the Dark Elf is the lord of those woods . By his enchantments , they meet , and he leads her to his dark home near Gladuial . This was similar to Melian 's enchantment of Thingol , but not as innocent on Eöl 's part .   There they wed and she stays for many years . Aredhel gives birth to a son , Maeglin . Telling him of her former life and home , and weary of Nan Elmoth , Aredhel Ar-Feiniel desires to see them again . Without Eöl 's leave , or knowledge , she departs Nan Elmoth with Maeglin while Eöl is away .   They reached the hidden entrance to Gondolin pursued by Eöl , and are received with rejoicing . Eöl is captured and brought before Turgon . Turgon will not allow Eöl to leave Gondolin , offering him only the choice to stay , or to die . Eöl refuses this judgement , choosing death for himself and his son . He attempts to kill his son with a javelin . Aredhel steps in front of the dart to shield Maeglin . She saves her son , and begs Turgon to forgive her husband , but it is poisoned and she dies that night after Eöl is led away by Turgon 's guards .   Eöl is executed by being cast down from the city walls . Maeglin becomes a mighty prince in Gondolin , later only to betray the city and become even more hated than his father .

neg: Dragon Harper Dragon Harper is a science fiction novel by the American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey and her son Todd McCaffrey , part of the Dragonriders of Pern series that she initiated in 1967 . Published forty years later , it was the twenty-first in the series .   Dragon Harper and the previous novels Dragon 's Kin and Dragon 's Fire feature Kindan as a boy and young man , about 500 years after landing on Pern ( 500 AL ) . They were the first collaborations by mother and son .

neg: Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses were a series of wars for control of the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet : the House of Lancaster ( associated with a red rose ) , and the House of York ( whose symbol was a white rose ) . The conflict lasted through many sporadic episodes between 1455 and 1487 ; however , there was fighting before and after this period between the houses . The power struggle ignited around social and financial troubles following the Hundred Years ' War , combined with the mental infirmity and weak rule of Henry VI which revived interest in Richard of York 's claim to the throne . Historians disagree about whether the Wars of the Roses were caused by the structural problems of bastard feudalism or Henry VI 's ineffectiveness as king .   With the Duke of York 's death , the claim transferred to his heir , Edward , who later became the first Yorkist king of England , as Edward IV . His son reigned for 86 days as Edward V , but Parliament then decided that Edward and his brother Richard were illegitimate and offered the crown to Edward IV 's younger brother , who became Richard III . The two young princes disappeared within the confines of the Tower of London .   The final victory went to a claimant of the Lancastrian party , Henry Tudor , Earl of Richmond , who defeated the last Yorkist king , Richard III , at the Battle of Bosworth Field . After assuming the throne as Henry VII , he married Elizabeth of York , the eldest daughter and heir of Edward IV , thereby uniting the two claims . The House of Tudor ruled the Kingdom of England until 1603 , with the death of Elizabeth I , granddaughter of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York .

neg: Éowyn Éowyn is a fictional character in Tolkien 's legendarium who appears in his most famous work , The Lord of the Rings . She is a noblewoman of Rohan who is described as a shieldmaiden .

neg: Aisling Franciosi Aisling Franciosi ( born 6 June 1993 ) is an Italian actress . She is known for playing the part of Katie Benedetto in the BBC Two crime drama television series The Fall and her role as Kate Crawford in the TNT series Legends .   In 2016 , Franciosi joined the cast of the HBO series Game of Thrones in the sixth season as Lyanna Stark .

neg: Sansa Stark Sansa Stark is a fictional character created by American author George R. R. Martin . She is a prominent character in Martin 's award-winning A Song of Ice and Fire series .   Introduced in 1996 's A Game of Thrones , Sansa is the eldest daughter and second child of Lord Eddard Stark and his wife Lady Catelyn Stark . She subsequently appeared in the following three novels , A Clash of Kings ( 1998 ) , A Storm of Swords ( 2000 ) and A Feast for Crows ( 2005 ) . While absent from the fifth novel A Dance with Dragons as the books are separated geographically , Sansa is confirmed to return in the forthcoming next book in the series , The Winds of Winter .   In HBO 's adaptation of the series , Game of Thrones , Sansa Stark is played by Sophie Turner . The character has received critical acclaim , being praised as the 4th greatest character in the series by Rolling Stone . She and the rest of the cast were nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2012 , 2014 , 2015 and 2016 .

neg: A Prayer for My Daughter `` A Prayer for my Daughter '' is a poem by William Butler Yeats written in 1919 and published in 1921 as part of Yeats ' collection Michael Robartes and the Dancer . It is written to Anne , his daughter with Georgie Hyde Lees , whom Yeats married after his last marriage proposal to Maud Gonne was rejected in 1916 . Yeats wrote the poem while staying in a tower at Thoor Ballylee during the Anglo-Irish War , two days after Anne 's birth on February 26 , 1919 . The poem reflects Yeats 's complicated views on Irish Nationalism , sexuality , and is considered an important work of Modernist poetry .

neg: List of A Song of Ice and Fire characters George R. R. Martin 's A Song of Ice and Fire novels feature a massive cast of characters . The series follows three interwoven plotlines : a dynastic war for control of Westeros by several families ; the rising threat of the superhuman Others beyond Westeros 's northern border ; and the ambition of Daenerys Targaryen , the exiled heir of the previous ruling dynasty .   Each chapter is narrated in the third person limited point of view through the eyes of a single character . Beginning with nine POV characters in A Game of Thrones ( 1996 ) , the number grows to thirty-one by A Dance with Dragons ( 2011 ) .

neg: Bennet family The Bennet family are a fictional family of dwindling Hertfordshire landed gentry , created by English novelist Jane Austen . The family plays a central role in the novel Pride and Prejudice , since it is the one to which the protagonist , Elizabeth , belongs . The complex relationships between its various members influence the evolution of the plot .   In a society where marriage is the only possible future for a young girl of good family , the presence in the household of five girls to marry with no other advantage than their good looks can only be a source of concern . Yet the Bennet couple do not assume their role as educators : the mother repeatedly makes a spectacle of herself , incapable of realizing that her behaviour is more likely to put off any rich , eligible young man who noticed the oldest and most pretty of her daughters . All the while , the father , an indifferent husband , whose mocking gaze only makes things worse , since he has long-since given up on reining in her behaviour , more intent on ` enjoying the show ' than in correcting her behaviour , and the behaviour of his younger daughters , regardless of how negatively it affects his daughters ' chances of respectable matches .   These girls show very different behaviors according to the education they received or provided themselves : the two eldest daughters , Jane and Elizabeth , show irreproachable conduct and are appreciated by their father , while Mary , less physically attractive , displays intellectual and musical pretensions , and the two youngest are both left almost abandoned to run wild under the sloppy , careless supervision of their ineffectual mother .   Other members of the Bennets staged by Jane Austen are , on the one hand Mrs Bennet 's brother and sister -- Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Philips , on the other hand the designated heir of Mr. Bennet 's estate , his distant paternal second cousin , the pompous and foolish Mr. William Collins . Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Philips contribute significantly to the progress and outcome of the story , but at a level and in a different register reflecting their respective social belonging . Collins 's character serves as a link between the gentry of Hertfordshire , to which the Bennets belong , and the large property owners Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Darcy .   The legal , financial or emotional interests that unite or divide the members of the Bennet family allow Jane Austen to build a complex picture of society and to raise a number of societal issues specific to her time , particularly concerning girls ' education and legitimacy of certain behaviors .

neg: Molly Stark Molly Stark , née Elizabeth Page , ( February 16 , 1737 -- 1814 ) was the wife of American Revolutionary War general John Stark .

neg: The Handmaid's Tale The Handmaid 's Tale is a 1985 dystopian novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood . Set in a near-future New England , in a totalitarian theocracy that has overthrown the United States government , the novel explores themes of women in subjugation and the various means by which they gain individualism and independence . The novel 's title echoes the component parts of Geoffrey Chaucer 's The Canterbury Tales , which comprises a series of connected stories ( `` The Merchant 's Tale '' , `` The Parson 's Tale '' , etc. ) .   The Handmaid 's Tale won the 1985 Governor General 's Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987 ; it was also nominated for the 1986 Nebula Award , the 1986 Booker Prize , and the 1987 Prometheus Award . The book has been adapted into a film ( 1990 ) , an opera ( 2000 ) , a TV series ( 2017 ) , and other media .


query: Selene serves as the central character in a film written by Danny McBride in 2001.

pos: Selene (Underworld) Selene , portrayed by British actress Kate Beckinsale , is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Underworld film series . More specifically , she serves as the central character in the films Underworld ( 2003 ) , Underworld : Evolution ( 2006 ) , Underworld : Awakening ( 2012 ) , and Underworld : Blood Wars ( 2016 ) .   Beckinsale 's daughter , Lily Mo Sheen , plays the character as a child in a flashback in Underworld : Evolution . In Underworld : Endless War , Selene is voiced by Canadian voice actress Laura Harris .

pos: Underworld (2003 film) Underworld is a 2003 action horror film directed by Len Wiseman and written by Danny McBride , based on a story by McBride , Kevin Grevioux , and Wiseman . The film centers on the secret history of vampires and lycans ( an abbreviated form of lycanthrope , which means werewolf ) . It is the first installment in the Underworld franchise . The main plot revolves around Selene ( Kate Beckinsale ) , a vampire Death Dealer hunting Lycans . She finds herself attracted to a human , Michael Corvin ( Scott Speedman ) , who is being targeted by the Lycans . After Michael is bitten by a Lycan , Selene must decide whether to do her duty and kill him or go against her clan and save him . Alongside Beckinsale and Speedman , the film stars Michael Sheen , Shane Brolly , and Bill Nighy .   An international co-production between companies from the United Kingdom , Germany , Hungary , and the United States , the film was released on September 19 , 2003 . Upon its release , the film received generally negative reviews from critics , but a smaller number of reviewers praised elements such as the film 's stylish Gothic visuals , the `` icy English composure '' in Kate Beckinsale 's performance , and the extensively worked-out vampire -- werewolf mythology that serves as the film 's backstory . A surprise hit , the film grossed $ 95 million against a production budget of $ 22 million . The film was followed by Underworld : Evolution , released three years later , and by three other films .

neg: Samantha Morton Samantha Jane Morton ( born 13 May 1977 ) is an English actress , screenwriter and director . She has received critical acclaim and numerous accolades throughout her career , including one BAFTA Award , one BIFA Award , one Golden Globe Award and has been nominated twice for an Academy Award and once for an Emmy Award . She has been described as one of the greatest actresses of her generation .   Brought up in Nottingham , Morton joined the Central Junior Television Workshop , and soon began her career in British television in 1991 . She guest-starred in Soldier Soldier and Cracker and appeared from 1995 to 1996 in the ITV series Band of Gold . She made the transition to film with lead roles in the dramas Emma ( 1996 ) , Jane Eyre ( 1997 ) and the well-received Under the Skin ( 1997 ) . The latter made director Woody Allen cast Morton in Sweet and Lowdown ( 1999 ) , which earned her nominations for the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress .   In the 2000s , Morton continued to draw critical praise for her performances in numerous arthouse and independent films . Her role in Morvern Callar ( 2002 ) garnered her the BIFA Award for Best Actress , and she received her second Academy Award nomination , this time in the Best Actress category , for In America ( 2003 ) . She also found mainstream success with the science fiction thriller Minority Report ( 2002 ) . For her role in 2006 's television biopic Longford , she received BAFTA and Emmy Award nominations and won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress -- Television Film . Morton starred in the dramas Control ( 2007 ) , Synecdoche , New York ( 2008 ) and The Messenger ( 2009 ) , and she made her directorial debut with the British television film The Unloved ( 2009 ) , winning the BAFTA Television Award for Best Single Drama .   Her most recent acting credits include the science fiction action film John Carter ( 2012 ) , the thriller Cosmopolis ( 2012 ) , the drama Decoding Annie Parker ( 2013 ) , the period film Miss Julie ( 2014 ) , the European limited series The Last Panthers ( 2015 ) and the film adaptation Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ( 2016 ) .

neg: The Affair of the Necklace The Affair of the Necklace is a 2001 American historical drama film directed by Charles Shyer . The screenplay by John Sweet is based on what became known as the Affair of the Diamond Necklace , an incident that helped fuel the French populace 's disillusionment with the monarchy and , among other causes , eventually led to the French Revolution . The film received negative reviews from critics , but the sets , music and costume design were widely praised .

neg: Film director A film director is a person who directs the making of a film . Generally , a film director controls a film 's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay ( or script ) while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision . The director has a key role in choosing the cast members , production design , and the creative aspects of filmmaking . Under European Union law , the director is viewed as the author of the film .   The film director gives direction to the cast and crew and creates an overall vision through which a film eventually becomes realized , or noticed . Directors need to be able to mediate differences in creative visions and stay within the boundaries of the film 's budget . There are many pathways to becoming a film director . Some film directors started as screenwriters , cinematographers , film editors or actors . Other film directors have attended a film school . Directors use different approaches . Some outline a general plotline and let the actors improvise dialogue , while others control every aspect , and demand that the actors and crew follow instructions precisely . Some directors also write their own screenplays or collaborate on screenplays with long-standing writing partners . Some directors edit or appear in their films , or compose the music score for their films .

neg: Winter's Bone Winter 's Bone is a 2010 American independent drama film , an adaptation of Daniel Woodrell 's 2006 novel of the same name . Written and directed by Debra Granik , the film stars Jennifer Lawrence as a teenaged girl in the rural Ozarks of the central United States who , to protect her family from eviction , must locate her missing father . The film explores the interrelated themes of close and distant family ties , the power and speed of gossip , self-sufficiency , and poverty as they are changed by the pervasive underworld of illegal methamphetamine labs .   Winter 's Bone won several awards , including the Grand Jury Prize : Dramatic Film at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival . It also received four 2011 Academy Award nominations : Best Picture , Best Adapted Screenplay , Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor .

neg: Liam (film) Liam is a 2000 British-German film directed by Stephen Frears and written by novelist/screenwriter Jimmy McGovern . McGovern ( perhaps best known as the creator of British TV crime drama Cracker ) adapted Joseph Mckeown 's novel Back Crack Boy into this emotionally raw meditation on innocence and pain . Frears in turn was influenced by James Joyce 's accounts of his stern childhood in late 19th century Catholic Dublin .   Megan Burns won the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 57th Venice International Film Festival for her performance .

neg: Daniel McBride Daniel or Danny McBride may refer to :  Danny McBride ( born 1976 ) , American actor , writer and comedian  Danny McBride ( writer ) , American screenwriter and actor  Danny McBride ( musician ) ( 1945 -- 2009 ) , American singer-songwriter and guitarist  Daniel McBride ( rower ) , 2010 World Rowing Championships  Daniel McBride ( born 1993/1994 ) , Sheep , Dog & Wolf ( musician ) , New Zealand musician

neg: La Ciénaga (film) La Ciénaga ( -LSB- la ˈsjenaɣa -RSB- The Swamp ) is a 2001 Argentine , Spanish , and French film , written and directed by Lucrecia Martel . The film was executive produced by Ana Aizenberg , Diego Guebel , Mario Pergolini , and produced by Lita Stantic . The picture features Graciela Borges , Mercedes Morán , Martín Adjemián , Daniel Valenzuela , among others .   The picture is set in the high plains of northwestern Argentina and portrays the life of a self-pitying Argentine bourgeois family .

neg: Headlines (film) Headlines is a 2001 Hong Kong comedy-drama film directed by Leo Heung and starring Emil Chau , Maggie Cheung , Daniel Wu , Grace Yip and Wayne Lai . This film revolves around the Hong Kong press .

neg: They (2002 film) They ( also known as Wes Craven Presents : They ) is a 2002 American supernatural horror film directed by Robert Harmon . The plot centers on a group of four adults named Julia Lund , Sam Burnside , Terry Alba , and Billy Parks and their experience with the phenomenon of night terrors and the impact they had on their lives as children and how they come back to haunt them as adults .   The film was produced by Ted Field , Tom Engleman , and Wes Craven who served as executive producer . The film stars Laura Regan , Ethan Embry , Dagmara Dominczyk , Jay Brazeau , and Marc Blucas . The title is a reference to the fact that the creatures are only referred to as `` They '' as their origins are ambiguous . The film was a box office bomb and had lukewarm reviews from critics .

neg: Janeane from Des Moines Janeane from Des Moines is a 2012 American political drama film directed by Grace Lee , written by Lee and Jane Edith Wilson , and starring Wilson as a conservative housewife who attends the 2012 Republican Party primary in Iowa . It mixes elements of mockumentary and real-life interviews with Republican politicians conducted in-character without their knowledge .

neg: Hall of Mirrors (2001 film) Hall of Mirrors is a 2001 independent film written and directed by Brad Osborne .

neg: P.S. (film) P.S. is a 2004 drama film directed by Dylan Kidd . The screenplay by Kidd and Helen Schulman is based on Schulman 's 2001 novel p.s. . The film stars Laura Linney and Topher Grace .

neg: Doug Selby Doug Selby is a fictional creation of Erle Stanley Gardner . He appears in nine books , most originally serialized in magazines . He was portrayed by Jim Hutton in a 1971 television movie , They Call It Murder , loosely based on The D.A. Draws a Circle -- the only film adaptation of the series .

neg: .com for Murder . com for Murder is a 2001 science fiction crime drama film written by Nico Mastorakis and Phill Marr and directed by Mastorakis , starring Nastassja Kinski , Nicollette Sheridan , Roger Daltrey , and Huey Lewis . After being screened at various film festivals , it was released direct-to-video on 14 January 2003 .

neg: The Big Bounce (2004 film) The Big Bounce is a 2004 American comedy heist film starring Owen Wilson , Charlie Sheen , Sara Foster and Morgan Freeman . It was directed by George Armitage and based on a novel of the same name by Elmore Leonard . Leonard 's novel had previously been adapted for the big screen in a 1969 film of the same name directed by Alex March and starring Ryan O'Neal .

neg: Daddy and Them Daddy and Them is a 2001 American film written , directed by , and starring Billy Bob Thornton . In addition to Thornton , it stars Laura Dern , Andy Griffith , Ben Affleck , Kelly Preston , Diane Ladd , Brenda Blethyn , Tuesday Knight , Jamie Lee Curtis and Jim Varney . This was Jim Varney 's last live-action film ; he died a year before the movie 's release . It was also his penultimate movie .   The original plan was to release the film in theaters , but the film got only limited distribution as Miramax found the film not `` commercial '' enough . Daddy and Them opened to positive reviews , with many critics praising the film 's southern humour , Thornton 's work as a writer/director , and the performances of the entire cast . It currently holds an 83 % rating on the review site Rotten Tomatoes .

neg: The Belly Dancer Dansöz ( The Belly Dancer ) is a 2001 Turkish drama film directed and written by Savaş Ay .

neg: Millennium Actress is a 2001 Japanese animated comedy-drama adventure film co-written and directed by Satoshi Kon and animated by Studio Madhouse . Loosely based on the lives of actresses Setsuko Hara and Hideko Takamine , it tells the story of two documentary filmmakers investigating the life of a retired acting legend . As she tells them the story of her life , the difference between reality and cinema becomes blurred .

neg: Soul Mate (film) Soul Mate ( L'anima gemella ) is a 2002 Italian fantasy-comedy film directed by Sergio Rubini . It is based on the novel with the same name written by Sandro Veronesi . It premiered at the 59th Venice International Film Festival .

neg: Zombie Chronicles Zombie Chronicles is a 2001 horror film directed by Brad Sykes . It follows Tara Woodley , a reporter who visits an old desert town to research her article on the ghost town legends from around there . On the way she picks up the hitchhiker , Ebenezer Jackson , who takes her to an abandoned building where she interviews him via tape recorder .


query: Pulp Fiction is an American black comedy neo-noir film released in 1994.

pos: Pulp Fiction Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American black comedy neo-noir crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino , from a story by Tarantino and Roger Avary . Directed in a highly stylized manner , Pulp Fiction connects the intersecting storylines of Los Angeles mobsters , fringe players , small-time criminals , and a mysterious briefcase . The film 's title refers to the pulp magazines and hardboiled crime novels popular during the mid-20th century , known for their graphic violence and punchy dialogue .   The screenplay of Pulp Fiction was written in 1992 and 1993 , and incorporated some scenes originally written by Avary for True Romance . Its plot , as in many of Tarantino 's other works , is presented out of chronological order . The film is also self-referential from its opening moments , beginning with a title card that gives two dictionary definitions of `` pulp '' . Considerable screen time is devoted to monologues and casual conversations with eclectic dialogue revealing each character 's perspectives on several subjects , and the film features an ironic combination of humor and strong violence . Its script was reportedly turned down by Columbia TriStar as `` too demented '' . Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein was instantly enthralled with it , however , and the film became the first that Miramax fully financed .   Pulp Fiction won the Palme d'Or at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival , and was a major critical and commercial success upon its U.S. release . It revitalized the careers of John Travolta ( who received an Academy Award nomination ) , Samuel L. Jackson , and Uma Thurman . It was also nominated for seven Oscars , including Best Picture ; Tarantino and Avary won for Best Original Screenplay . The nature of its development , marketing , and distribution -- and its consequent profitability -- had a sweeping effect on the field of independent cinema .   Since its release , Pulp Fiction has been widely regarded as Tarantino 's masterpiece , with particular praise singled out for its screenwriting . The film 's self-reflexivity , unconventional structure , and extensive use of homage and pastiche have led critics to describe it as a touchstone of postmodern film . It is often considered a cultural watershed , with a strong influence felt not only in later movies that adopted various elements of its style , but in several other media as well . A 2008 Entertainment Weekly poll named it the best film since 1983 , and the work has appeared on many critics ' lists of the greatest films ever made . In 2013 , Pulp Fiction was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being `` culturally , historically , or aesthetically significant '' .

neg: Basic Instinct Basic Instinct is a 1992 neo-noir erotic thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas , and starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone . The film follows a police detective , Nick Curran ( Douglas ) , who is investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy rock star . During the investigation Curran becomes involved in a torrid and intense relationship with the prime suspect , Catherine Tramell ( Stone ) , an enigmatic writer .   Even before its release , Basic Instinct generated heated controversy due to its overt sexuality and graphic depiction of violence . It was strongly opposed by gay rights activists , who criticized the film 's depiction of homosexual relationships and the portrayal of a bisexual woman as a murderous narcissistic psychopath . In a 2006 interview , Stone alleged that the infamous leg-crossing scene in which her vulva was exposed was filmed without her knowledge .   Despite initial critical negativity and public protest , Basic Instinct became one of the most financially successful films of the 1990s , grossing $ 352 million worldwide . Several versions of the film have been released on videocassette , DVD , and Blu-ray including a director 's cut with extended footage previously unseen in North American cinemas . The film has contemporarily been recognized for its groundbreaking depictions of sexuality in mainstream Hollywood cinema , and has been referred to by scholars as `` a neo-noir masterpiece that plays with , and transgresses , the narrative rules of film noir . '' A 2006 sequel , Basic Instinct 2 starring Stone was made without Verhoeven 's involvement , but received negative reviews from critics and was unsuccessful at the box office .

neg: Beverly Hills Cop III Beverly Hills Cop III is a 1994 American action comedy film starring Eddie Murphy and directed by John Landis , who had previously worked with Murphy on Trading Places and Coming to America . It is the third film in the Beverly Hills Cop trilogy , and a sequel to Beverly Hills Cop II .   Murphy again plays Detroit cop Axel Foley , who once again returns to Beverly Hills , California , to stop a gang of counterfeiters who are responsible for the death of his boss . Foley teams up with his friend , Beverly Hills detective Billy Rosewood ( Judge Reinhold ) , and his investigation leads him to an amusement park known as Wonder World . The film features a number of cameo appearances by well-known film personalities , including Robert B. Sherman , Arthur Hiller , John Singleton , Joe Dante , special effects legend Ray Harryhausen , and George Lucas as a ride patron .   Beverly Hills Cop III was released on May 25 , 1994 and grossed $ 42 million in the United States , and over $ 77 million in the foreign box office . The film was considered by critics and Murphy himself as the weakest film in the series .

neg: Pulp (2012 film) Pulp is a British comedy film directed by Adam Hamdy and Shaun Magher , starring Jay Sutherland and John Thomson On March 2013 it was released exclusively on Xbox Live , becoming the first feature film to be distributed via a games console platform .

neg: Donnie Brasco (film) Donnie Brasco is a 1997 American crime drama film directed by Mike Newell , and starring Al Pacino and Johnny Depp . Michael Madsen , Bruno Kirby , James Russo , and Anne Heche appeared in supporting roles .   The film is based on the true story of Joseph D. Pistone ( Depp ) , an FBI undercover agent who infiltrated the Mafia Bonanno crime family in New York City during the 1970s , under the alias Donnie Brasco , a.k.a. `` The Jewel Man '' . Brasco maneuvers his way into the confidence of an aging hit-man , Lefty Ruggiero ( Pacino ) , who vouches for him . As Donnie moves deeper into the Mafia , he realizes that not only is he crossing the line between federal agent and criminal , but also leading his friend Lefty to an almost certain death .   It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay . The adaptation of the book by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley was by screenwriter Paul Attanasio . The film was a box office success , earning $ 124.9 million against a $ 35 million budget , and receiving critical acclaim .

neg: Portrayal of women in film noir Film noir is accustomed to fulfilling specific constructions of gender roles in this aesthetically driven cinema style , creating very specific false archetypes for women within the ongoing history of film noir . According to Andrew Spicer in `` Film Noir , '' the articulation of the patriarchy in film noir is understood as one of the style 's most consistent features , no matter the decade of the film .

neg: Film series A film series ( also referred to as a film franchise ) is a collection of related films in succession that share the same fictional universe , or are marketed as a series .   Sometimes the work is conceived from the beginning as a multiple-film work , for example the Three Colours series , but in most cases the success of the original film inspires further films to be made . Individual sequels are relatively common , but are not always successful enough to spawn further installments .   The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the highest grossing film series in unadjusted US Dollar figures surpassing the Harry Potter , Star Wars , James Bond , and Peter Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings series . However , `` Star Wars '' has the highest when adjusted for inflation .

neg: William Gibson William Ford Gibson ( born March 17 , 1948 ) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the science fiction subgenre known as cyberpunk . Beginning his writing career in the late 1970s , his early works were noir , near-future stories that explored the effects of technology , cybernetics , and computer networks on humans -- a `` combination of lowlife and high tech '' -- and helped to create an iconography for the information age before the ubiquity of the Internet in the 1990s . Gibson notably coined the term `` cyberspace '' in his short story `` Burning Chrome '' ( 1982 ) and later popularized the concept in his acclaimed debut novel Neuromancer ( 1984 ) . These early works have been credited with `` renovating '' science fiction literature after it had fallen largely into insignificance in the 1970s .   After expanding on Neuromancer with two more novels to complete the dystopic Sprawl trilogy , Gibson collaborated with Bruce Sterling on the alternate history novel The Difference Engine ( 1990 ) , which became an important work of the science fiction subgenre steampunk . In the 1990s , Gibson composed the Bridge trilogy of novels , which explored the sociological developments of near-future urban environments , postindustrial society , and late capitalism . Following the turn of the century and the events of 9/11 , Gibson emerged with a string of increasingly realist novels -- Pattern Recognition ( 2003 ) , Spook Country ( 2007 ) , and Zero History ( 2010 ) -- set in a roughly contemporary world . These works saw his name reach mainstream bestseller lists for the first time . His more recent novel , The Peripheral ( 2014 ) , returned to a more overt engagement with technology and recognizable science fiction concerns .   In 1999 , The Guardian described Gibson as `` probably the most important novelist of the past two decades , '' while the Sydney Morning Herald called him the `` noir prophet '' of cyberpunk . Throughout his career , Gibson has written more than 20 short stories and 10 critically acclaimed novels ( one in collaboration ) , contributed articles to several major publications , and collaborated extensively with performance artists , filmmakers , and musicians . His work has been cited as an influence across a variety of disciplines spanning academia , design , film , literature , music , cyberculture , and technology .

neg: Procedural drama A procedural drama is a genre of television programming which focuses on how crimes are solved or some other aspect of a law enforcement agency , legislative body , or court of law . Some dramas include a lab or conference room with high-tech or state-of-the-art equipment where the main characters meet to work out the problem . Shows usually have an episodic format that does not require the viewer to have seen previous episodes . Episodes typically have a self-contained , also referred to as stand-alone , plot that is introduced and resolved within the same episode .   The procedural format is popular around the world . In 2011 , the director of a TV consultancy said , `` The continuing trend is for procedurals because they use a predictable structure . '' Due to their stand-alone episodic nature , they are more accessible to new viewers than serials . Self-contained episodes also make it easier for viewers to return to a show if they have missed some episodes . In general , procedural dramas can usually be re-run with little concern for episode order .   Procedurals are often criticized for being formulaic . Procedurals are also generally less character-driven than serialized shows . However , some procedurals have more character emphasis than is typical of the format . Some may occasionally feature a storyline stretching over several episodes .   A popular variant is the police procedural .

neg: Machinima Machinima ( -LSB- məˈʃiːnᵻmə -RSB- or -LSB- məˈʃɪnᵻmə -RSB- ) is the use of real-time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production . Most often video games are used to generate the computer animation . Machinima-based artists , sometimes called machinimists or machinimators , are often fan laborers , by virtue of their re-use of copyrighted materials ( see below ) . Machinima offers to provide an archive of gaming performance and access to the look and feel of software and hardware that may already have become unavailable or even obsolete ; for game studies , `` Machinima 's gestures grant access to gaming 's historical conditions of possibility and how machinima offers links to a comparative horizon that informs , changes , and fully participates in videogame culture . ''   The practice of using graphics engines from video games arose from the animated software introductions of the 1980s demoscene , Disney Interactive Studios ' 1992 video game Stunt Island , and 1990s recordings of gameplay in first-person shooter ( FPS ) video games , such as id Software 's Doom and Quake . Originally , these recordings documented speedruns -- attempts to complete a level as quickly as possible -- and multiplayer matches . The addition of storylines to these films created `` Quake movies '' . The more general term machinima , a portmanteau of machine cinema , arose when the concept spread beyond the Quake series to other games and software . After this generalization , machinima appeared in mainstream media , including television series and advertisements .   Machinima has advantages and disadvantages when compared to other styles of filmmaking . Its relative simplicity over traditional frame-based animation limits control and range of expression . Its real-time nature favors speed , cost saving , and flexibility over the higher quality of pre-rendered computer animation . Virtual acting is less expensive , dangerous , and physically restricted than live action . Machinima can be filmed by relying on in-game artificial intelligence ( AI ) or by controlling characters and cameras through digital puppetry . Scenes can be precisely scripted , and can be manipulated during post-production using video editing techniques . Editing , custom software , and creative cinematography may address technical limitations . Game companies have provided software for and have encouraged machinima , but the widespread use of digital assets from copyrighted games has resulted in complex , unresolved legal issues .   Machinima productions can remain close to their gaming roots and feature stunts or other portrayals of gameplay . Popular genres include dance videos , comedy , and drama . Alternatively , some filmmakers attempt to stretch the boundaries of the rendering engines or to mask the original 3-D context . The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences ( AMAS ) , a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting machinima , recognizes exemplary productions through Mackie awards given at its annual Machinima Film Festival . Some general film festivals accept machinima , and game companies , such as Epic Games , Blizzard Entertainment and Jagex , have sponsored contests involving it .

neg: Cyberpunk derivatives A number of cyberpunk derivatives have become recognized as distinct subgenres in speculative fiction . These derivatives , though they do not share cyberpunk 's computers-focused setting , may display other qualities drawn from or analogous to cyberpunk : a world built on one particular technology that is extrapolated to a highly sophisticated level ( this may even be a fantastical or anachronistic technology , akin to retro-futurism ) , a gritty transreal urban style , or a particular approach to social themes .   The most successful of these subgenres , Steampunk , has been defined as a `` kind of technological fantasy '' , and others in this category sometimes also incorporate aspects of science fantasy and historical fantasy . Scholars have written of these subgenres ' stylistic place in postmodern literature , and also their ambiguous interaction with the historical perspective of postcolonialism .   American author Bruce Bethke coined the term `` cyberpunk '' in his 1980 short story of the same name , proposing it as a label for a new generation of punk teenagers inspired by the perceptions inherent to the Information Age . The term was quickly appropriated as a label to be applied to the works of William Gibson , Bruce Sterling , John Shirley , Rudy Rucker , Michael Swanwick , Pat Cadigan , Lewis Shiner , Richard Kadrey , and others . Science fiction author Lawrence Person , in defining postcyberpunk , summarized the characteristics of cyberpunk thus :  Classic cyberpunk characters were marginalized , alienated loners who lived on the edge of society in generally dystopic futures where daily life was impacted by rapid technological change , an ubiquitous datasphere of computerized information , and invasive modification of the human body .   The relevance of cyberpunk as a genre to punk subculture is debatable and further hampered by the lack of a defined cyberpunk subculture ; where the small cyber movement shares themes with cyberpunk fiction and draws inspiration from punk and goth alike , cyberculture is much more popular though much less defined , encompassing virtual communities and cyberspace in general and typically embracing optimistic anticipations about the future . Cyberpunk is nonetheless regarded as a successful genre , as it ensnared many new readers and provided the sort of movement that postmodern literary critics found alluring . Furthermore , author David Brin argues , cyberpunk made science fiction more attractive and profitable for mainstream media and the visual arts in general .

neg: Erotic thriller An Erotic thriller is a film genre defined by a thriller with a thematic basis in illicit romance or erotic fantasy . Most erotic thrillers contain scenes of softcore sex and nudity , but the frequency and explicitness of those scenes varies .   Though similar films appeared as early as the 1960s , erotic thrillers emerged as a distinct genre in the late 1980s , bolstered by the popular success of Adrian Lyne 's Fatal Attraction in 1987 and a quickly expanding domestic and international market for softcore adult entertainment on cable television and home video . The genre had a classic period of growth and expansion in the 1990s , but by the early 2000s declined in production and popular appeal .   The potent combination of danger and romance , catering to both male and female audiences simultaneously , was the primary selling point for erotic thriller films during their classic period . The half-naked bodies displayed on posters , newspaper ads , and video box covers were accompanied by log lines that capture the unmistakable duality of the erotic thriller film :   If you think you can handle her , you 're dead wrong . -- Body Chemistry 3 : Point of Seduction  He was hired to watch . Now he 's tempted to touch . -- Night Eyes  Twin sisters cross the line into a deadly erotic fantasy land . -- Mirror Images   In all , over 300 erotic thriller films were produced in the 1990s , which is comparable to the number of thriller films made in the noir decade of the 1940s . The total number of films in the erotic thriller genre from 1985 to 2005 may number as high as over 500 . Like film noir , the genre has evolved and modernized , and new films continue to be made that are influenced by the classic style .

neg: Hollywood blacklist The Hollywood blacklist -- as the broader entertainment industry blacklist is generally known -- was the practice of denying employment to screenwriters , actors , directors , musicians , and other American entertainment professionals during the mid-20th century because they were accused of having Communist ties or sympathies . Artists were barred from work on the basis of their alleged membership in or sympathy with the Communist Party USA or refusal to assist investigations into the party 's activities . Even during the period of its strictest enforcement , the late 1940s through the late 1950s , the blacklist was rarely made explicit or verifiable , but it directly damaged the careers of scores of individuals working in the film industry .   The first systematic Hollywood blacklist was instituted on November 25 , 1947 , the day after ten writers and directors were cited for contempt of Congress for refusing to testify to the House Un-American Activities Committee . A group of studio executives , acting under the aegis of the Association of Motion Picture Producers , fired the artists -- the so-called Hollywood Ten -- and made what has become known as the Waldorf Statement .   On June 22 , 1950 , a pamphlet entitled Red Channels was published . Focused on the field of broadcasting , it identified 151 entertainment industry professionals in the context of `` Red Fascists and their sympathizers . '' Soon , most of those named , along with a host of other artists , were barred from employment in most of the entertainment field .   The blacklist lasted until 1960 , when Dalton Trumbo , a Communist Party member from 1943 to 1948  and member of the Hollywood Ten , was credited as the screenwriter of the highly successful film Exodus , and later publicly acknowledged by actor Kirk Douglas for writing the screenplay for the movie Spartacus . A number of those blacklisted , however , were still barred from work in their professions for years afterward .

neg: Lethal Weapon (franchise) Lethal Weapon is an American buddy cop action comedy franchise created by Shane Black that focuses on two Los Angeles Police Department ( LAPD ) detectives , Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh . The franchise consists of four films released during the 1980s and 1990s , as well as a television series in 2016 . All four films in the series were directed by Richard Donner and also share many of the same core cast members , while the television series recast the main roles with younger actors instead .

neg: Die Hard with a Vengeance Die Hard with a Vengeance is a 1995 American action film and the third in the Die Hard film series . It was co-produced and directed by John McTiernan ( who directed Die Hard ) , written by Jonathan Hensleigh , and stars Bruce Willis as New York City Police Department Lieutenant John McClane , Samuel L. Jackson as McClane 's reluctant partner Zeus Carver , and Jeremy Irons as Simon Peter Gruber . It was released on May 19 , 1995 , five years after Die Hard 2 , becoming the highest-grossing film at the worldwide box-office that year , but received mixed reviews . It was followed by Live Free or Die Hard and A Good Day to Die Hard in 2007 and 2013 , respectively .

neg: Art film An art film is typically a serious , independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience . An art film is `` intended to be a serious artistic work , often experimental and not designed for mass appeal '' ; they are `` made primarily for aesthetic reasons rather than commercial profit '' , and they contain `` unconventional or highly symbolic content '' .   Film critics and film studies scholars typically define an art film as possessing `` formal qualities that mark them as different from mainstream Hollywood films '' , which can include , among other elements , a sense of social realism ; an emphasis on the authorial expressiveness of the director ; and a focus on the thoughts , dreams , or motivations of characters , as opposed to the unfolding of a clear , goal-driven story . Film scholar David Bordwell describes art cinema as `` a film genre , with its own distinct conventions '' .   Art film producers usually present their films at specialty theatres ( repertory cinemas , or , in the U.S. , `` arthouse cinemas '' ) and film festivals . The term art film is much more widely used in the United States , the UK and Australia than in Europe , where the term is more associated with `` auteur '' films and `` national cinema '' ( e.g. , German national cinema ) . Because they are aimed at small niche market audiences , they can rarely get the financial backing that will permit large production budgets , expensive special effects , costly celebrity actors , or huge advertising campaigns , as are used in widely released mainstream blockbuster films . Art film directors make up for these constraints by creating a different type of film , which typically uses lesser-known film actors ( or even amateur actors ) and modest sets to make films that focus much more on developing ideas or exploring new narrative techniques or film-making conventions .   A certain degree of experience and knowledge are required to fully understand or appreciate such films . One mid-1990s art film was called `` largely a cerebral experience '' that one enjoys `` because of what you know about film '' . This contrasts sharply with mainstream `` blockbuster '' films , which are geared more towards escapism and pure entertainment . For promotion , art films rely on the publicity generated from film critics ' reviews , discussion of their film by arts columnists , commentators and bloggers , and `` word-of-mouth '' promotion by audience members . Since art films have small initial investment costs , they only need to appeal to a small portion of the mainstream viewing audiences to become financially viable .

neg: Dark City (1998 film) Dark City is a 1998 American-Australian neo-noir science fiction film directed by Alex Proyas . The screenplay was written by Proyas , Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer . The film stars Rufus Sewell , Kiefer Sutherland , Jennifer Connelly , and William Hurt . Sewell plays John Murdoch , an amnesiac man who finds himself suspected of murder . Murdoch attempts to discover his true identity and clear his name while on the run from the police and a mysterious group known only as the `` Strangers '' .   The majority of the film was shot at Fox Studios Australia . It was jointly produced by New Line Cinema and Mystery Clock Cinema . New Line Cinema distributed the theatrical release . The film premiered in the United States on February 27 , 1998 . The film was nominated for Hugo and Saturn Awards . For the theatrical release , the studio was concerned that the audience would not understand the film and asked Proyas to add an explanatory voice-over narration to the introduction . A director 's cut was released in 2008 , restoring and preserving Proyas 's original artistic vision for the film . Some critics have noted its similarities and possible influence on the Matrix series , which came out a year later .

neg: Biopunk Biopunk ( a portmanteau of `` biotechnology '' or `` biology '' and `` punk '' ) is a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on biotechnology . It is derived from cyberpunk , but focuses on the implications of biotechnology rather than information technology . Biopunk is concerned with synthetic biology . It is derived of cyberpunk involving bio-hackers , biotech mega-corporations , and oppressive government agencies that manipulate human DNA . Most often keeping with the dark atmosphere of cyberpunk , biopunk generally examines the dark side of genetic engineering and represents the low side of biotechnology .

neg: Payback (1999 film) Payback is a 1999 American neo-noir crime film written and directed by Brian Helgeland in his directorial debut , and starring Mel Gibson , Gregg Henry , Maria Bello and David Paymer . It was based on the novel The Hunter by Donald E. Westlake using the pseudonym Richard Stark , which had earlier been adapted into the 1967 film noir classic Point Blank , directed by John Boorman and starring Lee Marvin . In 2006 Helgeland issued a director 's cut that differs substantially from the version released by the studio .

neg: Sin City (film) Sin City ( also known as Frank Miller 's Sin City ) is a 2005 American neo-noir crime anthology film written , produced , and directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez . It is based on Miller 's graphic novel of the same name .   Much of the film is based on the first , third and fourth books in Miller 's original comic series . The Hard Goodbye is about a man who embarks on a brutal rampage in search of his one-time sweetheart 's killer , killing anyone , even the police , that gets in his way of finding and killing her murderer . The Big Fat Kill focuses on an everyman getting caught in a street war between a group of prostitutes and a group of mercenaries , the police and the mob . That Yellow Bastard follows an aging police officer who protects a young woman from a grotesquely disfigured serial killer . The intro and outro of the film are based on the short story `` The Customer is Always Right '' , which is collected in Booze , Broads & Bullets , the sixth book in the comic series .   The film stars an ensemble cast led by Jessica Alba , Benicio del Toro , Brittany Murphy , Clive Owen , Mickey Rourke , Bruce Willis , and Elijah Wood , and featuring Alexis Bledel , Michael Clarke Duncan , Rosario Dawson , Carla Gugino , Rutger Hauer , Jaime King , Michael Madsen , and Nick Stahl , among others .   Sin City opened to wide critical and commercial success , gathering particular recognition for the film 's unique color processing , which rendered most of the film in black and white but retained or added coloring for selected objects . The film was screened at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival in competition and won the Technical Grand Prize for the film 's `` visual shaping '' .

neg: Goodfellas Goodfellas ( stylized as GoodFellas ) is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese . It is an adaptation of the 1986 non-fiction book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi , who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese . The film narrates the rise and fall of mob associate Henry Hill and his friends over a period from 1955 to 1980 .   Scorsese initially named the film Wise Guy and postponed making it ; later , he and Pileggi changed the name to Goodfellas . To prepare for their roles in the film , Robert De Niro , Joe Pesci , and Ray Liotta often spoke with Pileggi , who shared research material left over from writing the book . According to Pesci , improvisation and ad-libbing came out of rehearsals wherein Scorsese gave the actors freedom to do whatever they wanted . The director made transcripts of these sessions , took the lines he liked best , and put them into a revised script , which the cast worked from during principal photography .   Made on a budget of $ 25 million , Goodfellas grossed $ 46.8 million . It received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for six Academy Awards , including Best Picture and Best Director , with Pesci winning Best Actor in a Supporting Role . The film won five awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts , including Best Film and Best Director . Additionally , Goodfellas was named the year 's best film by various critics ' groups .   Goodfellas is widely regarded as one of the greatest films in the crime genre . In 2000 , it was deemed `` culturally , historically , and aesthetically significant '' and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress . Its content and style have been emulated in numerous other films and television shows .