Thursday 5 July 2007

Decisions, decisions.

(Two executives sit around a desk in early 1963....they are brainstorming name ideas for a new televisual drama)

It's got to be catchy; snazzy. Something which says "I'm cuddly, but also evil"

Teddy Death?

Well I was thinking more something with the word "Doctor" in, makes it sound slightly responsible...

Doctor Strangelove?

That's a stupid name.

Well I don't know...

I was also thinking of something with the vowel sound "oo".

"Oo"? Dr Foo?

Too asian.

Dr Zoo?

Too Dolittle.

Since it's science fiction...Dr Goo?

You're losing it now..

Dr P-

Stop that.

The Performance Which Changed My Life


12 Angry Men was ahead of its time. A film which preached tolerance and social responsibility seems incongruous in its 1957 context.

A teenage boy is charged with the murder of his abusive father, and a jury is called to pass judgement. Thanks to the heat of the day, and an important baseball match in the evening, 11 of the 12 jurors call for a guilty verdict; each for their own reasons.

Only one, Juror Number 8, (Henry Fonda) suggests that the boy is innocent; not because it is necessarily true, but because a life should not be judged so quickly and cheaply.

From this moment, No.8 acts as the last bastion for human decency and social conscience; unswayed by the overwhelming prejudice and hatred of the 11 other men. Not only do I wholeheartedly approve of everything that No.8 stands for, but Henry Fonda's performance is close to perfection, and the rest of the cast are fantastic as his opponents.

Henry Fonda's performance was the first I'd seen to promote a liberal and caring viewpoint, particularly in the face of conservative and prejudiced adversity. Growing up in a working class family, yet having a place in a private school lead to conflict; I was surrounded by a number people who seemed to care little about fellow human beings. Juror No.8 inspired me to fight hard against prejudice, stand up for myself and have the courage of my convictions. Popularity only matters when you have respect for the people who like you; and like Henry Fonda, we should all risk being unpopular in order to fight hard for what we believe in.

Whenever anybody calls me a "Guardian reader" I respond with pride that I am. Thanks to the courage that Henry Fonda gave me in his life-changing performance.

Wednesday 4 July 2007

Niche Podcast Love

I've yet to tell you all of the wonders of my beloved podcasts, but I just thought I'd share with you a little Calum mention, on a geek-chic-niche podcast.

The show is called the "Totally Rad Show", and I seriously recommend it. They review games, films and books, and it's just a weekly dose of American pop culture. I hope they don't sue me for putting this on here, but I wanted to brag....

Tuesday 3 July 2007

Unintentional Insults Part Un

"Calum, I love how your glasses make your eyes look REALLY BIG."

Monday 2 July 2007

Adventures


I don't talk that much about myself. Despite my immense vanity, displayed by this blog, I've kept it mostly about films, angry rants and random stories about monkeys.

However I thought you deserved a little insight into the life lead by your blogging host: Calahad "Lucifer" Kingo.

Born into poverty in the late '80s, I grew up in rural Scotlandfordshire. Times were hard, and I'd often be forced to blog for money; entertaining the locals with tales of exotic lands, and farcical circumstances. With the money made through my writing and teachings, I was able to move to the more salubrious location of the South-coast, fulfilling a boyhood dream.

I joined wham in 1989, after a chance meeting with George Michael in a public lavatory.
"You joined Wham?! At the age of 9?!" I hear you say...

How cynical.